Addington finds his perfect match in second Busch (cont'd)

And that's exactly what he did, which is why Addington can't imagine steering any other driver in the "Blue Deuce" or any car for that matter. That doesn't mean Kurt is his favorite. Or does it?

"Our personalities are definitely similar," Addington said. "I was what he was looking for and he was what I was looking for in the next move of my career. He has had his up and down seasons and so have I now. We've got some common ground and we are in a good place in our lives and I in my career with him as my driver."

When Addington was showering Busch with compliments after sweeping NASCAR's Charlotte events, he meant it, namely the part about only having Kurt Busch as his driver. He wasn't caught up in the moment.

"Saying that is just something that is coming from inside, that's the way I feel about it. I was so proud of him working through the day and into the night after getting off on adjustments and he hung in there," Addington explained. "His struggle with Charlotte was getting to the end of the race. It goes back to Pocono with Kyle. Kurt had run well in Charlotte, but the results weren't there."

After enduring several years of NASCAR's fast-paced lifestyle, in the limelight for the good and the bad, Kurt Busch, the 2004 Cup champion, has become more comfortable in his skin.

"It's tough," Busch said. "I'm not one to go out there with a big flash and a big flair. I used to early on. I'd run my head up against the wall. I'd run my race car up against the wall. Reviews came in negative. For me that's not how I wanted to be remembered, how I wanted to be looked at, sitting there on the porch talking with my grandkids about things."

Addington respects that. More than that, he respects his driver's sole focus on the No. 2 car.

Maturity, experience, and wisdom: These are all characteristics Addington and Kurt Busch share, creating what they hope continues to be a winning combination.

The team tested this week at Virginia International Raceway to prepare for the upcoming road course event at Infineon Raceway and will continue to work on that new setup for Pocono.

Meanwhile, Addington and the team are looking to name their driver's winning 600 car. A name could be announced this weekend at the track.

An obvious choice might be Charlotte -- a charming southern name -- or perhaps Kurt after Addington's favorite ... err ... driver.