Driven to Succeed...Birthday: August 4th As with many drivers, Kurt Busch’s racing tree can be traced to go-karts, but it was in the Dwarf Car Series in his native Las Vegas where he began making his mark. It took Busch a mere six years to go from Dwarf Car Rookie of the Year to the top rings of NASCAR. When in 2000 Jack Roush hired him to run a full Craftsman Truck Series schedule and a handful of cup races. In between he won back to back championships in the Dwarf and Hobby Stock leagues in 1995 and 1996, putting Busch on the cusp of NASCAR’s regional touring series. Busch was named rookie of the year in the Southwest Touring Series in 1998 and won that league’s championship the following year (1999), paving the way for his jump to the Truck Series. Busch finished second in points in 2000 to earn Truck Rookie of the Year honors. His four wins were second only to series champion Greg Biffle’s five. Driving a limited cup schedule that same season, Busch finished in the top twenty in three of seven races including a 13th in the 500 miles at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. |
That was enough to convince Roush to move Busch to NASCAR’s top series full time in 2001, running 35 or 36 races w/three top fives and six top tens. Busch posted his first Cup victory at Bristol-he now has five total at the bullring, a personal best—in March 2002 and won three more races that season. He finished in the top 10 in 20 of the 36 races and was third in the final point standings. Two years later, Busch celebrated a championship by winning NASCAR’s inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup. Busch made the Chase in 2005, his last year with Roush Racing. During the season he signed with Penske Racing South to drive the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in 2006. Busch won in only his fifth race w/Penske Racing, claiming the March race win at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was his fifth career Bristol victory and the 15th overall win of his career. Not known for his qualifying prowess, Busch claimed six pole positions in 2006 in his Miller Lite Team Penske Dodge, twice more than he had overall going into the season. He won poles on short-tracks, intermediate tracks and road courses. He was beaten in a battle for the most poles by a tie breaker during the final race of the year at Homestead. Kurt earned the nickname "Professor Friday". |
Busch made his inaugural race in the NASCAR Busch Series division a very memorable one, winning the April Busch race at Texas Motor Speedway. Busch would be looked upon as a top winning candidate every time he participated on the circuit. In seven races, he won twice(including an exciting dual with Robby Gordon on the Watkins Glen International road course), recorded five top five finishes and six top 10’s, and claimed the pole for his lone road course start. Busch led laps in every race, let the most laps in three races and led 27.0 percent of all possible laps. Even with only seven starts, he finished 39th in points, finishing ahead of seventeen drivers who had competed in more races. Kurt bounced back in style during the 2007 season to post two wins, six top five finishes and 14 top 10’s. Using a big boost from the attention of new crew chief Pat Tryson, who joined the team in June, mounted a charge to make it into the Chase for the third time in four years. Finished seventh in the final point standings. He led laps in 21 of 36 races and led most laps in five races. He was tied for second in most bonus points earned. |
