Driver Final Comments - Last Race 2005

Homestead - Driver Post Race Comments:

http://www.nascarup.com/Driver-Race-Comments.html

10 Questions For Tony Stewart

Okay, so Tony Stewart won the 2005 Nascar Nextel Cup - so what?

For those who don't know Tony, Nascar asked him 10 questions. This is how he answered:

http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/29/tstewart.10.q/index.html

You never know....until you ask.

Congratulations Tony.

NASCAR 101 - Distribution Of Money

How money is distributed in NASCAR

February 25, 20041:52 PM EST (1852 GMT)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Who wins what amount of money from competing in a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race can seem like a complicated process -- with the most compelling question being how a driver that finishes far back can win more money than a driver that finishes in the top 10?

An example would be the 2002 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway, where Jimmie Johnson won $49,550 for his sixth place finish, while Jeff Gordon won $90,753 -- the fifth highest payout in the race -- for his 36th place result.

The biggest reason for the money disparity is in the bonus programs that Gordon, as the defending champion and driving for one of the leading winners in the series, Hendrick Motorsports, is eligible for more special award plans than a newer team, such as Johnson's first-year operation, is.

As convoluted as it seems, the process is actually fairly simple and is regulated by the entry blanks that the NASCAR Competition Department issues in advance of each event.

Each race carries a purse figure, or its "posted awards."

The purse is comprised of a number of segments, including the racing purse; television awards; car owner special award plans, including the Winner's Circle Program; and a list of qualifying and special awards that may or may not be paid depending on the eligibility of the driver finishing in the appropriate position.

The racing purse breakdown designates a set amount for positions 1-43 that decreases on a sliding scale. "Television Awards" are also posted for each position, using the same sliding scale from first to 43rd.

NASCAR Nextel Cup team owners may participate in special award plans, such as "Plan 1," which allows for a set figure for each owner. Car owners participating in Plan 1c win money for their finishing position in relation to the other owners in the plan, again on a decreasing scale.

Those owners participating in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Car/Champion Owner Program are also entitled to additional awards, per the regulations of the program.

Among the largest special awards at each race are the NASCAR Nextel Leader Bonus, Time Trial Awards and the Gatorade Front Runner Award.

The Nextel Leader Bonus is a modern day version of "Studebaker money." The money is available to the race winner IF he is also leading the Nextel Cup standings after the event. If the winner is not the point leader, the money -- which accrues at the rate of $10,000 per event -- is not paid.

The Gatorade Front Runner Award, $10,000, goes to the driver that leads the most laps in the race, regardless of finishing position.

Most of the other manufacturers' and special award prizes are contingent on using the products and displaying uniform patches or decals.

At certain events special prizes are awarded to the leader of each lap in the race.

These days, about 75 percent of the posted awards are paid after each event, per the official NASCAR race report. The balance of the posted awards is the "Manufacturer's Point Fund Awards," a prorated share of nearly $15 million in manufacturer and sponsor funds that are distributed at the end of the season.

While a certain portion of each purse is guaranteed to be paid after the event, some of the cash is what formerly was referred to as Studebaker money, placed in the purse simply for appearance sake.

The term refers to money offered on a purse, say "$10,000 to the winner if he is driving a Studebaker." The $10,000 would be reflected in the total posted awards, making them more impressive, but the chance of a Studebaker winning would be miniscule.

NASCAR 101 - Points Explained

How the NASCAR point system works

Turner Sports Interactive January 30, 20043:11 PM EST (2011 GMT)

The biggest barometer of how a NASCAR team determines its success or failure during a season is the number of series points it earns.




The winner of each NASCAR race receives 180 points. The runner-up in each event scores 170. From there, the point total declines in five-point increments for places two through six, points awarded drop four points per driver for positions seven through 11 and three-point increments separate drivers' points for finishers in 12th place or lower.
The 43rd, or last-place driver, gets 34 points.

There are also bonus points up for grabs at each event. Drivers receive five points for leading a lap and an additional five points for leading the most laps.

In Nextel Cup racing, following the 26th race of the season, all drivers in the NASCAR Top 10 and any others within 400 points of the leader will earn a berth in the "Chase for the Championship."

All drivers in the "chase" will have their point totals adjusted. The first-place driver in the standings will begin the chase with 5,050 points; the second-place driver will start with 5,045, etc. Incremental five-point drops will continue through the list of title contenders.

Owners are rewarded in the points race in much the same fashion but, unlike drivers, they earn points for merely attempting to make a race. If an owner shows up with a pair of drivers, and one fails to qualify, the owner still receives points for the non-qualifying effort.

The fastest non-qualifier on race day earns 31 points for his owner, three down from the 43rd-place points. The scale continues downward from there for all non-qualifiers, with the lowest possible point(s) awarded being one.
Manufacturers have a points race of their own. The car maker who has a driver take first place in a race earns nine points for that race. Second-best performance by a manufacturer gets six points, third place earns four points and fourth place, three points.

NASCAR 101 - Nascar Glossary

Things you always wanted to know about the Nascar Nextel Cup Series, but didn't know where to get the answers. NASCAR has provided some responses to these...

NASCAR Glossary

February 5, 20042:23 PM EST (1923 GMT)

Nextel Cup racing, as does any other professional sport, has a language all its own. The meaning and usage of the terms specific to the sport pop up through any explanation of its racing action. The following is a short list of basic terms you might hear around a Nextel Cup garage in 2004:

AERO PUSH
When following another vehicle closely, the airflow off the lead vehicle does not travel across the following one(s) in a normal manner. Therefore, downforce on the front of the trailing vehicle(s) is decreased and it does not turn in the corners as well, resulting in an "aero push." This condition is more apparent on the exit of the turns.

AERODYNAMIC DRAG
A number that is a coefficient of several factors that indicates how well a race vehicle will travel through the air and how much resistance it offers. Crewmen work to get the best "drag horsepower" rating they can, determining how much horsepower it will take to move a vehicle through the air at a certain mile-per-hour rate. At faster speedways teams strive to get the lowest drag number possible for higher straightaway speeds.

AIR DAM
A strip that hangs under the front grill, very close to the ground. It helps provide downforce at the front of the car.

AIR PRESSURE
With the advent of radial tires with stiffer sidewalls, changing air pressure in the tires is used as another setup tool that is akin to adjusting spring rates in the vehicle's suspension. An increase in air pressure raises the "spring rate" in the tire itself and changes the vehicle's handling characteristics. If his race vehicle was "tight" coming off a corner, a driver might request a slight air pressure increase in the right rear tire to "loosen it up."

BACK MARKER
A car running off the pace near the rear of the field.

BALANCE
When a car doesn't tend to oversteer or understeer, but goes around the racetrack as if its on rails, it's said to be in balance.

BANKING
The sloping of a racetrack, particularly at a curve or a corner, from the apron to the outside wall. Degree of banking refers to the height of a racetrack's slope at the outside edge.

CAMBER
Camber addresses the angle at which a tire makes contact with the track surface. "Positive camber" indicates the angle of the tire is tilted away from the vehicle's centerline while "negative camber" indicates the tire is tilted toward the centerline. A typical oval track setup would have positive camber in the left front and negative camber in the right front to help the vehicle make left-hand turns.

CAMSHAFT
A rotating shaft within the engine that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves in the engine.

CHASSIS
The combination of a car's floorboard, interior and roll cage.

CHASSIS ROLL
The up-and-down movement caused when a car travels around corners at high speeds. The side of the car facing the turn becomes lighter while the extra weight goes toward the outside of the turn.

CONTACT PATCH
The part of the tire that's actually touching the road.

DIRTY AIR
The air used and discarded by the lead car.

DOWNFORCE
The air pressure traveling over the surfaces of a race vehicle creates "downforce" or weight on that area. In order to increase corner speeds teams strive to create downforce that increases tire grip. The tradeoff for increased corner speeds derived from greater downforce is increased drag that slows straightaway speeds.

DRAFT
The aerodynamic effect that allows two or more cars traveling nose-to-tail to run faster than a single car. When one car follows closely, the one in front cuts through the air, providing less resistance for the car in back.

DRAFTING
The practice of two or more cars, while racing, to run nose-to-tail, almost touching. The lead car, by displacing the air in front of it, creates a vacuum between its rear end and the nose of the following car, actually pulling the second car along with it.

DRAG
The resistance a car experiences when passing through air at high speeds. A resisting force exerted on a car parallel to its air stream and opposite in direction to its motion.

ENGINE BLOCK
An iron casting from the manufacturer that envelopes the crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons.

FABRICATOR
A person who specializes in creating the sheet metal body of a stock car. Most teams employ two or more.

FIREWALL
A solid metal plate that separates the engine compartment from the driver's compartment of a race car.

FRONT CLIP
The front-most part of the race car, starting with the firewall.

FUEL CELL
A holding tank for a race car's supply of gasoline. Consists of a metal box that contains a flexible, tear-resistant bladder and foam baffling. A product of aerospace technology, it's designed to eliminate or minimize fuel spillage.

GROOVE
Slang term for the best route around a racetrack; the most efficient or quickest way around the track for a particular driver. The "high groove" takes a car closer to the outside wall for most of a lap, while the "Low groove" takes a car closer to the apron than the outside wall. Road racers use the term "line." Drivers search for a fast groove, and that has been known to change depending on track and weather conditions.

HAPPY HOUR
Slang term for the last official practice session held before an event. Usually takes place the day before the race and after all qualifying and support races have been staged.

HANDLING
Generally, a race car's performance while racing, qualifying or practicing. How a car "Handles" is determined by its tires, suspension geometry, aerodynamics and other factors.

INTERVAL
The time-distance between two cars. Referred to roughly in car lengths, or precisely in seconds.

LAPPED TRAFFIC
Cars that have completed at least one full lap less than the race leader.

LOOSE
(Also referred to as "free" or "oversteer.") A condition created when the back end of the vehicle wants to overtake the front end when it is either entering or exiting a turn. In qualifying mode teams walk a fine line creating a setup that "frees the vehicle up" as much as possible without causing the driver to lose control.

MARBLES
(Also referred to as "loose stuff.") Bits of rubber that have been shaved off tires and dirt and gravel blown to the outside of a corner by the wind created by passing vehicles comprise the "marbles" that are often blamed by drivers for causing them to lose control.

NEUTRAL
A term drivers use when referring to how their car is handling. When a car is neither loose nor pushing (tight).

OVERSTEER
See Loose

PIT ROAD
The area where pit crews service the cars. Generally located along the front straightaway, but because of space limitations, some racetracks sport pit roads on the front and back straightaways.

PIT STALL
The area along pit road that is designated for a particular team's use during pit stops. Each car stops in the team's stall before being serviced.

POLE POSITION
Slang term for the foremost position on the starting grid, awarded to the fastest qualifier.

PUSH
(Also referred to as "tight" or "understeer.") "Push" is a condition that occurs when the front tires of a vehicle will not turn crisply in a corner. When this condition occurs, the driver must get out of the throttle until the front tires grip the race track again.

QUARTER PANEL
The sheet metal on both sides of the car from the C-post to the rear bumper below the deck lid and above the wheel well.

REAR CLIP
The section of a race car that begins at the base of the rear windshield and extends to the rear bumper. Contains the car's fuel cell and rear suspension components.

RESTRICTOR PLATE
An aluminum plate that is placed between the base of the carburetor and the engine's intake manifold with four holes drilled in it. The plate is designed to reduce the flow of air and fuel into the engine's combustion chamber, thereby decreasing horsepower and speed.

ROOF FLAPS
These flaps are sections at the rear of a race vehicle's roof that are designed to activate, or flip up, if the air pressure flowing across them decreases. In the case of a vehicle turning backwards, the tendency for an uninterrupted flow of air is to create lift. The roof flaps are designed to disrupt that airflow in attempt to keep the vehicle on the ground.

ROUND
Slang term for a way of making chassis adjustments utilizing the race car's springs. A wrench is inserted in a jack bolt attached to the springs, and is used to tighten or loosen the amount of play in the spring. This in turn can loosen or tighten the handling of a race car.

SETUP
Slang term for the tuning and adjustments made to a race car's suspension before and during a race.

SHORT TRACK
Racetracks that are less than one mile in length.

SILLY SEASON
Slang for the period that begins during the latter part of the current season, wherein some teams announce driver, crew and/or sponsor changes.

SPOILER
(Also referred to as a "blade.") The spoiler is a strip of aluminum that stretches across the width of a race vehicle's rear decklid. It is designed to create downforce on the rear of the vehicle, thereby increasing traction. However, the tradeoff, again, is that more downforce equals more aerodynamic drag, so teams attempt, particularly on qualifying runs, to lay the spoiler at as low an angle as possible to "free up" their vehicles for more straightaway speed.

STAGGER
Stagger is a concept that has largely been eliminated with the use of radial tires. It refers to the difference in tire circumference between the left- and right-side tires on the vehicle. Typically, the left-side tires would be a smaller circumference than the right-side tires to "help" the vehicle make left-hand turns.

STICK
Slang term used for tire traction.

STICKERS
Slang term for new tires. The name is derived from the manufacturer's stickers that are affixed to each new tire's contact surface.

STOP 'N' GO (BLACK FLAGGED)
A penalty, usually assessed for speeding on pit road at the appropriate speed and stopped for one full second in the team's pit stall before returning to the track.

SUPERSPEEDWAY
A racetrack of one mile or more in distance. Road courses are included. Racers refer to three types of oval tracks. Short tracks are under one mile, intermediate tracks are at least a mile but under two miles and superspeedways are two miles and longer.

SWAY BAR
Sometimes called an "antiroll bar." Bar used to resist or counteract the rolling force of the car body through the turns.

TEMPLATE
A device used to check the body shape and size to ensure compliance with the rules. The template closely resembles the shape of the factory version of the car.

TIGHT
Also known as "understeer." A car is said to be tight if the front wheels lose traction before the rear wheels do. A tight race car doesn't seem able to steer sharply enough through the turns. Instead, the front end continues through the wall.

TOE
Looking at the car from the front, the amount the tires are turned in or out. If you imagine your feet to be the two front tires of a race car, standing with your toes together would represent toe-in. Standing with your heels together would represent toe-out.

TRACK BAR
(Also referred to as a "Panhard bar.") This bar locates the vehicle's rear end housing from left-to-right under it. In calibrating the vehicle's "suspension geometry," raising or lowering the track bar changes the rear roll center and determines how well it will travel through the corners. During races, this adjustment is done through the rear window using an extended ratchet. Typically, lowering the track bar will "tighten" the vehicle and raising the track bar will "loosen" it.

TRAILING ARM
A rear suspension piece holding the rear axle firmly fore and aft yet allowing it to travel up and down.

TRI-OVAL
A racetrack that has a "hump" or "fifth turn" in addition to the standard four corners. Not to be confused with a triangle-shaped speedway, which only has three distinct corners.

TURBULANCE
Air that trails behind a race car and disrupts the flow of air to the cars behind it.

UNDERSTEER
See Tight

VALANCE
(Also referred to as "front air dam.") This is the panel that extends below the vehicle's front bumper. The relation of the bottom of the valance, or its ground clearance, affects the amount of front downforce the vehicle creates. Lowering the valance creates more front downforce.

VICTORY LANE
Sometimes called the "winner's circle." The spot on each racetrack's infield where the race winner parks for the celebration.

WEDGE
Refers to the relationship from corner-to-corner of the weight of the race vehicle. Increasing the weight on any corner of the vehicle affects the weight of the other three corners in direct proportion. Weight adjustments are made by turning "weight jacking screws" mounted on each corner with a ratchet. A typical adjustment for a "loose" car would be to increase the weight of the left rear corner of the vehicle, which decreases the weight of the left front and right rear corners and increases the weight of the right front. A typical adjustment for a "tight" vehicle would be to increase the weight of the right rear corner, which decreases the weight of the right front and left rear and increases the weight of the left front.

WEIGHT JACKING
The practice of shifting a car's weight to favor certain wheels.

WIND TUNNEL
A structure used by race teams to determine the aerodynamic efficiency of their vehicles, consisting of a platform on which the vehicle is fixed and a giant fan to create wind currents. Telemetry devices determine the airflow over the vehicle and its coefficient of drag and downforce.

NASCAR Hall Of Fame Contenders

http://www.nascar.com/news/hof/atlanta/

My vote would be to put a palace of favorites in NASCAR in all five cities - where it would be well-deserved!

Let's Play Ten Questions With Jimmie Johnson!

http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/22/jjohnson.10.questions/index.html

Is Tony Stewart The Greatest Driver Of His Generation?

For his tenacity, competitive cleanliness and general stewardship, Mark Martin is widely considered NASCAR's most respected driver by his peers. Words spoken from his heart are not politically driven and carry no biased undertones.

They are pure, honest. Always.

So when Martin was asked his opinion of Tony Stewart's 2005 emotional transformation and unhesitatingly proclaimed the newly crowned champ "the greatest race-car driver in this era," and "my driving hero," it was high praise indeed.

More on Closing the generation gap: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/features/last_lap/11/22/last.lap.xgen/index.html

Tony Stewart Wins 2005 NASACR Nextal Cup Championship

Not much else to say....but congratulations...
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/20/homestead.ap/index.html

NASCAR Nextel Cup Driver Changes In 2006

• Busch, McMurray will drive for new teams in '06: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/07/kbusch.jmcmurray.cmears.2006/index.html
• Rudd to step back from racing, but not 'retiring': http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/08/rrudd.retiring/index.html
• Labonte leaving Gibbs following 2005 season: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/07/blabonte.released/index.html
• NASCAR sets four-car cap for Nextel Cup: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/10/bc.car.nascar.carcaps.ap/index.html
• Labonte lands in Petty's No. 43 Dodge: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/11/blabonte_43/index.html
• Yeley to replace Labonte in Gibbs' No. 18 Chevy: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/12/jyeley_gibbs_2006/index.html
• Schrader to drive No. 21 for Wood Brothers in '06: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/18/kschrader_wbcar/index.html
• Kvapil takes over No. 32: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/12/22/bhamilton_ppi_end/index.html

"Busch Says He Regrets Actions"

This is taken from an article posted in the newspaper...

November 18, 2005
By Mike Harris Associated Press

Kurt Busch gestures

in victory lane after

winning the NASCAR

Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at

Richmond International

Raceway in Richmond, Va.,

on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Photo: AP Photo

MIAMI — A repentant Kurt Busch says he regrets becoming "argumentative" with an officer during a traffic stop last week in Phoenix, but insists that alcohol played no part in his behavior.

"When I was asked by the officer if I had been drinking, I explained to them I had one drink during dinner, but I was certainly not intoxicated," Busch said in an exclusive telephone interview with The Associated Press from his Charlotte, N.C., office.

The reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champion was pulled over for driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone, swerving to avoid a car and running a stop sign last Friday night on his way back to Phoenix International Raceway. He said he was returning from dinner with his fiance.

The police report said the deputy smelled alcohol on Busch, and the driver became belligerent.

"You're only doing this because you're a Jeff Gordon fan," Busch was quoted as saying to the officer in the police report, released earlier Thursday in Phoenix.

He was eventually issued a misdemeanor citation for reckless driving.

"I admit I became a bit argumentative with the officer when he continuously insisted that I submit to a field sobriety test and a breath test, which I ultimately did," Busch said. "I later learned my (preliminary breathalyzer) test was .017. That's consistent with an individual my size having one drink. That's brought us to this point.

"I regret that my actions, including saying some disrespectful things to the officer, made the situation worse. I have apologized for this and I want to reiterate this apology to the officer and to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department."

The officer, responding to Busch's comment about Gordon, said did not follow NASCAR and is a fan of neither Gordon nor Busch. He eventually called a supervisor to the scene.

According to the police report, Busch called the deputies "a joke," crowded an officer and asked "Do you know who I am?" at various points while he was detained."

I resent him making derogatory remarks about our sheriffs," said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Even though an official alcohol breath machine had malfunctioned, Arpaio said there was no point to have Busch take that test because the preliminary results showed he wasn't intoxicated.

Busch, who was wrapping up his contract this year with Roush Racing, previously signed to drive for Penske Racing South beginning in 2006. On Saturday, Roush team owner Jack Roush initially said he would take no action against the driver because "it's somebody else's problem now."

But Roush suspended Busch from the final two races Sunday, after consulting with his sponsors, including Diageo, the manufacturer of Crown Royal whiskey.

Busch has had several run-ins with other drivers and NASCAR officials during his five years with the Roush team and, in announcing the suspension, team president Geoff Smith said, "It's the last straw for Roush Racing. We're officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists, effective today."

Busch said he has not talked with either Smith or Roush since his suspension."

Roush owns the team and has every right to handle the situations as he does, whether it's for him, the team or for the sponsors," Busch said."

I spent five years with Roush Racing. I loved it there. I loved the guys," he added. "I wanted desperately to finish off the season in style, not only for myself as a champion, but for the team as well."

I'm very proud of the accomplishments at Roush. The team was great for me and they gave me a wonderful opportunity. But I brought something to the table, too. That was a 100 percent commitment to excellence, both on and off the track."

Busch won 14 Cup races for Roush, including three this year. Now he moves to Roger Penske's team to replace retiring Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 Dodge, sponsored by Miller Brewing Company's Miller Lite brand.

He said Penske has "stood behind me 100 percent."

"They've been terrific in every way, Roger and the whole Penske organization," Busch said. "They asked me to provide the facts and I did. Fully aware of what happened, they communicated to the Penske Racing sponsors and they gained their commitment to continue with my transition from Roush to them."

As for Miller, Busch said, "They have made it very clear that they expect me to demonstrate the behavior befitting of a champion. And, in this situation, I did not do that. The bottom line is I screwed up in how I handled it and I have learned from that.

Busch said he will not be at Homestead-Miami Speedway for Sunday's season-ending Ford 400, but will stay at his North Carolina home.

"The Bears are playing the Panthers. Those are my two favorite teams, so I'm going to watch them play some football and do what any other American would do on Sunday and take the day off," he said. "Then the race is in prime time and I'll catch that at end of the day. I'll be supporting my existing teammates as well as my future teammates.

———

AP writer Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed to this story.

Kurt Busch Incident In Detail - From The Law's Perspective

For those of us who might be a bit confused as to what REALLY happened to get Kurt Busch suspended from the rest of the season of the NASACR Nextel Cup...here it is.

In an interview by Claire B. Lang for Sheriff Joe Arpaio:

http://www.nascar.com/2005/races/tune_in/11/16/clang_sheriff/index.html

Last Lap For Kurt Busch...

Here is the best of the best responses answered to NASACR from the question:

"Do you agree with Jack Roush's decision to suspend Kurt Busch for the final two races of the season?"

http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/features/last_lap/11/15/last.lap.busch/index.html

Do You Agree With Jack Roush's Decision To Suspend Kurt Busch?

That's the question of the week....

http://boards.nascar.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=nascaropinions&msg=108.1&ctx=0

What's my opinion?

After reading all of the posts from Nascar's board thus far....

I CAN be objective - even though I AM an avid Kurt Busch fan - and will be a great supporter into his days at Penske in 2006.










It is too bad that this had to happen.

Considering the facts:

• We ARE all human
• We ALL DO make mistakes
• Whether one is a celebrity or regualr 'Joe' (no offense to those individuals named 'Joe'), one should not be treated differently.
• Whether one if a fan or not, it's besides the point
• Justice should be fair.

In light of the facts, unfortunately, the decision was justified AND the punishment suited for the behavoir.

No one is above the law - if you drive over the speed limit, you are speeding. Period.

If you drink and drive (over the established state limits), then you are driving while intoxicated.

Since Kurt was not found to be driving under the influence (because of circumstances causing testing equipment failure), he was lucky - especially if he would have been found with a legal DUI...(Just think of the consequences...)

I had been hoping for a 2nd year at Kurt Busch being the 2005 Nascar Nextel Cup Champion, but dreams have been shattered - this held no relativity in the matter, since he was already many points behind and had no possible chance after race #4 of the Nextel Cup.

Kurt, I do have empathy. I understand the things you are going through. Fame is not nice to a lot of people - money does change things. It is through perception that one sees another the way that they do.

BE a representative of NASCAR.

BE one within yourself.

Be you. That's all.

May God Bless you, Kurt. You have your fans' support.

Kenny Wallace Gets Another Ride

After the suspension of Kurt Busch, Jack Rousch needed another driver at the last minute. Kenny Wallace was there.

According to NASCAR, Kenny Was quoted as saying: "Jack Roush has always been a friend of mine throughout my whole career and he just called me up and said, `Hey, can you drive the 97 car?'" Wallace said. "Once I got my composure I said, `Yeah, no problem.'"

More on this story follows:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CAR_NASCAR_NOTEBOOK?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=SPORTS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-11-13-21-50-56

Busch Suspended By Roush...

The copy of the headlines read:

Busch suspended by Roush for final two races

What an upset....

http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/11/13/bc.car.nascar.buschout.ap/index.html

Our prayers are with Rousch racing for being able to make it to the Nextel Cup Championship two years in a row after next Sunday's race...

__________

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kurt Busch was suspended by his team Sunday for the last two races of the NASCAR season after police cited the reigning Nextel Cup champion for reckless driving.
Busch, who qualified 17th for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, will be replaced by Kenny Wallace.

"The team has elected to suspend Kurt Busch for the rest of the season," Smith said. "We took this action following an evaluation of the circumstances surrounding Kurt's Friday night altercation with the Arizona sheriff's office."

"Roush Racing is embarrassed. The sponsors are embarrassed," Roush said. "This really cuts it. We're embarrassed for all of the NASCAR community."

Busch, 27, was stopped Friday night by police near the track after trying to avoid another car and running a stop sign, police said. The police report said the officer who stopped Busch smelled alcohol on the driver's breath, although Busch was not cited for that.

"Roush Racing is embarrassed. The sponsors are embarrassed," Roush said. "This really cuts it. We're embarrassed for all of the NASCAR community."

Down To The Wire...

3 drivers under 100 points competing in the chase for the Nextel Cup.

Only 2 NASCAR Nextel Cup races left in the 2005 season.

Only 1 driver will win.

Who will that driver be? Will there be an upset and Greg Biffle or Mark Martin will squeeze their way in front of the top three drivers?

It's all lost for Kurt Busch now...No 2nd time around for him...we'll have to wait until next year!

If Tony Stewart, currently the point leader, wins, it will be the 2nd time he has achieved the status of Nascar Cup Champion - The first time was in 2002.

If Jimmie Johnson wins, currently only 38 points out from the lead, it will be Jimmie's first Nascar Cup Championship.

If Carl Edwards makes it, currently only 77 points back, it will be Carl's fisrt Nascar Cup Championship.

If two other drivers happen to sneak on by:

It will be Greg Biffle's first Nascar Cup Championship.

It would be Mark Martin's first Nascar Cup Championship...Four other years, he was champion runner-up - 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002.

Let's see how it plays out when we go to Phoenuix, Arizona on Sunday....

The very best of luck to all of you!

Show Of Support

OK, so I may have gotten a little out of hand yesterday...

So Kurt Busch may not win 2005's Nextel Cup Championship...

Just because he won it last year....

... Doesn't mean that he has to win this year, right?

Have I been so quick to dismiss this already - even with 3 races left?

For those of you who know me...and know that I will stand up and fight for what I believe in...know that my ramblings yesterday were really not me...it couldn't possibly have been.

My apologies are extended to you, oh Kurt Busch believer in all that's good.

http://www.roushracing.com/kurt_busch/default.asp

I have faith - and faith is all that matters....in the matters at hand.

The matters: Support the TEAM.

Now I've got it!

We can continue to support Kurt Busch by supporting the team (and thus by supporting the team, not letting those who are NOT Kurt Busch fan know that you are supporting him!)

Let's support the team that's been up there a lot of the time: Rousch Racing!

http://www.roushracing.com/

The ole' "cat-in-the-hat" himself, Jack Rousch is a true believer in all his team - and with 5 drivers in the top 10...that's nothing to be taken too lightly...

Greg Biffle

Carl Edwards

Mark Martin

Matt Kenseth

Kurt Busch

With current point standings as such...

http://www.roushracing.com/current_events/default.asp?page=/chase_watch/chase_05.html

Two of these drives still have a very good chance!

One can not get away so easily without first hearing what the Rousch Racing Team has to say in their own words by these quotes:

http://www.roushracing.com/current_events/default.asp?page=/current_events/quotes.asp

Show your support for your favorite driver or team by registering for the Driver Fan Club:

http://www.roushracing.com/FanSurvey/how_old2.asp

Actions speak louder than words...Be a hero for your team.