Kurt Busch shows racing rival how it’s done at Wrigley Field

By Ron Kantowski

Sunday, July 12, 2009 | 5:12 p.m.

NOW

NASCAR leadfoot Kurt Busch of Las Vegas made another trip to Wrigley Field to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a rare day-night doubleheader between the Cardinals and the Cubs on Sunday.

Here are the highlights:

--- Good news: His ceremonial first pitch made it to home plate on the fly. Bad news: It also left the center field camera's airspace. Busch's first pitch was so high that when it finally came down, Cheech Marin tried to smoke it.

--- Unlike NASCAR rival Jeff Gordon, he didn't forget the words to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," he didn't refer to one of baseball's hallowed cathedrals as "Wrigley Stadium" ... and he didn't get booed unmercifully.

--- During his stint in the booth with Len Kasper and Keith Moreland, the Cubs scored three runs, padding a 4-3 lead against the first-place Cardinals to 7-3. (From one Cub fan to another, nice job, Kurt.)

--- He also made an astute observation when Jason LaRue, the Cardinals' catcher, missed stepping on home plate by an eyelash on a force play, permitting the Cubs to score another run. Busch said that whereas thousandths of a second sometimes decide a stock car race, hundredths of an inch can be crucial in baseball.

--- He said his wife, Eva, has the hots for Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot.

--- He said he planned to come back for the night game, too, which endeared him to this Cub fan.

--- His only gaffe (well, besides that folly floater of a ceremonial first pitch and wearing his Cubs cap backward, Geovany Soto style): Dropping Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s name, as if he were a force to be reckoned with in the NASCAR Chase.

--- Busch also worked in a subtle reference to his 2004 NASCAR driving championship, just in case Cub fans watching in Cedar Rapids were wondering "Who the !@#$% is Kurt Busch?"

THEN

--- "About three Miller Lites and I should be ready to go." Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, on throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field.