Friday, May 23, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.
Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at [email protected] or (702) 259-4089.
There wasn't a hint of nervousness in Kyle Busch's voice as he prepared to make his NASCAR Busch Series debut in Saturday's Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Although he is taking the biggest step of his young racing career, Busch, 18, only had to reflect on his past three or four years at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to allay any self-doubt he may have had about jumping to NASCAR's Triple-A series.
"Nervous? No ... I'm pretty much excited, being my first Busch race and all," Busch said earlier this week. "I just go about it as I always have -- it's just another racecar at another race at another racetrack.
"Jumping between Modifieds, Legends Cars and Late Models back at Las Vegas, it was the same track but different cars so you had to learn the characteristics of it and just go out and do your best with it. That's pretty much what it's all about here in the Busch Series: trying to learn the car a little bit better and the competitors as well."
Busch's confidence has been bolstered by winning his first two Automobile Racing Club of America races since moving from Roush Racing to Hendrick and the fact that he was second-fastest during a recent Busch Series test at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"I believe that we're going to have a good shot of qualifying up front and running really good," he said. "Hopefully, a top-10 finish and a top-10 start would be exactly what we're looking for in our debut."
But that's not to say that Busch is expecting to dominate in Saturday's race as he did in his first two ARCA races.
"The Busch Series is not easy. I'm sure of that," he said. "I think it's going to be a real tough race. I'd be happier running in the top 10, but I'd be ecstatic if I could run in the top five.
"But there are going to be (as many as) 12 Cup guys in the race this weekend and it's going to be real tough to compete with those guys. The main thing is just to gain experience and learn what we can to get ready for next year."
After following his older brother, NASCAR Winston Cup driver Kurt Busch, into racing at the age of 13, Kyle quickly showed he was every bit as good -- if not better -- than his brother. Kyle posted 65 Legends Cars victories and captured two track championships at LVMS in three full seasons.
In 2001, after winning 10 of 15 Late Model main events at LVMS, Busch was hired by NASCAR team owner Jack Roush to drive in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Busch, then 16, posted two top-10 finishes in six starts before NASCAR mandated that all drivers in its touring series be at least 18.
He was set to return to the Truck Series with Roush after he turned 18, but elected to sign with Hendrick Motorsports, in part, to get out of Kurt's shadow. Kurt drives for Roush in the Winston Cup Series.
Although no longer driving for the same owner, Kyle said he and Kurt remain close and share information whenever possible.
"(Kurt) came out and watched my (ARCA) race in Kentucky and we talked a little bit after I tested at Charlotte about what things we should try and what we've done," Kyle said. "He's been a great support and he has been hanging out a little bit and I've been asking him questions about trying to get around the racetrack ... he's been a really great help for me."
Busch will compete in only seven Busch Series races this season in order to preserve his rookie status for next season, when he will run a full schedule. In addition to the Busch Series, Busch also will compete in five more ARCA events, includes today's race at Lowe's.
Busch was to start 29th in the ARCA race after Wednesday's qualifying was rained out and the field was set by car owner's points.
Nadeau has regained full consciousness and is verbally communicating as he continues his rehabilitation at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, Va., MB2 Motorsports general manager Jay Frye said Thursday.
"The difference since the last time I saw Jerry was incredible," Frye said. "He is more responsive, more alert and following commands with more consistency.
"It was an emotional and wonderful feeling when he made the first move to shake my hand. Yesterday he was hugging and kissing his (3-month-old) daughter and had pizza for dinner. It is really remarkable to see how far he has progressed in a short time."
Nadeau, 32, suffered a moderate to severe head injury, a fractured left shoulder blade and injuries to the left-side lung and ribs in the crash. Nadeau is undergoing a rehabilitation program that includes physical, recreational, occupational and speech therapy.
Robinson also will compete in both Truck Series races at Texas Motor Speedway this season with the "Aaron's Dream Team" -- the first all-female team to compete in a NASCAR touring series.
"It's my job to drive the truck -- it's their job to get the truck out of the pits as quickly as possible," Robinson said of her crew. "If we all do our jobs and run a good race, then we have a chance of being one of the top teams on the track. I believe that and I know everyone else associated with this team believes that.
"We're not doing this just for the fun of it; we want to go out and work hard to win just like everyone else. It's going to be special to compete at two outstanding speedways like Las Vegas and Texas."
Team Texas High Performance Driving School owns the team and Mike Starr will serve as crew chief. The seven members of the pit crew and one alternate were recruited through fitness facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Bernie Little, who guided Miss Budweiser to 134 victories and 22 world championships in 50 years of competition, passed away on April 25 at 77.
"Dad put the procedures and processes in place so that the team could continue even when he was no longer able to run things," Joe Little said. "Unlimited competition was dad's passion. He was larger than life in the sport.
"My goal is to provide the best leadership, direction and support to the team so we can continue to win races and show value to our great sponsor, Anheuser-Busch."
This season will mark the 41st consecutive year Anheuser-Busch has backed the team, making it the longest-running sponsorship in motor sports history.
Newman, the Academy Award-winning actor and co-owner of the Newman-Haas CART team, will drive a Chevrolet Corvette in Monday's Trans-Am Series race at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. Newman and Michael Brockman will drive the car that Butch Leitzinger drove to two victories last season.
Newman has two Trans-Am Series victories, including one at Lime Rock in 1986, in 68 career starts.
The 40,000-square-foot facility features a road course and Sodi Kart race karts with 200cc, 4-stroke Honda engines that can reach speeds of 35 mph.
Fast Lap Indoor Kart Racing is open from noon to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from noon to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Call 736-8113 for additional information.
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