News

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

News Story

There's busy...and then there's Kyle Busch busy

If you're Kyle Busch, life is all about racing - and winning - as often as possible. The irrepressible 24-year-old loves to compete. Loves it. In fact, he'd probably race lawn tractors in addition to his Toyotas if he found the right event to enter.

After winning a record 21 races in 2008, Busch has eight victories in NASCAR's top three divisions so far this season, and is targeting a unique NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series title double. That means not missing any races in either series, even when they're taking place at different tracks.

Starting this weekend, the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series go their separate ways for three consecutive events - so if last weekend at Dover International Speedway seemed a little busy for Busch, who pulled triple duty in Cup, Nationwide and the Camping World Truck Series, it's nothing compared to what lies ahead.

At The Monster Mile, Busch "only" had to jog between garages to climb inside his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camrys in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series and his Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra in the Truck Series. But for the next three weeks, his life will revolve around a timetable that's planned to the minute and an endless roster of airplanes, helicopters, courtesy cars and golf carts.

Each weekend, Busch's schedule is mapped out and printed out on a color-coded document, so his colleagues Jeff Dickerson, who doubles as his spotter, and public relations representative Bill Janitz know where their driver is to be at all times. It's complicated at the best of times, but takes on a whole new dimension when he basically has to be in two places at once...

"Kyle's schedule is kind of crazy," says Janitz. "But he tolerates it because he loves to drive anything that goes fast."

Take a deep breath, because here's where "Rowdy" will be and what he'll be doing over the next three weeks.

Wednesday, June 3 - Busch will fly from the Charlotte area to Neil Armstrong Airport, 15 miles southwest of Lima, Ohio. From there, he'll drive to Rossburg, Ohio, and compete in Tony Stewart's "Prelude To The Dream" charity race at Eldora Speedway. After the race, he will fly to Hackettstown, N.J., for a sponsor appearance Thursday at Mars Snack Foods U.S.

Friday, June 5 - Sprint Cup practice and qualifying at Pocono Raceway.

Saturday, June 6 - After participating in two Sprint Cup practice sessions at Pocono Saturday morning, Busch will take a helicopter from the track to Scranton (Pa.) Airport and then fly to Nashville. There, another helicopter will take him to the track for qualifying and racing in the Federated Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide race.

After the event, the process is essentially reversed - helicopter to Nashville airport, fly to Scranton and then drive back to Pocono.

Sunday, June 7 - Sponsor visits in the morning, then race in the Pocono 500.

Wednesday, June 10 - Travel to Michigan to race in the Rowdy Busch 125 Super Late Model race at Berlin Raceway. The event benefits the Kyle Busch Foundation.

Friday, June 12 - On track at Michigan Speedway with practice and qualifying for the Lifelock 400 Sprint Cup race and practice for the Michigan 200 NCWTS event. Busch will also be on the spotter's stand for the ARCA/RE-MAX Series race.

Saturday, June 13 - The day will begin with NCWTS qualifying and Sprint Cup Happy Hour, followed by the Michigan 200. Immediately following the Truck race, Busch will take a helicopter to Jackson, Mich., where he'll catch a plane for Cincinnati. Then, a helicopter to Kentucky Speedway to compete in the Meijer 300 NNS race.

After the race, Busch will go back to Michigan: Helicopter from the track to Cincinnati, fly from Cincinnati to Jackson, drive back to the track.

Sunday, June 14 - Sponsor and hospitality obligations in the morning, followed by racing in the Lifelock 400 Sprint Cup event.

Monday, June 15 - Participate in Goodyear tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Tuesday, June 16 - Participate in Goodyear tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Thursday, June 18 - Busch flies to San Francisco for a media luncheon.

Friday, June 19 - Participate in practice and qualifying for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup road race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Saturday, June 20 - Two Sprint Cup practices at Infineon, ending at 11:15 a.m. PST. Then it's a helicopter to a local airport and fly with Carl Edwards to Wisconsin for the Camping World RV Rental 250 NNS race at the Milwaukee Mile.

After the race, Edwards and Busch will take the redeye halfway across the country to Northern California. "Luckily, Kyle is pretty good at sleeping on the plane," says Janitz.

Sunday, June 21 - Make hospitality and suite visits for Toyota and M&M's in the morning and race in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 - a race Busch won last year - in the afternoon.

Add it all up and the effort truly is impressive - 18 days, nine races, eight states and five different types of race vehicles.

And for Busch, he's got to stay on top of it all. "I believe there's a way you drive the Trucks and there's a way you drive the Nationwide Series cars," he says. "That's full-out, as fast as you can go. The harder you go, the faster you can go and it's such a momentum game with those two. You have to pace yourself in the Cup cars a bit. You have to slow them down."

Slow down? Kyle Busch and his Toyotas? In June?

Not going to happen...

Average Rating:

Rate This:

1 2 3 4 5