Kyle Busch is getting more personable

Let me start by saying at this time last year I thought of Kyle Busch the way many fans think of Kyle Busch. Damn he’s a great racecar driver, but he’s kind of unfriendly. Yet, that unfriendliness is what draws so many people to him, and I respect that.

 

This weekend at Kentucky Speedway, part of that opinion changed.

Kyle Busch is still one heckuva racecar driver; that obviously hasn’t changed. But the fact that he seemed more lighthearted and friendly with the media this past weekend really made me respect him even more.

For years fans have complained that Jimmie Johnson is too vanilla. Then he began to tweet, and it has changed many fans’ views (yours truly included) of the five-time defending Sprint Cup champion.

Kyle Busch had a moment like that on Friday around noon at Kentucky. While sitting in the media center’s “Bluegrass Hall,” where all the press conferences were being held, Busch cracked jokes with reporters about his bright green and yellow firesuit.

Jeff Gluck of SBNation.com mentioned that Busch’s NOS Energy Citrus flavor firesuit hurt his eyes. I’ll let you decide if the bright, almost neon green and yellow is too much of a clash of brightness for your pupils.

I'm not sure this picture does justice to the brightness

And after that question Busch answered one about if racing in all three series this past weekend was tiring.

“Yeah it’s certainly a longer weekend this year because of all the testing and everything that they’ve allowed us and the extra track time and that,” he said. “It’s certainly hot.”

‘This is a great answer,’ I thought. It was interesting to hear the only driver who was running in all three events give his take on how tiring the weekend actually was.

And then Busch dropped something that only Carl Edwards or Michael Waltrip have done in the past: an unbelievable sponsor reference.

“Plus, I’ve got the awesome NOS Energy Drink sponsor that keeps me going. Plenty of flavors to choose from,” he said. “Help yourselves. M&M’s hauler, Z-Line Designs, NOS Energy Drink hauler and pick yourself up one. New charge citrus flavor tastes just like Mello Yello. It’s a Southern thing, right?”

I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes, and that was something I never expected from that short Kyle Busch meeting in the media center.

And I hope it has changed your view. Love him or hate him, I hope you’d enjoy the great comment he had. It wasn’t an awkward sponsor reference either, but it was genuine attempt at comedy. And it worked. I enjoyed it.

More on Kyle Busch’s hilarious comments about an event next season later on today.

Drivers apologize to fans for traffic

When the post race press conferences rolled around there were the normal questions about the race, but most members of the press wanted to know about the traffic issues that have by far plagued the Kentucky Speedway’s inaugural Sprint Cup race.

“It’s disappointing. I mean, the SMI group knows racetracks and does a very good job at all the racetracks they own. It's unfortunate we were unable to look ahead and see where these potential problems were,” said five-time champ Jimmie Johnson after Saturday night’s Quaker State 400.

A look down Ky 35, full of race fans

Denny Hamlin was caught in pre-race traffic. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver thought he was going to miss the driver’s meeting at 5:30 p.m. From the gridlock he tweeted, “Good news bad news/bad news is I'm prolly not gonna make the drivers meeting in 3 hrs because I'm in this traffic with everyone else.”

“This is such a great market,” said Johnson. “So many fans are enthused to come and want to be here. To not get them all in the door is kind of a bummer. Knowing Bruton, he'll get it fixed for next year and unfortunately it happened this year.”

A question came down from the press box to race winner Kyle Busch during his post race press conference.

“Kyle, did I hear you say in Victory Lane you're staying overnight and heading out tomorrow?” one reporter asked.

Busch and Crew Chief Dave Rogers

“That's right,” the race winner responded.

“That makes you not only the fastest man on the track, but the smartest man,” commented the reporter.

“I had this planned long ago not thinking about what transpired here tonight,” Busch replied. “Seems like I'm pretty smart, I guess. I'm just falling into the lucky category.”

Many drivers, including Michael Waltrip, tweeted to the fans their sincerest apologies for the traffic issues in the Bluegrass State.

“I can't say sorry enough to the fans who went thru traffic issues..we all understand that without fans coming to races...we have nothing,” tweeted Elliott Sadler, who ran the Camping World Truck Series race and the Nationwide race at Kentucky.

Brian Vickers took to his twitter account to issue this message: “Thx 2 all the great fans 4 coming out tonight. I apologize on behalf of our sport 4 all the traffic problems, It was unexceptable (sic) bullshit!”

And even though the traffic was bad, and drivers reached out to fans, they could rave enough about how awesome the crowd was at Kentucky.

“Hats off to this area, the racing, people in this area, everybody that was here, everybody that couldn't get here,” said Coach Joe Gibbs, owner of Busch’s car. “We appreciate being here. I think it's a huge deal. I appreciate NASCAR and everybody, Bruton, everybody that helped us get to this part of the country to race.”

They all hope that there are no issues heading into next year’s race at Kentucky. And I’m relatively sure everyone else is in the same boat.

My Guide to Kentucky Speedway’s Quaker State 400 weekend

A view of Kentucky Speedway during the June 1st Goodyear tire test

I’ve done this before, but I’ve never done this before. I’ve been to ten Brickyard 400 weekends, and that is the pinnacle of the year for me. It’s like Christmas for me, but as I’ve said, this year is like having two Christmases.

I’ve had all access pit passes for the past two years down at Kentucky Speedway for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. It’s a pretty big deal, but nothing like what will happen on Saturday night when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series takes to Kentucky for the first time.

Here’s a guide to some of the events this weekend, and what I suggest you take in. For Kentucky Speedway’s full schedule from their website, check this page: http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/fans/fan-guide.aspx

Wednesday

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice 4-5 p.m.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice 6-7 p.m.

Mark Martin driving through turn three during the Goodyear tire test that was closed to the public. Kentucky Speedway opened up a viewing area in turn three for the test. No word if they'll do the same for the Wednesday evening Truck practices.

Both of these practices are closed to the public. So, there’s not a whole lot you can do. The June 1st Goodyear tire test was also closed to the public but the Speedway opened up a section of grass outside the track’s offices in turn three. Maybe that’s the option for you to get your fill of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice.

Also on Wednesday, around 7 p.m., the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series haulers will begin to arrive at Kentucky, according to a preliminary schedule I saw a week ago. If you want to see history, check out the hauler parade for the first-time in Kentucky Speedway’s history.

Thursday

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Final Practice 10:00 a.m.

This is the only chance for fans to see the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in action from the stands before the Thursday night race.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Testing 11:05 a.m.

History is made when one driver pulls out onto the pavement at Kentucky Speedway and turns the first practice lap for the Sprint Cup Series. Drivers like five-time defending Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Columbus, Ind. native Tony Stewart, Owensboro, Kentucky’s Michael Waltrip, and my personal favorite Mark Martin should all turn laps in this practice session.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying 3:05 p.m.

The trucks will turn laps one at a time to set the field for the UNOH 225. Austin Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress, sits fourth in Truck Series points, and Parker Kilgerman, who won the 2009 ARCA race at Kentucky, is eighth in Truck Series points.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Testing 4:00 p.m.

After a break to break down the data from the morning practice session the big boys will be out on the track again. Jeff Burton said these testing sessions are important for the teams who have no data on the track. “Kentucky is a race that might help us get jump started because it’s going to be our first opportunity to sit down and analyze data, really sit down and understand what our car is doing and what I’m doing different as a driver, to really help us improve. I think it’s going to be very beneficial,” Burton said in a teleconference on Wednesday.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice 6:10 p.m.

Nationwide Series regulars like Aric Almirola and Elliott Sadler will practice against Cup Series drivers like Mark Martin, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne and three-time defending race winner Joey Logano, trying to dial their cars in to bring Logano’s dominance at Kentucky to a halt.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Introductions 7:35 p.m.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race "UNOH 225" 8:00 p.m.

Kentucky Speedway image

It’s the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series getting the weekend of speed at Kentucky started with the 150-lap, 225-mile UNOH 225, sponsored by the University of Northwestern Ohio. Johnny Sauter leads the Truck Series points, but lurking in third is Ron Hornaday, who won the 2009 Truck Series race at Kentucky.

Friday

NASCAR Nationwide Final Practice 9:00 a.m.

One last chance for the Nationwide Series guys and possibly gals (I have yet to see an entry list, but I believe Jennifer Jo Cobb will attempt to run—Danica is not, to my knowledge) to get their cars in tune for the Friday evening race. Look for Joey Logano and Kyle Busch to top the speed charts in this session.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice 11:30 a.m.

The third of four Sprint Cup Series practices. Somewhere in this two-day set of practice sessions, Sprint cup teams will be testing the new fuel-injection systems that NASCAR wants to use next season.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice 1:30 p.m.

Final practice, aka “Happy Hour” will be the final chance to see the Sprint Cup cars drive around the track in Sparta en masse before the Quaker State 400. By this time fans will be able to see who is handling well and which drivers are going to be the ones to watch come Saturday night.

Mark Martin will drive the No. 5 Quaker State Chevy at Kentucky (Photo from Kentucky Speedway)

NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying 3:40p.m.

Joey Logano has won three consecutive poles for the Nationwide Series race in Kentucky. It would surprise no one to see Logano’s No. 20 Toyota turn the fastest lap in this qualifying session.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying 5:10 p.m.

The record books will be written and rewritten all weekend. Who will ink his name as the first polesitter in Kentucky Speedway’s Sprint Cup history? One by one the Cup guys will head out onto the track to decide who gets the inaugural pole for the inaugural Quaker State 400.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Introduction 7:00 p.m.

Image from Kentucky Speedway

NASCAR Nationwide Series Race "Feed The Children 300" 8:00 p.m.

Can anyone stop Joey Logano at Kentucky in the Nationwide Series? In the 200-lap Feed the Children 300, we will all find out. If I was a betting man, though, it would be tough to bet against the youngster, who, by the way, won on Friday night in Daytona.

And could more history be made at Kentucky in the Nationwide Series? If Mark Martin wins in the No. 32 Turner Motorsports car he will extend his Series career wins lead over Kyle Busch. It will also be Martin’s 50th win in the Series formerly known as the Busch Series. If Busch wins, he’ll tie Martin for the most wins all time in the second-tier Series.

Saturday

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Introductions 7:00 p.m.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race "Quaker State 400" 8:00 p.m.

This is it. “History Starts Now,” has been the campaign for Kentucky Speedway, and history comes to fruition on Saturday night.

The Quaker State 400 image (from Kentucky Speedway)

“When 43 cars start up and every one of them has over 800 horsepower and they’re going around there reaching top speeds of over 200 miles per hour, it’s just something you can’t describe unless you’ve seen it, heard it and felt it,” said Jeff Burton last week.

Let’s get it started.

“There’s only one first race and you can only win it once,” said Tony Stewart.

Who will win and how will it affect the Chase standings? Will Joey Logano’s Nationwide success carry over to the Cup Series? We’ll find out in six days.

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Remember, if you’re going to Kentucky, this is just a short preview. Also, if you’re coming on down to Kentucky, let me know! Tweet at me (@adamniemeyer) or leave me a comment here (which in turn e-mails me). I’d love to meet up with some readers and get their thoughts on the first-ever Cup Series weekend at Kentucky.

Markaholics reading this, feel free to PM me on the message board, or leave a comment in the threads I have created.

Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. break winless streak at Daytona? Gordon says he could

On Tuesday I asked a question that FOX19’s Joe Danneman proposed a week ago: “What if Dale Jr. won at Kentucky?”

While that would be a big-time, important win for the sport of NASCAR, any time Jr. wins a race at Daytona, the place where his father died on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, is a storybook ending.

And while I know Dale Jr. fans in the Cincinnati area would love to see their man win the inaugural Quaker State 400, I think every NASCAR fan knows this weekend’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona could be Jr.’s best chance to break his now 109-race winless streak.

His teammate, Jeff Gordon, a six-time winner at Daytona, calls his Hendrick Motorsports teammate one of the favorites to win this weekend at Daytona.

“I think when I think it of going to restrictor plate races, even though things have changed, I still think that Dale Junior is one of the best out there,” Gordon said on Tuesday’s NASCAR teleconference.

Earnhardt Jr. has two wins at Daytona in 23 attempts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He won last year’s Nationwide Series race at Daytona in July driving a No. 3 painted like his dad’s old Wrangler car. A late crash took Jr. out of contention in the Daytona 500, but he’ll be good on Saturday night according to his teammate Gordon.

Jr. pushed Jimmie Johnson to the win at Talladega in April in NASCAR’s last restrictor plate race. Gordon says the two should work together again at Daytona.

Earnhardt Jr. pushed Johnson to the win at Talldega in April (Getty Images for NASCAR)

“We saw how good they were putting themselves in position to win, with Jimmie getting the win. There's no reason why that can't continue and Junior happens to be leading instead of being the pusher and maybe Jimmie can return that favor,” Gordon said.

In fact, via Twitter, Johnson joked with Earnhardt’s fans (commonly referred to as “JR Nation”) by saying, “Jr nation you crack me up. Yes the 48&88 will work together again and I do know he pushed me to the win in dega. Let's go racing!” He continued the thought with, “Let's be clear, my job is to win the race. If the same situation develops like we had in dega 9sic) & I'm pushing him, I will push him to the win.”

There will be plenty of happy Dale Jr. fans if that happens this weekend. You can count on that.

Gordon to pair with Martin at Daytona

Whatever you prefer calling restrictor plate racing nowadays; “Pairs racing,” “tandem racing” or even “Noah’s Ark racing,” one thing remains the same: drivers will be paired up from the beginning of the race until the end, two-by-two, nose to tail.

The four HMS cars at Talladega (Getty Images)

At Talladega in April, a race won by the Hendrick Motorsports tandem of Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr., it was the other HMS tandem that led coming to the white flag: Jeff Gordon being pushed by Mark Martin.

What are the chances that it will happen this weekend in Daytona? Pretty darn good.

“I'm really excited about working with Mark Martin this weekend like we did at Talladega.  We worked a lot together at Talladega, worked really well together and had a shot at winning the race there late, and I think we are going to be able to evolve with that and make it even better for Daytona this weekend,” Gordon noted during Tuesday’s NASCAR teleconference.

Gordon has six wins in 37 starts at Daytona, including three Daytona 500 victories. Martin, meanwhile, is still searching for win No. 1 at the track nearest to his home in Florida.

Gordon talks to the media before the 2009 Brickyard 400. I loved the perfectly positioned Pepsi bottle too. Got to get your marketing in order!

But Gordon and Martin have been around the sport for quite some time, and both have seen a lot of changes in the sport, including the way drafting has evolved over the years.

Restrictor plate racing used to be large packs, running two and three-wide, sometimes ten cars deep. One small mistake could take out twenty cars. Drivers needed to constantly be focused on what was happening in front of them, and what was coming from behind them. One move could take you from 20th to first, or first to 20th, all in the matter of one lap.

Now, that’s all changed. Just like in high school, the new tandem drafting is all about finding the right partner to dance with.

“You really have to find somebody to work with,” said Gordon, a four-time Sprint Cup champ. “And you have to really compromise, because there are some times, you may be getting pushed and other times where you're going to be pushing.”

A.J. Allmendinger described restrictor plate racing on his May 11th visit to Kentucky Speedway in quite the same way.

“It’s scary to be out there at times. It’s insane. And I know the fans love it…but from the seat, the toughest thing is just knowing that you can’t get off their bumper. You have to be pushing and if you check up, you’re going to lose 20 spots,” he said.

Gordon also talked about the details that go into the new type of racing.

“If you're the car in back, you just follow that rear bumper and try to keep as much air getting into the radiator as you possibly can, and you just follow that car wherever it goes. And each lap, you will get a sense of where the driver that's leading, where their line is and so that you can kind of anticipate that,” he said.

One of the newest, and maybe weirdest, phenomenons at Daytona and Talladega is the sharing of radio communications between teams, even between drivers who are not teammates.

“It is odd to me, you know, to give those channels up to the other teams. It's not something that we are used to doing,” said Gordon. “But you know, restrictor plate racing has always brought a unique style of racing and going about things different for all of us involved in the throughout the years.”

Martin and Gordon work together during practice at Talladega in April (Getty Images)

One thing that Gordon expects not to change is working with his veteran teammate this weekend.

“I feel fortunate,” he said. “We had a great working relation with Mark Martin, our teammate, at Talladega and we continue to do that and plan to continue to do that in Daytona this coming up weekend.”

Maybe Gordon can push Martin to his first win at Daytona, beginning a month of firsts for NASCAR’s most respected driver. I wouldn’t hate it.