Kurt Busch News

Kurt Busch won the pole for the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, his Nextel Cup Series-high sixth pole position of the season. Busch circled the tight 0.526-mile oval at 97.568 m.p.h., giving Dodge its 15th pole of the season in the 31 races where qualifying was held. He knocked Jeff Gordon to the outside of the front row after Gordon set the early standard at 97.377 m.p.h. Busch said he was simply carrying on the ...

The first complete repaving of the 2.66-mile Talladega oval since 1979 drew raves from most of the drivers after the race. Kurt Busch, who finished third, said, ``I think the paving job they created here is the best job I've seen at any racetrack we go to recently. They did a good job smoothing the surface. It was seamless between the high lane, low lane, middle lane, wherever you go. ``It made it comfortable and, when you ...

Kurt Busch's pole-winning lap of 184.540 mph on Friday was nearly 4 mph slower than the track record of 188.245, set by younger brother Kyle in February 2005. ... There are no Ford drivers among the top-10 starters for the fourth time this season, all in the last six races. ... Hendrick Motorsports (five) and Roush Racing (four) have combined to win nine of the first 12 Cup races at the California track. ...

Kurt Busch, no longer worrying about making NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup championship, earned his series-leading fifth pole of the season Friday at California Speedway. A 37th-place finish last Saturday at Bristol ended Busch's outside shot at making the 10-man Chase field in his first season with Penske Racing South. The 2004 Cup champion is now concerned with finishing this season strong and building momentum for 2007. ``Just to have the pressure of the Chase _ whether ...

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) _ Kurt Busch won the pole Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, putting him in perfect position for a season-sweep at his favourite race track. Busch ran a qualifying lap at 124.906 m.p.h. to put his No. 2 Dodge out front for Saturday night's race. He beat Jeff Burton, who turned a lap at 124.808 to qualify second. ``It was on the edge, and it was fast,'' Busch said. ``We've had a lot of good ...

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) _ From his perch behind the bar, Kurt Busch appeared completely at ease as he served up cold brews during a stint as a celebrity bartender. He posed for pictures, signed autographs, chatted with fans and seemed to be soaking up the moment. Oh, how far he's come. Busch's appearance was a far cry from his reception here in 2003. He had just notched another win at Bristol Motor Speedway, but his celebration was muted ...

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) _ Kurt Busch held off Robby Gordon in a stirring last-lap duel Saturday to win the Busch Series Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International. It was Busch's second victory and fifth top five in only his sixth career start in the series, all this year, and Gordon made it one he won't soon forget. Busch, who won the pole earlier in the day and led the ...

By Mike Harris FONTANA, Calif. (AP) _ Kurt Busch won his first pole for his new team and his first in more than a year, taking the top spot Friday for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. His lap of 187.086 mph on the two-mile oval was nearly a full mile an hour faster than runner-up Greg Biffle's 186.186 in qualifying for Sunday's race. ``I'm happy that we got ...

By Chris Jenkins DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ Kurt Busch has a new team, new cars and a new pit crew. He also has a new look. Busch saw a cosmetic surgeon in the off-season, and came out with his once-prominent ears pinned back closer to his head. ``Yeah, a little slicker,'' Busch said Friday, grinning. ``I've got it working in the draft now.'' Busch said he wasn't quite clear ...

PHOENIX (AP) _ NASCAR driver Kurt Busch was ordered to perform community service after pleading guilty to three traffic citations Wednesday. His lawyer, Lee Stein, said his client pleaded guilty in suburban Tolleson to speeding, a misdemeanour, and two civil citations: following too closely and passing in a no-passing zone. The community service was part of a plea agreement, Stein said, and must be completed within a year. Busch also ...