SCOTTS VALLEY, CA -- Kurt Busch, the 20-year-old Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring, driver, has spent most of his racing career charging around asphalt tracks.

But he used one of the oldest tricks in the dirt track bLock to pass veteran Craig Raudman and eventually win the Las Vegas 100 on the 3/8-mile oval at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"He got a little loose in (turn) four and I pulled alongside on the front straight," Busch said with a grin. "We bumped a little down the back straight and I gave him a slide job in turn four."

The pass came on the 56th lap of the 100-lap event. The victory was worth $4,900 to Busch, who was racing in his home town, and was his second career Series win.

Raudman, Redding, Calif., finished second. Dennis Dyer, Palmdale, Calif., was third, Doug McCoun, Prunedale, Calif., was fourth and Mike Ray, another Las Vegas resident, was fifth.

"They were just a tick better and that's all it takes," Raudman said, In two Series starts this season, Raudman has a victory and the second-place at Las Vegas.

Busch averaged 68.141 mph, missing a Series record at the facility by less than a minute. The near-record speed belies the fact that the winner said he was careful early in the race.

"I had it set on cruise," Busch said. "I wanted to save my tires because I knew Craig Raudman would be a tough guy to pass."

Busch had to do some passing just to get in position to challenge Raudman. The eventual winner started seventh in the 24-car field.

Raudman jumped to the early lead but was under heavy pressure from Ray but the 24th lap. But Ray, the 1998 winston Racing Series Pacific Coast Region champion, struggled to stay with the leader and Busch slipped by Ray on the 34th circuit to claim second place.

Raudman encountered traffic on the 42nd lap but Busch was unable to make his pass until lap 56, shortly after a caution period and a restart.

"My car was terrible on restarts," Raudman said. "After three or four laps it started going."

Bryan Germone finished sixth after starting 12th and retained his lead in the championship standings. Scott Lynch, a Rookie of the year contender, finished seventh after starting 20th. Roger Mears Jr., another rookie, came home eighth after starting 19th, Darrell LaMoure finished ninth and rookie John Baker finished 10th.

Matt Crafton, Tulare, Calif., won the $300 Bud Pole Award, the first of his career. His qualifying lap of 16.226 seconds (83.200 mph). He eventually finished 12th. Busch won the $400 Gatorade Front Runner Award by leading the race at the mid-way point.

The next stop for the Featherlite Southwest Series will be May 15 at the new Irwindale Speedway in California.

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Posted: 4/26/99