BUSCH GAINS MOMENTUM: Kyle Busch has enjoyed a successful run in NASCAR’s top-three touring series as of late. In his most recent 11 races across all circuits -- NEXTEL Cup Series, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series -- the Las Vegas native has three wins and eight top-10 finishes.
VICKERS GEARING UP FOR INFINEON: In an effort to better prepare for the NEXTEL Cup event at Infineon Raceway, Brian Vickers has visited the Phoenix-based Bob Bondurant Driving School twice, including a two-day session this week. GMAC Racing also made laps at Virginia International Raceway on June 15 to shake down its primary car for Sunday.
‘WON’ FOR THE ROAD: Rick Hendrick leads all car owners at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point) with four Cup Series victories, each coming courtesy of driver Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team. Robert Yates is second among owners with three wins at the track.
DOUBLE DUTY FOR BUSCH AT INFINEON: Busch will take on another double-duty weekend in an effort to gain valuable track time at the 1.99-mile Infineon Raceway. Entered in Saturday’s Southwest Series race, the 20-year-old will pilot the very same car that took the checkered flag in the event last season for MRG Motorsports.
SECOND TIME’S A CHARM: Vickers, driver of the No. 25 GMAC/ditech.com Chevrolets, will make his second career start at Infineon Raceway this weekend. In his debut at the road course in 2004 NEXTEL Cup competition, Vickers qualified 39th and finished 22nd.
ROAD-COURSE WARRIOR: Terry Labonte, who will drive a No. 11 Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing at Infineon Raceway, has competed in more road-course races on the Cup circuit (54) than any other driver. The two-time series champion also leads his counterparts with eight road-course pole positions.
STREAK ENDS FOR VICKERS: GMAC Racing’s streak of two consecutive top-six finishes was halted Sunday at Michigan International Speedway after a tire problem on Lap 41 forced Vickers to spin and hit a water barrier at the entrance of pit road. He was running fifth at the time.
BUSCH BATTING FOR CHARITY: Busch will participate in the July 7 “Racin’ the Bases” charity softball game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, Ill. The NEXTEL Cup rookie will sign autographs from 4:30-5 p.m. CT prior to the 6 p.m. celebrity game benefiting the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
CHICAGO NEXT FOR LABONTE: Following his one-race effort for Joe Gibbs Racing at Infineon Raceway, Labonte will see action at Chicagoland Speedway in one of his customary No. 44 Chevrolets fielded by Hendrick Motorsports. He will also race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway later this season.
KIDS-ONLY AUTOGRAPH SESSION AT CHICAGOLAND: Busch will sign autographs at the No. 5 Kellogg’s Racing souvenir trailer at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, July 10 beginning at 11 a.m. CT. A limit of 100 tickets will be distributed at the trailer that morning for children ages 17 and under. Parents will be able to accompany their child and take photographs. The tickets will be handed out on a first come, first served basis.
MORE CHICAGO SIGNING: In advance of the NEXTEL Cup event at Chicagoland Speedway, Busch will greet fans and sign autographs on Thursday, July 7 from 12-2 p.m. CT at Jewel Grocery in Joliet, Ill. The store is at 1401 Jefferson Street.
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BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 GMAC/ditech.com CHEVROLETS: (DID SUNDAY’S 41ST-PLACE FINISH HURT THE TEAM’S MOMENTUM?) “What happened at Michigan was frustrating. Everyone’s been working so hard and we’ve been having some good results. We had a really good car. I knew we had a tire issue, I just wished I would’ve tried getting to pit road earlier. There’s not a lot we can do at this point except look ahead. One bad result isn’t going to change how this team performs. Infineon presents us with a good opportunity to gain back some of the points we lost at MIS.”
VICKERS: (WHY HAVE YOU SPENT SO MUCH TIME PREPARING FOR THE ROAD-COURSE EVENTS THIS SEASON?) “I’ve always enjoyed the road courses and I think they represent good opportunities to make up points because some guys struggle at these tracks. We race on ovals the majority of the time, but I’d really like to be able to run well at places like Infineon and Watkins Glen (N.Y.).”
VICKERS: (WHAT’S THE KEY TO A GOOD FINISH AT INFINEON?) “If you can stay on the course and keep your car from wheel-hopping, you’re almost guaranteed a top-15 or top-10 finish.”
VICKERS: (IS INFINEON MORE CHALLENGING THAN WATKINS GLEN, THE OTHER ROAD COURSE ON THE SCHEDULE?) “They’re both challenging in their own sense. I think Infineon is more technical than Watkins Glen. The elevation changes, blind corners, lack of run-off room and shorter turns make Infineon a difficult course to get around. Watkins Glen is more of a high-speed course in my opinion.”
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KYLE BUSCH, DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG’S CHEVROLETS: (ON RUNNING TWO ROAD COURSES EACH YEAR.) “I wish NASCAR had more than just the two road courses on the schedule. We put a lot of time into preparing for them, so I’d like to see at least four, just to make the schedule more diversified.”
BUSCH: (ON PREPARING FOR INFINEON.) “This race should be interesting. We had a good car out there for the test and wrecked it. Then we went to Virginia International Raceway and wrecked again. I went to the Bondurant School when I was out in Phoenix earlier this year and we were making strides. I know the guys have had to work extra hard preparing these cars and I just want to go out there and maintain a good spot on the track. These road courses are wild cards. You never know what’s going to happen. One spinout and you’re pretty much done for the day.”
BUSCH: (ON RACING THE SOUTHWEST SERIES ON SATURDAY.) “In an effort to gain track time, I’m going to run for MRG Motorsports in the Southwest Series. The car won last year and I think we should at least have good equipment. Hopefully, the driver will come through [LAUGHS].”
