KYLE BUSCH TO RACE SUPER LATE MODEL AT MASON-DIXON MELTDOWN

Source: Cindy Clark
Date: 11/19/2006

Busch, who has driven a Super Late Model in the last two Oxford 250s at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine, will run the #51 Chevy Monte Carlo for Rick Ramstrom and Steve Perry in the PASS South portion of the Mason-Dixon Meltdown. The Thanksgiving weekend event pays $12,500 to the race winner and $1,000 to start.

"The biggest reason to go run Super Late Model races is just to have fun," said Busch, who enters the NASCAR Nextel Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway 10th place in the point standings. "I love that kind of car. It is probably my favorite type of vehicle I've ever raced in. Anytime I have the opportunity to go back and run some of that stuff, it's fun for me. And the cars just keep looking cooler and cooler.

"The race in general is great. You'll have some of the biggest names in the country that are going to be there. Chuck Barnes Jr. is going to be there. Mike Rowe and Ben Rowe are going to be there. Jason Hogan is coming, too. There are plenty of big names out there that are going to be coming to South Boston and that makes it one big show. I'm really looking forward to it."

Busch has run for Perry both years he has competed in the Oxford 250. He finished sixth after leading 60-plus laps in the 2005 event and then led 12 laps in the 2006 Oxford 250 before engine problems relegated him to a 22nd-place finish.

"I hope our chances are pretty strong," added Busch. "I've got a great car I'm getting into with Steve Perry and Rick Ramstrom. He's always had great stuff for me to get into. I've had a lot of fun running with him up north in the Oxford 250. They are bringing down the same car that I ran so well with the first year at Oxford. I'm excited about it and looking forward to it.

"I've been to South Boston before. I was there in 2001 and 2002. The first time I was there was with the Craftsman Truck Series. I was doing pretty well and the left-rear tire fell off and we fenced it. The following year, we were there in the ASA car. We ran pretty well and finished sixth or seventh. It is a neat racetrack. There is some tight racing, but there is plenty of room to get around people. There are a couple of grooves you can work with. I enjoy South Boston. It's got a lot of history there with the Busch Series and all."

Busch won't only be a racer at the Mason-Dixon Meltdown, though. He'll be an interested spectator in the event as well. In addition to competing, Busch is entering Alex Haase in the event. Haase is a 16-year-old development driver for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Haase has driven for Busch in Legends Cars and is currently racing in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge Series and Super Late Models on the West Coast. Haase will compete in the Mason-Dixon Meltdown by driving the #6 out of the Richie Wauters Motorsports stables.

Kyle Busch will look to add to his NASCAR Nextel Cup hardware by winning the Mason-Dixon Meltdown.

"I entered him in the event, because I haven't really had the opportunity to watch him race much," added Busch. "Years ago I did, but since then he's gotten into full-bodied stock cars and trucks. Everyone has always told me he's run very good and been very fast; he's just seemed to be plagued by mechanical problems or this or that. I like what I hear, and I want to be able to watch him race more and put him on a bigger playing field.

"I took him to the WalTom Driving Development deal a couple of weeks ago, and he did very well. He is only 16. I talked with (WalTom Racing veteran crew chief) Howie Lettow after the deal. He gave me some insight as to what he thought. He thought I had a pretty good racecar driver here. To hear that gave me a sense of security, knowing I can keep going with him."

The PASS South Super Late Models portion of the "Mason-Dixon Meltdown" features a 250-lap main event on Saturday, November 25th. The Tour-Type Modifieds also have a 250-lap event that day and both premier divisions will be racing for a $12,500 paycheck for the winner, plus lap money and other bonuses to be announced soon. Also competing during the "Mason-Dixon Meltdown" weekend are the Legends Cars (Friday only) and the Pro Challenge Series (Saturday only).

For more information on the "Mason Dixon Meltdown," please contact Matt Kentfield at (704) 455-2051 and check out www.masondixonmeltdown.com.

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