BUSCH LOOKS TO MAKE HISTORY

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 10/30/1999

If Kurt Busch is going to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive Featherlite Southwest Series,NASCAR Touring, race November 5 at Phoenix International Raceway,he'll have to beat one of the most competitive fields of the season. No driver in the history of the NASCAR's four Late Model touring Series; Featherlite Southwest Series, Raybestos Brakes northwest Series,Slim Jim All Pro Series, or the RE\MAX Challenge series has ever won five straight races.

The four series feature similar race cars. The early entrants for the Phoenix 125 include 1999 RE\MAXChallenge Series, NASCAR Touring champion Brian Hoppe; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Scott Hansen and former Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring champions John Dillon and Garrett Evans.

Busch, Las Vegas, Nev., said winning a fifth straight race is a goal he and his team, owned by businessman Craig Keough, have set. "It would prove to everybody that the other four didn't come easily," Bush said. "The competition level at Phoenix International Raceway is tough. We get everybody from every other division with our type of cars coming to Phoenix because we're the only ones still racing. Also, this is nobody's home track, so nobody has an advantage."

Dillon, like Busch, holds his Series record for consecutive wins with four. Dillon's hot streak came during his 1990 championship season. "Defending that record would be good," Dillon said. "I've raced against Kurt many times, he's a good competitor. We don't wish him any bad luck, but we don't want him breaking any of our records."

Steve Carlson set the RE\MAX Challenge Series record by winning four straight in 1998 and Freddie Query set the Slim Jim All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring, record with four straight victories in the same year. In all four cases, the four straight wins came in championship seasons.

Busch clinched the Featherlite Southwest Series title with his fourth win October 15 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. He is the only Featherlite Southwest Series driver with more than one victory this season. Busch has six wins this year and seven in his 33 race Series career. During his hot streak, Busch broke open a tight race for both the driver's championship and the seasonal Gatorade Front runner Award and has clinched both.

Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., leads the seasonal Bud Pole Award standings with three. Matt Crafton, Tulare, Calif., Damon Lusk Kennewick, Wash., and Bryan Germone, Windsor, Calif., are tied with two poles each and can tie Pursley.

Should Crafton, Lusk or Germone take the pole at Phoenix, a tie break system will be used to solve the deadlock.

Dillon said the Phoenix 125 is the type of race that could bring the series 13th different driver to victory circle. "Phoenix International Raceway is very tough," said Dillon."It's a tough race and pit stops are part of the strategy. Then you have all the different drivers that are thrown into the mix at this race, like Hansen, Evans and Hoppe, and you have a tough field."

Hansen has won three Series races at PIR and car owner, NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Ken Schrader, has won twice. Hansen, the former American Speed Association champion, is second in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series USG SHEETROCK BRAND Rookie of the Year standings this year.

Busch likes his chances to win a fifth straight race."Every time we've been to Phoenix we've improved our starting position and last time we started third, so we're hoping for a front row starting position. Our finishing positions have varied, but the last time there, we had a top five and we're looking to improve on that."

In addition to the former NASCAR Touring champions who are expected to enter the Phoenix event, there will also be a pairing of 1998 Rookies of the Year. Busch won the Featherlite Southwest Series award last season and Justin Diercks, who won the RE/MAX Challenge rookie award last season, is expected to compete. Diercksis a threat to Busch's win streak because he won his series race at the 1.25 mile Gateway International Raceway this season. The Phoenix 125, which carries a purse of $90,800, will be the final event of the season for the Featherlite Southwest Series.

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