DARLINGTON — After various incidents on and off the track throughout his career, Kurt Busch said it was time for him to change his ways and improve his reputation.
“I feel like five or six years ago — when the headlines were what they were (about me) — was definitely a rude awakening,” Busch said before Friday’s practice for today’s Southern 500. “Looking at the big picture in life, sitting on the porch talking to my grandkids and talking about racing, that’s not what I wanted them to visualize me as.
SOUTHERN 500
Check out slideshows from today at the track
Send us your pictures from the track
Get the latest at the track from WBTW News13's Matt Lincoln and the Morning News' Lou Bezjak:
ON THE GO?
Are you heading to the infield on race day but still want to be in the know? Or did you get stuck at work and can’t make it down to the track? We’ve got you covered. Visit http://www.darlingtonracing.mobi on your web-enabled cell phone or PDA and you’ll get all the latest from the Darlington Raceway. We’ll have blogs, videos, track information and pictures sent in by you and your friends right from the track. Just bookmark the link above on your mobile device, or text the word “racing” to 82672. It’s complete coverage from the track, right in the palm of your hand.
“I wanted something different. I felt like it was going to take a strong effort by me to really change and sort out what I needed to sort out and that was to race aggressively, competitively and yet sit back and have a little bit more fun with it and not take it as serious.”
That new attitude has been tested during some lean years since Busch left Roush Racing to join Penske Racing prior to the 2006 season.
From that point through the end of 2008, Busch missed the Chase two out of three years and won only four races. In the four years before that, Busch won 14 races and the 2004 Cup championship.
Busch also was docked 100 points and $100,000 in 2007 after boxing in Tony Stewart on pit road and almost hitting one of Stewart’s crew members at Dover.
“Those years were tough,” driver turned ESPN analyst Rusty Wallace said of Busch. “He spent a lot of time figuring out what he needed and how he wanted the car to handle.”
So far this season, everything has been clicking for Busch. The Las Vegas native comes into the Southern 500 second in points and has five top-10 finishes, including a win at Atlanta.
Busch also leads the points for the first time since 2005.
“It’s like a switch went off,” said Wallace, who drove the No. 2 car before Busch took over in ’06. “He just got so much better and they got those cars handling good.
“It’s been a breakthrough year for him. He and (crew chief) Pat Tyson got it going on right now.”
Busch says the team’s turnaround really began near the end of last season when he convinced owner Roger Penske to implement Dodge’s new R6P8 engine. The engine made its debut at Kansas with eight races left.
The results weren’t that great as Busch only had one top-10 finish. Still, it gave the team information to work on in the offseason and helped them begin 2009 a little more prepared.
“Getting it out on the race track was the smartest thing I think we could have done at the end of last year,” Busch said. “We’ve changed our setups around to run more aggressive shocks and some more aggressive spring settings. That’s changed us quite a bit. But the biggest percentage I would have to say has been the engine department helping us out.”
Except for questioning Penske over the radio about an adjustment made during the Martinsville race, Busch has been on his best behavior.
Wallace, though, isn’t totally buying into Busch’s changed persona.
“No I don’t think he’s any more mellow,” Wallace said. “That hasn’t changed at all. Thing you got to remember about Kurt ... when things are going good, he’s perfect. Right now, everything is going much better and he’s much quieter over the radio.
“That’s good for the team. It’s good for the fans. It’s good for his reputation, and there is nothing bad about that.”
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement