Week six of the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race season brings the No. 54 Monster Energy team to Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) with a new face behind the wheel. Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and older brother to team owner Kyle Busch, looks to add a victory to the record book for the newly formed Kyle Busch Motorsports Nationwide Series team, and to his own NNS resume that already includes three wins and three poles in 13 career series starts.
This weekend’s TMS event will be the first of an estimated 17 Nationwide Series events in which the elder Busch will drive the No. 54 Monster Energy entry for KBM. The veteran Busch brother likes everything about the Texas Motor Speedway including how much ‘BIGGER’ everything becomes while there – the excitement of the fans, the attention from the media, the competitors and ultimately the size of the trophy.
“There’s nothing bigger than winning in Texas,” describes Busch. “You can’t have a better place to race at.” A previous race winner at this venue, Busch hopes to turn momentum around for the young NNS team, who in five season starts has accomplished one top-ten finish.
In 2006, Kurt Busch made his first career Nationwide Series start at the spring Texas event. After starting from the seventh position, he led 70 of 206 laps and earned his first victory at the 1.5-mile oval. In 2007, Busch earned a top-ten finish at the venue, one year after his initial win.
In 2012, the 33- year-old NASCAR veteran will attempt to bring home the first NNS victory for the No. 54 Monster Energy program and Kyle Busch Motorsports team.
Kurt Busch, Driver of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:
What are your feelings this week, finally being able to get into the No. 54 team car in the Nationwide Series at Texas?
“I’m nothing but excited. The guys on this team are new to each other and new to Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM). They’ve had some learning experiences so far this season, and the momentum is positive. I am ready to get into that seat and do my part to help build KBM.”
You have been spending time around the No. 54 NNS team weekly at the race track and were just able to conduct a test session with them in Nashville, what has your impression been so far?
“Mike Beam and Rick Ren are good leaders for the team. I’ve been coming around the guys at track to try and take some of that ‘newness’ off before it was my turn in the car. Then we had the chance to spend two solid days together testing at Nashville Superspeedway. That time really allowed us to build our chemistry and I look forward to seeing how that translates on the track this weekend.”
KBM brings another new car chassis (No. 008) to the track for you in Texas – do you like a new car or do you prefer one with track time?
“I like a new car and in this case I haven’t raced on an NNS oval since 2007, so the chassis will be different for me anyway. This race car is the same car we just tested with last week in Tennessee though, so it has some track time on it already. We had a VERY good test session.”
Mike Beam, Crew Chief of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:
You have a new driver stepping into a new car chassis this week – how do you feel going into the Texas event weekend?
“We tested 250 miles this past week at Nashville Superspeedway and we were able to collect a lot of data that will be useful to our team moving forward. Kurt was instrumental in helping us collect that information as his level of communication was great and his feedback was most helpful.”
“I love racing in Texas. I hope we can have the same success this weekend as I had there last year, and produce a win!”
KBM
