Going out with a bang

Christian Potts
The Norman Transcript

November 07, 2007 11:57 pm

— For a lame duck, Kyle Busch is having a pretty good time of things.
Busch, in his final few runs with Hendrick Motorsports, is up to fourth in the points standings.
Busch’s contract with Hendrick was not renewed, with the team instead bringing in Dale Earnhardt Jr. to drive the car next season.
But he seems to be staying focused in his final rides in the No. 5 car.
“I think I finished in the Top 5 or pretty close to the Top 5 in every Chase race that we’ve had here that we haven’t had trouble in,” Busch said. “I think that shows that I’m not taking anything away from what I’ve got going on this year to look forward to next year.”
Some people speculated that wouldn’t be the case, that the fiery Busch might not be a team player or as competitive in the lame duck position.
Busch also has a good look at the head-to-head battle developing between teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the championship.
He also is learning a lot from watching their competition be clean.
“It’s great to see that those guys can battle it out for a championship together,” Busch said. “It takes having good races every single week, and that’s what they have got.
“They have got the ability to run up top and challenge and compete for the wins, and, of course, the ability or the luck to not get caught up in anything to where they are that far ahead of us.”
Although he’s fourth in the standings, any hopes of winning the title are nearly gone for Busch. He is 329 points behind the leader Johnson and 299 behind Gordon. Unless both struggle terribly this week, Busch and third-place Clint Bowyer will be mathematically eliminated from a shot after this week.
Busch will land on his feet for next season with Joe Gibbs Racing, joining Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin on what figures to be a serious championship contender from day one.
Busch said he looks forward to that chance but also appreciates the chance he got in his first big ride with Hendrick.
“You know, there’s no hard feelings going out on this deal. It’s actually going to be pretty good. I have a lot of friends there.”

Let tradition
count more
As we come into the final two races of the Nextel Cup season, it would only make sense we’d be headed to some of the series’ historical venues.
Or instead, we can go to Phoenix and Miami. And that follows last week’s stop outside of Dallas.
Yes, all have plenty of race fans and surely local folks appreciate the chance to make a couple of short trips south every year to see the best drivers in the world compete, as many Oklahomans did last weekend.
But it sure is a shame that NASCAR’s traditional tracks — Charlotte, Daytona, Bristol, even those from days gone by like Darlington and North Wilkesboro — aren’t in the mix for the races that ultimately decide a champion.
Maybe it doesn’t matter to most people, or even the drivers.
But they don’t play the Super Bowl in Milwaukee or take the Final Four to Montana. Both places have plenty of good fans for their sports, but they’re not where you expect a champion to be crowned.

Already a champion
Carl Edwards wrapped up the Busch Series title two weeks early at Texas Saturday.
Edwards wrapped up the title with a first half of the season where he won four times.
Interestingly, he is winless in the last 17 races but has continued to extend his lead with consistent finishes.
Christian Potts
366-3531
cpotts@normantranscript.com