NASCAR: Rookie Bush Wins At Martinsville

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<TR> <TD VALIGN="TOP"><TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="30" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD><IMG SRC="img/shd_stats_driverbiopu.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="12" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR="#CECECE"><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD>BIRTHDATE</TD> <TD></TD> <TD>August 4, 1978</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR="#CECECE"><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD>HOMETOWN</TD> <TD></TD> <TD>Las Vegas, NV</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR="#CECECE"><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD>RESIDENCE</TD> <TD></TD> <TD>Charlotte, NC</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR="#CECECE"><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD>HEIGHT</TD> <TD></TD> <TD>5' 11"</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR="#CECECE"><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD>WEIGHT</TD> <TD></TD> <TD>150 lbs.</TD> </TR>

<TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR="#CECECE"><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD>FAMILY</TD> <TD></TD> <TD>Single</TD> </TR>

<TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="16" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD><IMG SRC="img/shd_bio_driverbiopu.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="14" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3>The yellow stripe no longer exists on the back bumper of Kurt Busch's Rubbermaid Ford. The 23-year-old Las Vegas, NV, native has graduated from rookie status. After an impressive NASCAR Winston Cup Series rookie season, Busch is looking for a promising sophomore campaign, especially knowing he has the addition of veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig to the Rubbermaid Racing team.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3>"As a rookie, I learned a lot," admits Busch, who recorded three top-five and six top-10 finishing results in 2001, and surprised many by capturing his first career pole position at NASCAR's toughest track - Darlington Raceway. "I think I did what I was supposed to do - learn, absorb and apply lessons learned to future races. I have said all along that I needed experience. I have a lot of that now for 2002.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3>"It's going to be great to work with Jimmy (formerly Mark Martin's crew chief who came over to the #97 team during the off season). He is a father figure to me. If I get out of line, I know he will smack me. I think we can learn from each other. I have a lot of innovative ideas that I don't know quite how to develop, but that is where Jimmy can help. He has tons of ideas, too, and they have proven to be successful. I have already learned a ton from him."</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3>While Busch's season in 2001 was one that many drivers would love to have, it wasn't up to his own expectations. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year battle, and was in position to win several races, but bad luck won out on many occasions. During the second half of the season, he led numerous laps at Darlington, Martinsville and Rockingham only to succumb to misfortune.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3>"I saw a lot of blue sky in some of our efforts last year," admitted Busch. "We were able to have good finishes at Talladega (3rd), Texas (4th) and Indianapolis (5th). We showed great potential in other events, leading the field and showing our maturity as a team. That blue sky turned to cloudy gray but I know there is more blue sky on the horizon this year.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3>"We learned from the problems that sidelined us," added Busch. "I gained valuable experience and we showed strength as a team. We have had dramatic changes in our team. Jimmy is new to me, but most of the entire #6 (Martin) team is now with me. We have a new paint scheme, a new attitude and our sponsors are all behind us. We're ready to go! No more yellow stripe, but hopefully we can see some black and white checkers."</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3>Busch has come a long way in a short period of time. His driving career has seen him prosper since the beginning of his career, which began in 1994 when he competed in the Dwarf Division on the 0.25-mile clay track at Pahrump (NV) Valley Speedway, near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3>To some, Busch's fast success is not a huge surprise, especially since he has always had a knack for adapting quickly to whatever he drives or wherever he drives. He's cool under pressure. That's why Jack Roush handpicked him from an open audition in late 1999 to drive one of his trucks in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He then proved Roush made a smart choice, winning four races, capturing Rookie-of-the-Year honors, and finishing second in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 2000 championship chase to his Roush Racing teammate, Greg Biffle.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3> "Every morning I wake up with a smile on my face," laughs Busch. "I love what I do. It is all I have ever wanted to do. I am just thankful for the opportunity."</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="20" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3><A HREF="javascript:self.close();" onmouseover="self.status='Close Window'";return true;><IMG SRC="img/popup_close_window.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""></A></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="20" HEIGHT="24" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> <TD><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="120" HEIGHT="24" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> <TD><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="55" HEIGHT="24" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> <TD><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="124" HEIGHT="24" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> </TABLE></TD> <TD VALIGN="TOP"><TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR> <TD><IMG SRC="img/shim.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="30"></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><IMG SRC="img/img_driverbio_popup1.jpg" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><IMG SRC="img/img_driverbio_popup_sign.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""></TD> </TR> </TABLE></TD>

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