NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion's Week - Day 2

* Active day - Kurt Busch completes training exercises with FDNY recruits

* Wednesday sneak preview - Busch to visit CIBC Trading Floor, famous 21 Club restaurant

NEW YORK, Nov. 30 -- Tuesday brought another national morning-show appearance for Kurt Busch (No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Tools Ford), the first stop on his second full day of Champion's Week activities in New York City.

As the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion, Busch joined FOX and Friends hosts Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy in an outdoor area of FOX's New York facility. Backed by his blue and gold IRWIN Tools show car, Busch chatted with Kilmeade and Doocy on what it took to win his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup title, and the feelings and celebration of that achievement.

From FOX and Friends, it was off to a commemorative photo shoot; Busch had his picture taken on venerable Brooklyn Bridge with the Manhattan skyline behind him. His next stop was a quieter locale, and one laced with contemplation. Busch paused at Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 memorial, for a few moments' repose.

His next stop was a natural extension of the Ground Zero stop - an upbeat visit with recruits at the FDNY Fire Academy on Manhattan's Randall's Island. But it wasn't a leisurely occasion. Accompanied by NASCAR.com's Marty Smith, Busch donned full firefighting attire and embarked on a timed training exercise with FDNY recruits. Among the tasks: Uncoiling and pulling a fire hose around a corner, pushing up a fire ladder, driving a sledgehammer against a hydraulic pad. Then came the finale - dragging a 175-pound dummy the length of a 35-foot area, around a cone, and back to the starting point.

"I thought it was going to be cake until we came to that 175-pound dummy," Busch said. "My lap time was going great until I got to that point."

Actually, his lap time was very respectable. Busch completed the entire training exercise in 1:53. Smith's time was 1:46. The FDNY recruits averaged 1:18.

After all the physical activity, Busch spent some quality time with the FDNY recruits. He also donated Nextel-logo-ed firefighting hats to the recruits who competed against him in the training exercise, while one of his sponsors, IRWIN Tools, donated equipment - vise grips, tool boxes - to the FDNY Fire Academy.

"The recruits were a nice, competitive blend of personalities," Busch said. "The ones who were in uniform were very polite and nice, and the guys who were in the training exercise were telling me how they were going to kick my butt."

A few hours' break was a welcome tonic, then Busch again hit the streets of Manhattan, stopping first at Time-Life, Inc., to visit with editor-in-chief Norman Pearlstine, then to tape a segment for Tuesday's Late Show with David Letterman.

Next up: Another taping segment, this time for the Best Damn Sports Show Period. Busch was scheduled to end his day with an appearance on MRN's Champion's Show from the Museum of Television and Radio, then a dinner with Nextel executives. A special perk: Busch and his girlfriend, Eva Bryan, also were planning to be at the traditional Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.

   -- What's on tap tomorrow for the champion ... On Wednesday, Kurt Busch
      will begin his day with a visit to the CIBC Trading Floor. There,
      he'll participate in the March of Dimes' Miracle Day event. It's
      sponsored by CIBC World Markets, and raises money for many children's
      charities. Commissions and fees from transactions made that day by
      other institutions go to charity. Here's the rest of Busch's Wednesday
      schedule:

       * After his Miracle Day appearance, Busch will attend a luncheon for
         regional and business print media at the 21 Club. He'll visit with
         New York City press, as well as other northeastern journalists,
         over lunch at one of the city's historic dining venues.
       * Later in the afternoon, Busch will participate in several satellite
         media tours for national and regional television outlets.
       * Busch will end his Wednesday schedule with a media reception and
         dinner at The View restaurant at the New York Marriott Marquis.

   -- NASCAR.com follows in Busch footsteps ... NASCAR.com's Marty Smith has
      a unique assignment this week. He's trailing Kurt Busch on his daily
      schedule of appearances and even participating on a few occasions, as
      he did during Tuesday's visit to FDNY Fire Academy. Smith is
      documenting Champion's Week - and Busch's experience as the 2004
      NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion - on a daily basis.

   Fast Facts

   What:   NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony
   Where:  Grand Ballroom, Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City.
   When:   7-10:30 p.m. (ET). Friday, Dec. 3.
   TV:     TNT, 9 p.m. (ET).
   Radio:  MRN/XM Satellite.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Kurt Busch 6,506. 2. Jimmie Johnson 6,498. 3. Jeff Gordon 6,490. 4. Mark Martin 6,399. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,368. 6. Tony Stewart 6,326. 7. Ryan Newman 6,180. 8. Matt Kenseth 6,069. 9. Elliott Sadler 6,024. 10. Jeremy Mayfield 6,000.

   11th-place driver: Jamie McMurray.

   Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Kasey Kahne.

   Special Guest: Comedian Jay Mohr, host of NBC's "Last Comic Standing."

   Musical Entertainment: Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, and R&B
   vocalist Brian McKnight.