Still The Favorite

BRISTOL, Tenn. – To the dismay of many fans and the delight of television producers, the controversial Kyle Busch is among the favorites to win Saturday’s Sharpie 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In an interview Wednesday, the 23-year-old Las Vegas native said he feels the urgency of the Chase for the Nextel Cup has forced drivers to take a more cautious approach in the BMS night race.

“I think years ago it was just a race where everybody could go all out, and now it’s sort of tamed,” Busch said.

Busch also feels the smoother and wider concrete surface installed last year has changed the tone of BMS events.

“With the track being a three-groove track, there’s a lot more room that everybody can drive around, so it’s kind of cooled off a little bit in that sense, too,” Busch said.

Pioneers

Fourteen former NASCAR drivers will gather today from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Gray Tire and Automotive in Gray, Tenn.

The event, billed as First Annual Racing Legends of the South, offers a rare spotlight on the stars of NASCAR’s formative days.

Rex White, the 1960 NASCAR series champion, headlines the list of VIPs along with Tom Pistone, Ronnie Thomas, Brownie King and Neil Castles.

Drivers will be available for autographs and pictures. Donations will be accepted.

Unlike other pro sports, NASCAR has no pension system. Several former drivers, such as ailing former Busch Series champion Sam Ard, have suffered financial problems.

Star Power

The unique pairing of two-time Sprint Cup series champ Jimmie Johnson with National Football League star Randy Moss was a major storyline entering Wednesday’s O’Reilly 200 NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series race.

In a meeting with media members Wednesday morning, Johnson admitted that driving for Moss is a good attention-grabber.

“A lot of people have paid attention to that,” Johnson said. “I wish Randy could make it down here. Evidently he has got some work with [training] camps and all that stuff.”

As for adapting to his new ride, Johnson admitted that it took an adjustment.

“Today was my first-time ever in a truck, even sitting in one,” Johnson said. “I expected to have a lot of room in there, and I was shocked that I didn’t have the leg room that I expected.

“Today has been a learning curve from just sitting in the race truck all the way to driving it.”

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