Busch looking to have some fun in Toledo

8/14/2009

While most of his competitors in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series will spend their Friday evening resting and relaxing in advance of the NASCAR races at Michigan Speedway this weekend, Kyle Busch has opted for a date with someone named adrenaline.

Busch, who competes in all three of NASCAR's national series, plans to be blasting and bouncing his way around Toledo Speedway tonight in the Late Model 100-lap feature race. Busch has been a regular combatant in the CRA Super Series Late Models this season, and the close proximity of the Toledo track to MIS gives him the opportunity to continue that relationship.

"The biggest thing is fun, for the love for racing," Busch said about what brings him to the Toledo track the night before a hectic day at MIS. "I just want to go out and have the competition side of things. It's fun for me coming out to the short tracks. I love doing it."

Toledo Speedway expects Busch, who had a record 21 victories in NASCAR's top three series last year, to be a big draw.

"Anytime you can get a NASCAR driver here, that adds to the night," Toledo Speedway general manager Scott Schultz said. "Love or hate him, he can wheel a race car. He still races at short tracks, and in our book, that's the kind of guy we are very pleased to have on board."

Busch said he encounters some highly skilled competition on the local tracks and that he enjoys the opportunity to help bring more fans out for short-track racing.

"It's something to give back to the short-track ranks, and to be able to go out there, run at some special events, get some people in the stands and race against some of the best short-track racers in the country," Busch said.

"What some people don't realize is that some of these guys at the short track level are just as good or even better than some of the guys on the Sprint Cup level, but for one reason or another, they just haven't got the shot that we've had. I have a lot of respect for these guys because they are the best at a particular track or a region of the country."

Busch, who tested at Toledo Speedway yesterday, will participate in Sprint Cup qualifying at MIS this afternoon before coming back to Toledo. He is expected to hold a 30-minute autograph session at his Rowdy Style souvenir trailer at Toledo Speedway this evening.