KURT BUSCH 11TH-FASTEST IN DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING
-Miller Lite Dodge Team Adding To Confidence Entering Thursday’s 150-Mile Qualifying Race-

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2006) – For Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch and his Penske Racing South team, Sunday’s Daytona 500 qualifying session was just what they wanted to officially activate their 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing season.

        “I’m so happy with this Miller Lite Dodge,” said Busch, the 27-year-old driving champion, who is entering his first season behind the wheel of a Roger Penske-owned stock car.  “It was an awesome run to start off with these guys. I was so nervous I didn’t know what it was going to do. I’m ready to get started. That should be a great starting spot for our 150 and then we go race from there. It’s been fun to drive this Miller Lite Dodge so far, so thanks Rusty.”

        Busch’s comments came after he had turned in the 11th-fastest lap in today’s qualifying session, which established the front row for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 and helped lay out the starting grids for Thursday’s twin Gatorade Duel 150-mile qualifying races.  He was also paying tribute to racing legend Rusty Wallace, who had piloted the famed Miller car for 16 years before turning over the keys to Busch when he retired after the 2005 season.

        Racing insiders, including Busch and crew chief Roy McCauley, had predicted that it would be an all-Chevrolet front row for this year’s Daytona 500.  The actual pole winner came as some surprise, however, as it was veteran Jeff Burton driving a Richard Childress Racing Chevy to the pole with a fast lap of 189.151 mph (47.581 seconds).  Jeff Gordon took the other front-row spot with his lap of 188.877 mph (47.650 seconds).

        Busch’s official lap speed was 187.539 mph (47.990 seconds) and it came as a pleasant surprise to the entire team.

        “Kurt and I talked about it just before qualifying and he said he was figuring on running something in the teens (lap time of 48.130 seconds to 48.199 seconds),” said a genuinely thrilled McCauley.  “I told him that would be just fine, but if he could run a flat (48.000-second lap), I’d probably do cartwheels.  When he ran that 47.99 lap, I just had to say, wow, what more can we ask for today.”

        The Robert Yates Racing Ford duo of Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler was third and fourth this afternoon, Jarrett running a lap of 188.849 mph and Sadler turning in a 188.810 mph lap.  Jimmie Johnson was the fifth fastest, turning in a lap of 188.762 mph in his Chevrolet.  Bobby Labonte was the fastest Dodge driver, turning in a lap of 187.935 mph, the sixth-fastest lap.  Rookie Clint Bowyer, in a Chevy, was seventh, followed by Jamie McMurray (Ford), Bill Elliott (Chevrolet) and Kyle Busch (Chevrolet).

        “We’ve been testing non-stop, so this is good to get some actual timesheets under way that mean something,” said Busch.  “It’s fun driving this car. I think the car will draft good. When we were here testing the final day in January it seemed to show strength and it would maneuver. That’s what you need to race at Daytona. You need a maneuverable car.

        “I finished second here last year with my other team, so if I can bridge some of this information to this team, look out,” added Busch.   “I hope we can do it. We ran a little bit faster than I thought we would. We’re very happy with that.”

        Thursday’s Gatorade Duel 150-mile qualifying races get under way at 2:10 p.m. EST and will determine the remainder of the 43-car starting field in next Sunday’s 48th Annual Daytona 500.  The races will feature live coverage by TNT-TV and MRN Radio.

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