KURT BUSCH STARTS THIRD IN SATURDAY’S “ALL-STAR” RACE
-Miller Lite Dodge Driver Credits Crew For “Total Team Effort” On Qualifying Day-

CONCORD, N.C. (May 19, 2006) – Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch earned the third starting spot for Saturday night’s NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge here at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and quickly credited his Roy McCauley-led team for their great effort.

            “I think I got in and out of the pits pretty good, but our over-the-wall guys put an absolutely tremendous pit stop on us and that really made the difference,” Busch said of the 12.7-second stop the crew gave him in the unique qualifying format that featured three laps around this 1.5-mile track, plus a four-tire pit stop thrown in.  Busch’s total time was 123.235 seconds, which calculated to an average speed of 131.456 mph.

            “That’s the big thing about what we did here today – and this entire weekend, for that matter – as it’s a challenge involving everyone on the team,” said Busch, whose best finish in the “All-Star” race was his second-place finish in the 2003 edition.  “It definitely was a total team effort here tonight.”

            Busch was sixth of the 18 competitors making their qualifying runs.  His team’s crack at taking the pole held up until Jimmie Johnson, out 14th in the order, recorded a time of 122.938 seconds (131.774 mph average).  That was short-lived, however, as Kasey Kahne came on only two drivers later to grab the pole with a total time of 122.296 seconds (132.465 mph average).

            “Leaving pit road is a gas, trying not to spin the tires,” Busch said.  “It’s really a unique event one time a year and the crew really gets pumped up about it. The track cooled down, and Kasey got a real good lap. Kasey is going to be a candidate for the pole next Thursday. We’re very happy to start third and race to the front.”

            Saturday night’s race winner will get a check for $1 million and Busch put a little humor into his response when asked about his incentive and strategy for the race

            “The motivation for my wedding I guess (is what it’s going to take to win),” Busch said.  “I’ve got to pay for that thing. It’s been a fun race. Are we still having the inverted field? I haven’t done my homework yet and it shows, but to be able to come out in front in that final segment that’s going to be the key ingredient. If you can be leading going into the final 20, you’re going to be hard to pass. I think that’s going to be the key. You’ll see how it shakes out in the first 40 and the next 30 is going to be a real challenge to race each other and see who is going to be the lead guy going into the last 20 laps.”

            With the new pavement here at L.M.S., tires have been the center of attention for several weeks now.  Busch feels comfortable with his team’s preparation for Saturday night’s unique race, a special 90-lap, 135-mile non-points event that will be run in three segments – 40 laps, 30 laps and 20 laps. 

            “That was something that took up quite a bit of our time when we first showed up today as far as our practice was concerned,” Busch said.  “We spent a considerable amount of time checking our tires, making sure we’ve got the right amount of laps on ‘em. We’ve got all our sets rubbed in in case there is a spin. We’ve got four sets left. They’re going to make you changed ‘em during the 40-lap green flag run. From what I noticed in testing with the test motor, we’re getting about 37 laps (on fuel). Thirty-five might be the window. I think it’s going to be an interesting race strategy wise to see who does what.”

            Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch rounded out today’s top 10 qualifiers.

            Saturday’s pre-race activities feature a special 3:30 p.m. concert by Grammy Award-winning rock group Train on the Miller Lite Rock ‘n’ Racing stage located in the L.M.S. infield.  Cable channel FX and MRN Radio will cover Saturday night’s action live beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

# # #