Tidal wave

Rookie Kurt Busch, a former pipe installer for the Las Vegas water district, has taken the Craftsman Truck series by storm.

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 12, 2000

Working the graveyard shift fit perfectly into Kurt Busch's schedule.

He would install and replace water pipelines for the Las Vegas Valley Water District during the four 10-hour nights he worked each week. The job allowed him just enough time to pursue his weekend hobby.

"It was a good source of income and enabled me to pay for parts and pieces to go racing locally," Busch said. "It gave me a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and I didn't have to be in until 8 at night on Monday."

That must seem to Busch like a long time ago.

In the past 10 months, the 22-year-old has gone from supplying Las Vegas with drinking water and driving late model stock cars on tracks in the Southwest to being one of the hottest drivers in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck series.

"I've been on a constant escalator just heading upward," Busch said. "Things have moved so quick."

A racer since he was 14 years old, Busch was hired in November to drive the No. 99 Ford owned by Roush Racing.

And his rookie season has been spectacular.

He is third in the points standings with two wins, nine top-five finishes and 12 top 10s.

"It's been very surprising so far," Busch said. "We have come a long way very quick, and it's really turned into a great success story so far with just the way that the team has come together."

He became the youngest driver to win a race in the series (July1 at the Milwaukee Mile) and the second rookie in NASCAR history -- the other was Tony Stewart last year -- to win back-to-back races (Milwaukee and July8 at New Hampshire International Speedway).

"I've been more than impressed by Kurt," said Jack Roush, who owns two truck teams and five Winston Cup teams. "He's one of the most talented, most manageable drivers I've ever been around."

Busch's crew chief agrees.

"Kurt is real easy to work with, and he learns the tracks very quickly," Matt Chambers said. "It usually takes him 10 laps or so before he is ready to start making changes on the truck. It's made me feel a lot better and a lot more confident as a team with a driver that can show our results."

With six races remaining on the schedule, Busch could contend for the series championship with a few more victories. He is 274 points behind leader, and teammate, Greg Biffle.

Another win would make him the rookie with the most victories in NASCAR history.

Busch had to endure a pair of tryout sessions last fall to get a chance at such success.

He compares the sessions to the Gong Show.

The first took place in October at Toledo Speedway.

Roush Racing executives evaluated five drivers on communication with the crew chief, lap times and performance in simulated interviews with reporters.

"It was a nerve-racking situation, probably the toughest I've been in thus far in my racing career," Busch said.

A former student at UNLV, he impressed the personnel enough to earn an invitation to the second tryout, in November at Phoenix International Raceway.

"They let us know that one of us five drivers would be leaving today with a ride," Busch said. "I just took it as an opportunity of a lifetime and thought, "Hey, if I'm even being considered for this truck ride, that's great.' I was really a lot more laid back the second time, and I was able to get more into a groove and go out there and show them my stuff. That's how I was able to get the job."

After being hired, Busch moved to Michigan, where Roush Racing's truck teams are headquartered.

"My parents are still out in Las Vegas," said Busch, who lives in West Bloomfield. "My dad runs a Mac Tools business, but it was time for me to get going with my life."

Roush might move Busch to the Winston Cup series next season.

With Chad Little departing the No. 97 Ford after this season -- he and Rousch agreed not to negotiate a new contract -- Rousch will have a vacancy.

"He is on the short list of possible drivers for 2001," Roush said Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The owner added that if a rookie is selected, he probably will drive in seven Winston Cup races this season. NASCAR allows a rookie to drive in seven races and still claim rookie status the next season.

"It will be the biggest adjustment of his life if he were to get the nod," Roush said before winking.

Busch knows that leapfrogging from the truck series to Winston Cup would be a major change. "It's a big jump," he said.

Still, Busch worked the graveyard shift so he someday could get the opportunity to race full time and not have to worry about having enough money to buy parts and support a dream.

"Just the fact that I have been considered for this is really giving me a giant confidence boost," Busch said. "If they choose me, (it) will be a tough road to go, but I think that I am ready for it."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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