Kyle Busch has accomplished little in his brief racing career that his older brother Kurt didn’t first achieve on his route to NASCAR’s top division.
The younger brother may finally have the opportunity to trump the reigning Nextel Cup series champion.
After his brother failed last year, Kyle will take up the family’s cause in the Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Kyle Busch, a Nextel Cup rookie, has officially entered Maine’s premier stock car race, the speedway announced Monday. The 32nd annual event, the richest single-day short-track race in the country, is scheduled for Sunday, July 31.
“Kurt told me all about this race and how hard he had to work just to qualify for the feature,” Kyle Busch said in a statement released by the speedway. “He talked about what a tough little track it was. I know he was disappointed not to win, so maybe I can get bragging rights and take home that big trophy.”
Kurt Busch, who started near the back of the field, finished 13th last year.
This is the second consecutive year that the race will feature two drivers from the Nextel Cup series. Last month, Matt Kenseth announced that he will return to Oxford for another attempt to win Maine’s crown jewel in auto racing.
Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, finished third last year.
Throughout his career, Kyle has emulated his brother’s career path. Those same tire tracks have led the Nextel Cup rookie to Oxford.
Car owners Steve Perry and Scott Pullen will prepare a car for Kyle, who will team up with Turner driver and two-time race winner Mike Rowe.
“We are thrilled to have a rising star like Kyle Busch show interest in the Banknorth 250,” track owner Bill Ryan said. “Kyle has shown an abundance of natural talent at every rung of the racing ladder. It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the track, the heat races and the other wrinkles that make the Banknorth 250 such a unique event.”
Kyle, who turned 20 last week, competes for Hendrick Motorsports – the same team that employs four-time Cup champ Jeff Gordon and current points’ leader Jimmie Johnson. Busch replaced legendary driver Terry Labonte in the No. 5 Kellogg’s car.
In 10 Nextel Cup races, Kyle has captured one pole and placed in the top-10 twice, highlighted by second-place finish at Las Vegas. But three finishes 38th or worse has left the rookie in 27th place.
Busch began racing legend cars at age 13 in Las Vegas, winning 65 races and two championships. After success in late model races, he joined one of NASCAR’s regional touring series at 16 and recorded a pair of top-10 finishes in six starts.
His meteoric rise was slowed briefly when NASCAR placed an age limit of 18 for all traveling circuits. At 17, he raced in the American Speed Association (ASA), finishing eighth. He returned to NASCAR last year, winning five races and finishing second in the Busch standings.
Reserved seating for the Banknorth 250 is available at the speedway office by calling (207) 539-8865.
Comments are no longer available on this story