Kyle Busch looking to repeat Loudon success

KYLE BUSCH
Looking to Repeat Loudon Success with Own Team

Kyle Busch

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Kyle Busch is a regular winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) in all three of NASCAR's top-tier racing series. Among 27 career races at the "Magic Mile," Busch has recorded seven total wins, including victories in the last three NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races as well as the last three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events. The last two Truck Series wins were accomplished from the seat of his own Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) race team. Busch hopes to add another victory to his resume in the Nationwide Series, this time behind his rookie No. 54 Monster Energy team.

Last year, Busch achieved a milestone when he tied NASCAR veteran Mark Martin for the series Career Victory lead (49 wins), with a win in last season's New Hampshire event. The 2011 win was also Busch's 100th victory in NASCAR's top-three series combined.

Busch has since gone on to achieve 105 total career NASCAR series wins, along with top billing as the winningest Nationwide Series driver, with 51 checkered-flag grabs.

Busch has accomplished at least one Nationwide Series win every season since 2004. The 27-year old team owner-driver looks to notch his first victory of 2012 and continue that streak this weekend, at a short track where he is very familiar with victory lane.

Kyle Busch, Driver of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:

You've had success at this flat track, what is the key for you at New Hampshire Motor Speedway?

"This was a tricky place for me a few years ago -- it may still be. For awhile there, I felt like every time I went to Loudon I was relearning the best feel for my car. This track has long straights and tight turns, so the speed is there, but you have to get yourself slowed down too. The balance of your car from the beginning to the center of the corner is key. You don't want to work the brakes too hard and then find yourself fighting the car too much. I feel like now I can go in there and give Beam (Mike, crew chief) a good idea of the set up I want. I look forward to seeing what the No. 54 Monster Energy car can do there."

You've won this race three years in a row. Is there pressure to grab that first win here in your own No. 54 car?

"The pressure is there every week for us. We all want it. Considering we keep improving, I know it's a possibility to get that next win for Monster Energy, and hopefully I can be the one to bring it home this time. Obviously Richmond worked out well for Kurt. We've put ourselves in position to win a few more times, but we have to avoid catastrophe and limit our mistakes in order to finish the deal. What Beam and the team have built so far has proven to be competitive. I know it will happen, it's just a matter of time."

What do you talk about with your crew after a hard week like Daytona?

"We move on...get better and do it right the next time."

Mike Beam, Crew Chief of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:

Your driver is the defending race winner at Loudon, how will you prepare for this weekend?

"Going to Loudon with Kyle is exciting considering his success there. Hopefully we can give him a car like he has had before, and challenge for the win."

A disappointing finish in Daytona Friday, how will you prepare the crew this week?

"Last week the team did not execute the repairs as quickly as needed on pit road, to help improve our finish. It was a learning lesson and we as a group are working hard now on being more efficient in doing repairs.

As always we know we have the driver to get it done. I have to make sure the team is prepared and ready. I know we all will give it our best this week."

Kyle Busch's No. 54 Monster Energy Camry:

Chassis KBM-003: KBM will unload intermediate car #003, first raced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Kyle Busch, where the team was involved in an accident and finished 33rd. Chassis #003 then raced at Dover (Del.) International Raceway with Kurt Busch who completed their fifth top-five, with a fourth-place finish. The backup machine is Chassis KBM-007, regularly traveled as a second team car.

Notes of Interest:

Crew chief Mike Beam's NHMS statistics across all three top-tier series include 20 races, zero wins, zero top-five and five top-10 finishes with four laps led.

Busch is the Youngest Winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, on 06/27/2009 at the age of 24 years, 1 month and 25 days.

Busch holds the Race Record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with an average speed of 111.925mph on 06/27/2009.

Kyle Busch's last NNS win came on 9/09/11 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Busch has competed in nine series races since then, achieving a high-finishing position of second-place twice.

Source: Kyle Busch Motorsports