Tuesday, June 12, 2001
Busch race draws big field
Up to 55 could try to qualify for Outback 300
By By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The NASCAR Busch series got some bad press earlier this year when it struggled to fill its 43-car lineup for some races. That won't be a problem at Kentucky Speedway this weekend.
“We could have as many as 55 cars trying to qualify,” speedway general manager Mark Cassis said. “That's great. We'll certainly find room in the garages for them.”
TICKET SALES
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The speedway said Monday that about 64,000 seats have been sold, with capacity 66,089. For tickets, call 1-888-652-RACE or visit www.kentuckyspeedway.com. Or, visit the speedway branch office at 2216 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell, Ky.; tickets also can be bought at the track in Sparta, Ky.
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The Outback Steakhouse 300 (8 p.m. Saturday) has one of the top five purses on the Busch tour, at $1.15 million. The winner gets $82,000, and the big money is one reason Busch teams make it a point to be at such events.
Earlier this season at Rockingham, N.C., NASCAR was one car short of a full field for its Busch race. At Nashville just 44 cars were entered.
Rising costs — as much as $5 million to run a full season — are one problem. And, a NASCAR-mandated engine change hiked some Busch teams' costs by $500,000. That's a lot of cash, even for the wealthier teams.
Also, the fields are down because fewer Winston Cup drivers are entering Busch events. Many Winston team owners are increasingly wary about risking injury to
their drivers. Others just don't have the money.
Kevin Harvick, the Busch series points leader, is the top name entered at Kentucky. Harvick also drives full time in Winston Cup, having replaced the late Dale Earnhardt for Richard Childress Racing.
Winston regular Kenny Wallace also is entered at Kentucky.
Kirk Lowry, a representative of Harvick's AC Delco and GM Goodwrench teams, said the smaller fields work to the well-funded teams' advantage.
“The new engine package has priced some guys out of it, which is unfortunate,” Lowry said. “To be competitive, you really have to step up your engine budget.”
Harvick and Wallace both will be doing double duty next weekend, with a Winston Cup race Sunday at Pocono, Pa. They will fly back and forth between Kentucky and Pocono on private jets. Despite the multiple practices, drivers' meetings and logistical hassles, it appears the only thing Harvick and Wallace will miss is about 15 minutes of practice before Busch qualifying Friday.
Harvick leads the Busch points and stands ninth in Winston Cup points. He has one victory on each circuit this year.
Wallace is 12th in Busch points and 42nd in Winston Cup. He has four top-five Busch finishes in 15 starts this season.
The Outback Steakhouse 300 also will feature defending NASCAR Busch champion Jeff Green, two-time 2001 winner Greg Biffle, former series champions Randy LaJoie and David Green, Winston veterans Geoffrey Bodine, Chad Little and Ted Musgrave.
LOCAL LADS: Cincinnati natives Jeff Fultz and Matt “Spanks” Overbeck are entered in Friday night's NASCAR Gatorade All-Pro race at the speedway.
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Busch race draws big field
