Busch testing at Dover

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

Kurt Busch will test a Roush Racing Ford Taurus today and Thursday at Dover Downs International Speedway in what could be a prelude to the native Las Vegan making his NASCAR Winston Cup debut at the mile oval next weekend.

Busch, who is the leading candidate to replace Chad Little in the No. 97 Roush Racing Ford next season, said he did not know if he would attempt to qualify for the Sept. 24 MBNA Gold 400 Winston Cup race.

"I'm going there to test for a couple of days but I'm not sure what is going to happen after that," Busch said.

A representative of Roush Racing termed the two-day test an "audition," much like the two-stage tryout Busch went through to land his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ride this season with Roush.

It is believed that if Busch posts adequate times during this week's test, Roush will enter him in the Sept. 24 race at Dover. Team owners have until Friday to submit their entries to NASCAR for the race. It has been speculated that Busch already has agreed to terms with team owner Jack Roush to drive the No. 97 John Deere-sponsored Ford in 2001, and that Roush would like to put the 22-year-old Busch into the car for 5-6 races this season.