Kyle Busch finishes ninth in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut

Friday, Aug. 3, 2001 | 9:55 a.m.

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Any nerves Kyle Busch might have had about making his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start disappeared when he crashed his Ford truck on the second lap of qualifying Friday night at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

The 16-year-old Las Vegas native was forced to start at the back of the 36-car field after bringing out his backup truck, but picked his way through the field and finished ninth in the Power Stroke Diesel 200.

"We had a great run," Busch said. "Physically I was always there, mentally I was always there, I just had a couple screw-ups with the fence but other than that, it was fine."

Jack Sprague dominated the race, leading 149 of the 200 laps, for his second consecutive win and third of the season. Terry Cook was second and Joe Ruttman finished third.

Busch, the second-youngest driver to start a NCTS race, fell off the lead lap when he spun in turn two to avoid a wreck on lap 49. Ten laps later, he was able to get back on the lead lap and spent the next 70 laps working his way up into the top 10.

Busch had the No. 99 Roush Racing Ford as high as eighth place but slipped one spot when the caution flag came out on lap 180.

"It was a lot of fun," Busch said. "I had a lot of fun running there and coming up from the pack. We made a couple pit stops to change the truck; it was awfully tight all night but the crew kept working at it and we did a good job and came back from the back."

The ninth-place finish was the best for the No. 99 truck other than a fifth-place finish when older brother Kurt Busch -- a Winston Cup rookie -- drove the truck June 30 at Milwaukee. Greg Biffle, who drives in the NASCAR Busch Series, also drove the truck to a ninth-place finish in June at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Although team owner Jack Roush said he was interested in looking at the younger Busch "for a few races" this season, Busch said he did not know if this race would lead to another audition in the truck normally piloted by Nathan Haseleu.

"We won't know for a while," Busch said of his future in the No. 99 Eldon Office Products truck. "As far as we know, this was just a one-race deal and we'll go on from there."

But Busch hinted that he might get another shot to run the truck this season.

"I tried to earn a little bit of respect from everybody and I hope I did so and hopefully we'll be back in a couple weeks or so and go at it again," he said.

Busch's demeanor after the race was in stark contrast to his mood following his qualifying wreck. After qualifying 23rd on his first lap, Busch got loose coming out of turn two on his second lap, spun and hit the inside wall hard on the backstretch, destroying the right side of his truck.

"I got loose coming off turn two and had to stay in it to keep my lap going and I just went around," Busch said.

"The first lap, it was a little tight so I decided to bring it up a little harder to free it up, but I guess I brought it up a little too hard and made it a little too free and I just went around."

Busch said his spirits were lifted after meeting with Roush following the accident.

"He told me, 'keep your head up and we've got another one in the back of the truck so you're going to go for it. You're starting dead last, Kurt's done it before, so let's see what you can do,' " Busch said.

Roush was referring to a race last year in which Kurt Busch started last after he wrecked his primary truck in practice and then went on to win the race.

"I can't thank my (crew) enough for putting this thing together after the qualifying incident," Busch said. "I know it has to be tough when somebody steps into the truck for the first time and you have to go to the backup."