Dream and drive

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 | 10:44 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kurt Busch climbed from his racecar and strolled through the garage area at Daytona International Speedway, looking every bit like a kid on Christmas morning.

Glancing up at the massive grandstand that lines the 1,900-foot front stretch, the 22-year-old Las Vegas native's eyes lit up as he talked about a vacation he and his family took to Daytona several years ago. The trip included a tour of the famous 2.5-mile superspeedway.

From the time he started his racing career at the age of 14, Busch has dreamed of racing in the Daytona 500. On Sunday, that dream will become a reality.

"It is wonderful to think that I'm just a few days away from my first start in the Daytona 500," Busch said Wednesday after his final practice for today's 125-mile qualifying race.

"I came here as a kid a few years ago and saw the racetrack. I still am a kid, really; I'm 22 years old and starting in the Daytona 500 ... what more can you ask for?"

Although it would be understandable if he were, Busch said it has been easy not to be overwhelmed by the enormity of his situation.

"It has been easy to focus on the job at hand because it's so demanding and right now we're struggling so I want to get better and I want to understand why we're slow," Busch said.

"It's just like work. I'm sure I'll have those race-day butterflies but hopefully those go by the wayside by the time they drop the green flag so we can get to work."

Busch, who will be running for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series this season, was 40th out of 52 drivers in qualifying last Saturday. The 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year will start today's second 125-mile qualifying race in 20th position.

In the ensuing four days of practice, Busch's Roush Racing Ford Taurus gradually has picked up speed and run well in the draft, which gave the Durango High graduate reason to be optimistic going into today's qualifier.

"Things were a little bit better (Wednesday)," Busch said. "We moved up on the speed chart and that's because the car feels more comfortable."

Adding to Busch's comfort today is the fact that all three of his Roush Racing teammates -- Jeff Burton, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth -- are in the same qualifying race.

"It's nice that we're all in the same qualifying race and it'll be able to help us out," said Busch, who made seven Winston Cup starts last season. "It's just the luck of the draw that we all ended up in one race. We've seen the performance of the 97 car in the draft and it should poke itself up in the top 15, no problem.

"We're starting 20th and we just need to get up to 15th -- that's the goal. To get into the top 15 would put us in the top 30 for the race."

Because it is Busch's first Daytona 500 and first restrictor-plate race, he has been spending most of his off-track time this week huddling with Burton, Martin and Kenseth and even watching video tapes of last year's qualifying races.

What has he learned?

"That it's a crapshoot out there," Busch said.

The restrictor plates (which restrict air flow to the carburetor, reducing horsepower and making it difficult to pass) make track position at Daytona even more important than usual.

"I've learned that you really have to drive aggressively and use the apron of the racetrack or the last three inches at the top side of the racetrack (because) somebody will drive there just to put you in the middle (out of the draft)," Busch said. "And you don't want to be caught in the middle."