Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Younger Busch earns ride in Roush truck

Tuesday, July 31, 2001 | 10:50 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Nobody was more surprised than Kyle Busch when the 16-year-old Las Vegas native learned he would be driving for Roush Racing in Friday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Busch, the younger brother of NASCAR Winston Cup Series rookie Kurt Busch, had taken part in a pair of test sessions in a Roush truck earlier this month, but was not told it would be an audition.

"It really did (come as a surprise) -- I wasn't expecting it at all," Busch said. "They presented (the tests) to me as just wanting me to get used to a 3,400-pound truck with truck arms and radial tires."

Max Jones, general manager of Roush's truck program, was impressed with Busch's tests at Toledo Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway.

"We tested Kyle a couple of times throughout the season," Jones said. "He's very good and very fast. We're looking forward to getting him in the truck in Indy and seeing what he is capable of doing. Kyle has an excellent driving record for such a young driver."

Busch will drive the No. 99 Eldon Office Products Ford in Friday's Power Stroke Diesel 200 on the .686-mile IRP oval. The truck carries the same number Kurt Busch drove a year ago while winning four races and capturing the NCTS Rookie of the Year honors.

Although Busch has been told the ride is a one-race deal, he is hoping to make an impression on team owner Jack Roush -- within the limitations placed upon him by the team owner.

"The only thing they told me is that this is a one-race deal and I'm only supposed to go out there and get experience," Busch said. "I'm not supposed to try to run up front or try to win or anything like that.

"Basically, what I want to do is just bring the truck home in one piece. If I can do that, then I can go after being on the lead lap, then after that go for a top 10, then after that go for a top five and, if I'm lucky enough to get in position, then maybe challenge for the win. But it all goes in those strides."

The younger Busch came to the attention of Roush, who also employs Kurt Busch in the Winston Cup Series, as a result of his success in the NASCAR Late Model division at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Since making the jump to Late Models earlier this summer, Busch has posted five wins and nine top-10 finishes in 10 starts.

Busch said he feels comfortable making his NCTS debut at the flat oval at IRP.

"I've driven that type of a racetrack before," Busch said of IRP. "Our old 3/8-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway used to be like this; the high groove was the (preferred) groove and you would pass down low but you would have to get it done quick or you wouldn't be able to do it.

"It's kind of like going back to the old days for me, with the Legends Cars two years ago. I've been on that type of track before and hopefully I can do what I've done before."

Jones said he has talked with Richard Childress, president of Richard Childress Racing, on issues of NASCAR ownership and the business of securing sponsors to pay the bills.

"We're just in the preliminary discussion stage right now," Jones said. "We recognize that NASCAR is an outstanding sport and has a great number of fans who have a lot of synergy with Dallas Cowboys fans."

In addition to competing in the Busch Series race Saturday night at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Green will drive in the final leg of the International Race of Champions (IROC) on Saturday and will pilot the No. 30 America Online Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.