Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Kyle Busch’s pride wounded at Cal Speedway

Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2001 | 9:53 a.m.

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

It certainly will go down as the most bizarre event of the 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Five minutes before he was to qualify his Roush Racing truck for Saturday's season-ending Auto Club 200 at California Speedway, Las Vegas native Kyle Busch was informed by track officials that he would not be able to compete in the race -- or qualifying, for that matter -- because of his age.

Because a cigarette brand held the naming rights for the race weekend -- which included Sunday's Championship Auto Racing Teams season finale -- it was the opinion of the sponsor that Busch, 16, should not be allowed to compete in the race.

The sponsor, Marlboro, maintained that no one under the age of 18 could compete in an event it sponsored as per the tobacco companies' Master Settlement Agreement with the states' attorneys general.

Although Busch met all of NASCAR's requirements to drive in the race, team owner Jack Roush elected to pull Busch out of the truck following a teleconference with NASCAR officials at the track and in Daytona Beach, Fla., California Speedway officials and an assortment of lawyers.

Busch, who posted the fastest speed in Friday's final practice, was understandably devastated when he learned he would not be able to drive in what would have been his seventh Truck Series race of the season.

"I'd say that this kills Kyle Busch's pride, his parents' pride, as well as the whole crew; they were all looking forward to it," Busch said before departing the track.

"We were on the top of the (speed) sheets in practice and we were looking forward to qualifying and right before we went out, we got turned down. So, we're going to Daytona right now, and looking toward next season."

Busch, who will be running full-time in the NCTS next season, will be 17 when the series visits California Speedway next year but he most likely won't have to worry about missing the race.

It is widely believed that Marlboro will switch its sponsorship next year from the CART race to the IRL race at California Speedway in March.

Busch led twice for 45 laps but dropped out of the race with 60 laps remaining when his Roush Racing Ford overheated.

"(Team owner) Jack Roush said that we might do well if we get the opportunity to have better equipment, and once we get better equipment we should start showing our results," Busch said.

"This was an awesome run for us. We just need better stuff."

Busch, who qualified 11th, finished 39th.

"I'm just doing what I love to do," Sprague said. "If all the records and recognition come with that, that's cool (but) that's not why I'm doing it.

"It's not about records or money ... I race to win and I race to win championships. Whether people want to make me into a hero or the greatest-ever something because of that, that's their business. Like I said, I race because I love it. That's enough for me."

Drivers from six Western states will travel to Las Vegas for the 140-lap main event. Joining Busch in the race will be Jason Allen, The Bullring's 2001 NASCAR Late Model champion and Rookie of the Year. Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller, who finished seventh at Champion Speedway in Carson City, also will compete in his Dr. Pepper-sponsored Pontiac.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. Time trials will start at 5 and racing is scheduled to begin at 6:30.