LV’s Busch striving for consistency

Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002 | 9:07 a.m.

The following procedures are used to set the 43-car field for the Daytona 500:

1. Positions 1-2: set by first-round qualifying (the fastest two drivers).

2. Positions 3-30: set by the results of the Twin 125 qualifying races (top 28 drivers not already in by first-round qualifying).

3. Positions 31-36: the fastest six drivers from the first two rounds of qualifying who are not already in the race from steps 1 and 2.

4. Positions 37-42: the drivers highest in the previous season's owners' points who are not already in the race.

5. Position 43: to a former Winston Cup Champion not already in the race by the above criteria, or the next driver highest in the previous season's owners' points.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kurt Busch promised that the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season would not be a repeat of his inconsistent rookie season.

"I don't think you'll see the sophomore jinx out of the No. 97 car," Busch said during preseason testing. "After all, it's easy to improve from where we were (last year)."

Busch may be trying to put a frustrating rookie season behind him, but 2002 already is beginning to look a little like 2001 as the 23-year-old Las Vegas native prepares for the season-opening Daytona 500.

Heading into Thursday's 125-mile qualifying races that will set the field for Sunday's Daytona 500, Busch finds himself in precisely the same situation as a year ago.

Simply put, Busch must finish in the top 15 of the first qualifying race, which will take the green flag at 10 a.m. (PDT) Thursday. The races will be televised live on TNT (Cox Cable channel 18) from Daytona International Speedway.

"Really, we're in the same position we were last year ... we've got to race our way into the Daytona 500," Busch said Tuesday. "It's a bit unnerving to have that feeling again and for our season, we were a lot better than that last year. But we have been dealt these cards and we've got to deal with it."

Plagued by bad luck for much of his rookie season, Busch failed to finish seven races in 2001 and finished 30th or worse 15 times. As a result, he finished 31st in points and is not guaranteed a provisional starting position for Sunday's race.

Busch will start 22nd in the 27-car field Thursday -- the identical starting position he had last season. In that race, Busch was running 16th with three laps remaining but made up four spots, finished 12th and made the Daytona 500.

"We've got to be in the top 15 -- that's the goal," Busch said of his strategy for the race. "I'm starting 22nd and I've got to gain seven spots.

"It's big drama but we've been through it once before and hopefully we'll be fine."

Busch may be hopeful, but he also is realistic. This is Daytona, after all, where fans and drivers alike always are waiting for the inevitable crash. Such an incident in Thursday's qualifying races could spell disaster for Busch, he conceded.

"If everybody races their way in, I think we'll be OK (for a provisional) if we finish outside the top 15," Busch said. "But if there's a big wreck in one of the 125s -- which is likely -- then a lot of top dogs, if they get caught up in it, will have to use their provisional."

And Busch will be surrounded by plenty of "top dogs" in his qualifying race. In addition to Daytona 500 pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson, Busch's qualifier includes four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, two-time Daytona 500 champion Dale Jarrett, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Sterling Marlin, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte and Bill Elliott.

The second 50-lap qualifying race will include Kevin Harvick, who will sit on the outside pole for the Daytona 500, defending Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace and Robby Gordon.

Busch said he is encouraged by the performance of his No. 97 Roush Racing Ford following NASCAR's decision Sunday to reduce the height of the rear spoiler on the Fords. Busch posted the 21st fastest speed (186.610 mph) during Tuesday's Winston Cup practice session, the first since the spoiler was reduced a quarter-inch.

"It's good to actually have a feeling out there that I can pass somebody on my own," Busch said. "By taking this quarter-inch off, we're much better balanced and we're going to be able to run 50 laps -- just like the Chevys and Pontiacs are -- with having an ill-handling racecar."