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Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004 | 10:05 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Roush Racing's loss may turn into a personal gain for Kurt Busch.

Busch, a Las Vegas native, said that both he and his younger brother Kyle might benefit from Kyle's decision to leave Roush Racing for Hendrick Motorsports.

Kyle Busch will drive for team owner Rick Hendrick in the NASCAR Busch Series this season and also will attempt to qualify for six NASCAR Nextel Cup Series points races in 2004.

When he announced he was leaving Roush Racing, Kyle said he was doing so, in part, to "get out of Kurt's shadow."

"It may have been better for us as brothers, too -- just being able to learn from two different groups of people what NASCAR racing is about," said Kurt, who is beginning his fourth full season in the Nextel Cup Series with Roush Racing.

With the brothers driving for different team owners, Kurt said they would be able to learn from each other.

"I think the biggest knowledge that I can gain from him is what he feels in a (Cup) car because he doesn't have anything to back it up against," Kurt said. "I think the things he can gain from me are the things that I've gone through in two or three years.

"With him understanding that and me understanding what he's feeling, just initially, we can blend the two together."

Both drivers are testing this week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Kyle will attempt to make his Nextel Cup debut in the March 7 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at LVMS and also will be driving in the March 6 Sam's Town 300.

Goad, who played for the University of North Carolina and spent seven seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots, said he would be pulling for the Patriots in Sunday's Super Bowl matchup with the Carolina Panthers.

"Personally, I'm torn," Goad said of the game. "Having played football at UNC and living (in North Carolina) for so many years, it's hard not to get excited about what the Panthers have accomplished.

"All that being said, I guess I have to stick to my guns and root for the Patriots. They gave me the opportunity to play in the NFL and I still know a lot of personnel within the organization. Plus, I spent a year with (Patriots head coach Bill) Belichick in Cleveland."

Goad, who joined Petty Enterprises in 2002, ended his career with the Baltimore Ravens following the 1997 season.

It was a bad day for Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Sterling Marlin and Jamie McMurray. Both Marlin and McMurray suffered blown engines Wednesday morning and then McMurray crashed his second car into the outside wall between Turns 1 and 2. The car was destroyed but McMurray was not injured in the accident.

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