Busch accepts blame for spin

Monday, Nov. 8, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was kicking himself for getting caught up in an accident while racing Carl Edwards "too hard, too early in the race."

Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, it was Kurt Busch's turn to admit he made a mistake.

While trying to race to the front of the field early in the Checker Auto Parts 500, Busch got collected in a multi-car melee 128 laps into the race and later accepted the blame and apologized to his crew over the in-car radio.

Busch was running 12th at the time and was trying to pass Jamie McMurray on the inside when McMurray moved down the track. Busch checked up, was tapped from behind by Ryan Newman and spun, but managed to keep his car off the wall. The right-front fender of Busch's car was slightly bent and he flat-spotted his tires, but otherwise came through with no serious damage.

"When you're racing two guys for that type of position that early on, that's my mistake," Busch said. "Those guys are very hard racers; they don't like to give up positions very easily. I knew that (and) that was my mistake."

"Harrah's is definitely part of our Cup sponsorship," Gordon said. "I've had a relationship with Harrah's for a long time. I've got really good friends there ... and they've been a supporter of ours throughout the years."