Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005 | 6:58 a.m.
By Brian Hilderbrand
Rusty Wallace, who has driven for team owner Roger Penske since 1991, said he was not surprised that Penske immediately came to Kurt Busch's defense after Busch's run-in last Friday with Maricopa County sheriff's deputies in Arizona.
Penske told reporters that Busch's status as Wallace's replacement in the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge beginning next season remained unchanged despite the fact that Busch had been suspended by Roush Racing for the final two races of the season. The Miller Brewing Co. later issued a statement that it, too, would "stand by Kurt."
"There's one thing about Mr. Penske: He always stands behind his guys through thick and thin," Wallace said Tuesday. "I've (been) down in the dirt, and he's down there with a shovel digging me out. He's always behind his drivers."
Busch, a Las Vegas native who has had several public-relations problems while driving for Roush Racing, will benefit from the move to Penske Racing South, Wallace said.
"I think Kurt's learned a lot, and that's one thing that Penske can definitely help Kurt Busch with," Wallace said. "Roger is one of the most-respected men in the world. I think between myself and Roger, we can help him if he wants the help to learn how to not let this stuff happen again."
Wallace, who will make his final NASCAR Nextel Cup Series start Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will remain with Penske Racing in an advisory capacity.
RICE'S DESERT DEBUT
Buddy Rice, the 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner, will make his off-road racing debut Friday in the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Rice, who will co-drive with veteran off-road racer Cameron Steele in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck class, said he has been looking forward to racing in the Baja 1000 for several years.
"We almost had a deal put together last year, but there were many things that came up after winning Indy," Rice said. "This year, Cameron asked me again if I would be interested in racing with him, and I jumped at the opportunity. I am anxious to get the chance to race in one of the greatest races in the world. The Baja is a legendary race like the Indianapolis 500, but a totally different environment."
Drivers from other racing series who are scheduled to take on the treacherous 709-mile course include NASCAR regulars Robby Gordon, Boris Said and Michel Jourdain Jr., Champ Car World Series drivers Sebastien Bourdais and Oriol Servia and motocross legends Travis Pastrana and Ricky Johnson.
ALSO NOTED:
* Kenny Wallace will make his second NASCAR Nextel Cup start in place of the suspended Kurt Busch in the No. 97 Roush Racing Ford this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
* Brent Sherman, who has competed in 23 NASCAR Busch Series races this season with two different teams, has been named to drive the No. 49 Nextel Cup Dodge for BAM Racing beginning in 2006. Sherman, 31, replaces Ken Schrader, who is expected to replace Ricky Rudd in the No. 21 Ford fielded by Wood Brothers Racing.
BY THE NUMBERS:
4 -- The number of drivers who are mathematically eligible to win the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship (Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle)
28 -- The number of drivers from Nevada entered in this weekend's Tecate SCORE Baja 1000
55 -- The number of victories Rusty Wallace has accumulated in 22 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
Brian Hilderbrand can be reached at 259-4089 or at [email protected].
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