Kurt Busch finds an ally in teammate Newman

Brian Hilderbrand

Thursday, April 27, 2006 | 7:14 a.m.

Kurt Busch still has an ally on the racetrack after all.

Busch, who seemingly has alienated every driver in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series at one time or another during his six-year career, has been the model teammate according to fellow Penske Racing South driver Ryan Newman. Busch, a Las Vegas native, joined Penske during the off-season after six years in the Roush Racing stable.

"The relationship on and off the racetrack has been fine," Newman said this week. "We've been getting along fine - no hiccups at all."

After a contentious four seasons as Rusty Wallace's teammate, Newman admitted he's still learning what to expect of a teammate.

"Obviously (Busch has) got a lot of experience with Roush working with multiple teammates," Newman said. "For me, it's kind of the first time all over again working with a teammate because of my situation in the past - and I'm not bitter about that at all, it's just a matter of a learning process."

Although Busch (17th) and Newman (22nd) are outside of the top 10 in points after eight races, Newman said he was looking forward to Busch's assistance as a drafting partner in Sunday's race at Alabama's Talladega Superspeedway - one of two tracks on the Nextel Cup circuit where restrictor plates are used.

"I look forward to working with Kurt again like we did at Daytona," said Newman, whose third-place finish in the season opener has been his best result to date.

"Going to Talladega and drafting, with where we're at ... in points, if we finish 1-2 or 2-1, it doesn't matter to me; we just need to have a good run there and a good run together for Penske Racing."

Newman, who is among the more popular drivers on the circuit, said he doesn't pay a lot of attention to the fact that Busch is booed loudly at most of the racetracks on the circuit.

"I've heard other drivers get booed and that's just kind of part of the sport," Newman said. "I know he's trying his best to try to eliminate the boos or minimize the boos. Kurt's obviously a great driver and sometimes when you win repetitively or repetitively at certain racetracks, they dislike you for that."

Brendan Gaughan, a Las Vegas native, isn't getting ahead of himself.

Although he is coming off his best finish of the season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Gaughan isn't exactly predicting a victory in Saturday's race at Gateway International Raceway - a racetrack at which he won in 2003.

"We definitely go there with a little bit more confidence, but this is a team that is still rebuilding," said Gaughan, who finished sixth at Martinsville Speedway earlier this month.

"If we can get there and win, great," he said. "Right now, let's start talking about those top fives."

Gaughan, who drives the No. 77 Dodge for Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing, is 16th in NCTS points after four races.

Also noted:

Career victories for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Talladega Superspeedway

Career victories for Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Talladega