Special feature
NASCAR Cup Chicagoland
Charitable work fuels Kurt Busch's optimism as Chase approaches
Despite outside interests, Busch is focused and well-prepared for a strong run in NASCAR's playoff.
Lee Spencer
Edited: Sep 13, 2014, 12:35 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
JOLIET, Ill. – Kurt Busch kicked off his eighth Chase for the Sprint Cup appearance by giving back.
Busch’s philanthropic work with the troops – through the Armed Forces Foundation - has been well documented and Wednesday’s visit to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio was no exception. Based at Fort Sam Houston, BAMC is the only Level 1 trauma center under the U.S. Army Medical Command.
Before Busch takes on his own battle in the Chase, it was rewarding to have such a grounded experience.
It’s also a very solid remembrance of what these men and women have gone through.
Kurt Busch
“It was nice to go and see the group there in the physical therapy room,” Busch said. “This was one of the top three facilities in the nation. I’m glad the Armed Forces Foundation came along. We were offering invitations to an all exclusive weekend in Las Vegas for them to participate in – as well as (Texas Motor Speedway president) Eddie Gossage and I are going to send a bus to Brook Army Medical Center to pick up troops and bring them to the Texas race.
“What it does though, is you get to see them there that day in the physical therapy room and it gives them motivation to get healthy to go to these events. It gives them something on the calendar to shoot for as a target. And it’s also a very solid remembrance of what these men and women have gone through.”
Tackling the Chase
NASCAR’s 2004 Cup champion enters the Chase 10th in the point standings following his win at Martinsville Speedway in the spring. He will start 14th in Sunday’s MyAFibStory.com 400 based on his speed in first practice on Friday.
With the different format for the playoffs this season and the size of the field, Busch will take a different strategy into the Chase.
Lower seeds are ranked there for a reason and they should have a tougher time advancing.
Kurt Busch
“There’s so many guys this year, it’s not 10 anymore, it’s not 12 or 13, there’s 16 guys,” Busch said. “Lower seeds are ranked there for a reason and they should have a tougher time advancing. That’s what I’m banking my experience on with getting through the first couple of rounds.
“Talladega is the big wild card like it always is. I hate the fact that it’s the third race of the 'mini Chase'. I say mini Chases. I see three races at a time – are their own individual Chases to advance – and you’re going to have to do different things in those rounds. I believe that this Haas Automation Chevy needs to be a top eight program. You have to win to advance. You have to win Homestead to win the championship.”
Busch says he’s looking for a solid start at both Chicagoland Speedway and Loudon where SHR tested last month. The organization still has Charlotte and Homestead on the docket. Busch acknowledged that while he struggled at Kansas, his teammate Kevin Harvick was the class of the field so he hopes to glean data from the No. 4 Chevy.
“We’re looking pretty good,” Busch added. “The power round, though, is the Eliminator Round. That’s the round that’s going to separate who will win it or not. Consistency still pays, but it pays in the early rounds.”
Play ball
Busch will top off his weekend in Chicago with a trip to Wrigley Field on Monday to see his beloved Cubs. Although Busch has enjoyed many vistas around the historic stadium – including the announcer’s booth where he’s sang “Take me out to the Ballgame” – this time he’s moving to field level with the game photographers.
It’s a chance of a lifetime to experience Wrigley from all different angles.
Kurt Busch
“A friend of mine invited me to the photo booth area and I have no idea what to expect,” said Busch, who will watch the Cubs take on the Cincinnati Reds and his high school buddy Ryan Ludwick. “I texted Ryan, I don’t want to be a distraction to him. But I’m a huge Cubs fans and I’m getting access to an area that fans usually don’t have access to.
“I’m going to be down there taking pictures and having fun with it. It’s a chance of a lifetime to experience Wrigley from all different angles. I’ve been inside the scoreboard. I’ve been in the bleachers. I’ve been in the upper deck. I haven’t watched a game in the dugout yet, but I’m working on that. To be in the photo den, it’s getting pretty close to the action.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article New cars for Kyle Busch, too
Next article Marcos Ambrose will leave NASCAR and return home to Australia in 2015
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lee Spencer
Harvick reflects on career after Atlanta win, honors Dale Earnhardt
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Harvick reflects on career after Atlanta win, honors Dale Earnhardt
Chase Elliott: "We have a lot of work to do" after Atlanta showing
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Chase Elliott: "We have a lot of work to do" after Atlanta showing
Harvick leads veteran charge at Atlanta Motor Speedway
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Harvick leads veteran charge at Atlanta Motor Speedway
More from
Kevin Harvick
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
The wildest fights in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Bristol II
The wildest fights in modern NASCAR Cup history
Kevin Harvick’s message to Carson Hocevar: ‘Do not change’
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Pocono
Kevin Harvick’s message to Carson Hocevar: ‘Do not change’
Latest news
“It will be so sad” - MotoGP riders lament loss of Phillip Island
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
39 min
“It will be so sad” - MotoGP riders lament loss of Phillip Island
NASCAR explains why they penalized Zane Smith after latest clash with Carson Hocevar
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
15 h
NASCAR explains why they penalized Zane Smith after latest clash with Carson Hocevar
Porsche boss Laudenbach says he is "not happy" with how things were handled by IMSA in 2026
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 15 h
Porsche boss Laudenbach says he is "not happy" with how things were handled by IMSA in 2026
Five things to watch out for at the F1 United States GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
16 h
Five things to watch out for at the F1 United States GP
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe