Roush Racing weekly notes 2000-11-13

The 2000 Winston Cup season concludes this weekend in Atlanta, as the final event of the 34-race schedule is set to commence on Sunday, November 19, weather pending. With only seven weeks before the first test session at Daytona International Speedway, and 12 weeks before the season-opening Daytona 500 after this weekend's NAPA 500, we asked all six Roush Racing drivers what their off-season plans consist of, and what will be their first order of business upon leaving Atlanta.

Kurt Busch, No. 97 John Deere Ford Taurus:
"I'll probably take one day off, take everything in and pinch myself to see if this year has been a dream. Everything has happened so quickly that I haven't a chance to sit down and really think about what I've accomplished. I'll head home to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving and try to find some time outside of the racing environment. Then it's back to the grindstone preparing for next season. There isn't much of an off-season in Winston Cup, and I want to take a hands-on approach at the shop as the guys are building some new cars and re-skinning some old ones. I think we have some lofty goals for next year and the sooner we're able to get some cars finished, the better off I think we'll be."

Mark Martin, No. 6 Valvoline/Cummins Ford Taurus:
"I can't wait to go home after the Atlanta race is over. I am so excited about going home and having no plans to do anything at all that week. My only plan is to enjoy Thanksgiving with my family. It will really be a nice change of pace."

Kevin Lepage, No. 16 FamilyClick.com Ford Taurus:
"I'm going right back to work. We're getting our new Busch shop going and there is still a lot of work to be done on it. I wish we could take it easy after a long season, but we've got a long way to go before we're ready for 2001. We will take some time off to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with our family and friends."

Jeff Burton, No. 99 CITGO SUPERGARD Ford Taurus:
"My first project after Atlanta is to go out and buy a turkey to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. I'm cooking it, so I guess the first thing to do is buy it. We're not sure who all will be coming over for Thanksgiving dinner yet, but I know we'll need a turkey for sure."

Matt Kenseth, No. 17 DEWALT Tools Ford Taurus:
"I'm going to get a good night sleep Sunday night. Then early next week we have a couple of things to do from a media standpoint, a team dinner and that sort of thing. Then we're headed up to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving."

Greg Biffle, No. 50 Grainger Ford:
"I will be attending the Atlanta event this weekend for a championship photoshoot that takes place on Monday. After that I'm flying out to my hometown of Vancouver, Wash. for Thanksgiving and then we are going to dive headfirst into getting ready for next season. We've got quite a bit of work to do before Daytona."

Chuck Hossfeld, Roush Racing F-150:
"Nathan (Haseleu) and myself have been on the go since we got the call to drive for Roush Racing. We've been basically hitting every race to meet the media and familiarize ourselves with many of the people we will be working with next season. I'm looking forward to a little break and going home for Thanksgiving after the Atlanta race. Once that is over I've got to move my things to Michigan and start getting ready for the 2001 season."

Nathan Haseleu, Roush Racing F-150:
"I'm headed home after the Atlanta race for some rest and relaxation. I didn't think all of the travel was going to start until next season, but Chuck (Hossfeld) and I have been on the go since we started. After Thanksgiving I'm going to load up all of my things and move to Michigan. There is not a lot of time between now and the beginning of the season and there is much to be done between now and then. I can imagine it's going to be a busy off season but I'm looking forward to all of it."