BUSCH: 2004 schedule announced

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2003) -- The 2004 NASCAR Busch Series schedule will consist of 34 championship points races hosted by 26 different tracks in 21 states across the nation, NASCAR officials announced today.

The 2004 NASCAR Busch Series season will kick off Saturday, Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway as part of a national series tripleheader that also will include the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The NASCAR Busch Series season will close Saturday, Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway as part of another tripleheader weekend.

The NASCAR Busch Series, which will be partnered with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series for 25 race weekends at the same venues, will be featured in nine "stand-alone" events. Those will be at Nashville Superspeedway (April 10 and June 12), Gateway International Raceway (May 8), Nazareth Speedway (May 23), Kentucky Speedway (June 19), The Milwaukee Mile (June 27), Pikes Peak International Raceway (July 31), Indianapolis Raceway Park (Aug. 7) and Memphis Motorsports Park (Oct. 23). With the exception of the Nazareth and Milwaukee races being held on Sundays, the seven other weekends will have Saturday races.

The initial 2004 on-track preview of the NASCAR Busch Series teams and drivers will begin with NASCAR Preseason Thunder, scheduled for Jan. 17-22 at Daytona International Speedway.

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