A Sprint Cup Driver Seeks a Straight Shot

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — When Kurt Busch’s wife surprised him with a spot in a drag racing school, Busch had no idea what he was getting into.

He still does not really know. Busch is waiting out heavy rain and flooding to make his National Hot Rod Association debut at the Gatornationals. N.H.R.A. postponed his Sportsman class until Sunday at the earliest.

It was a small setback for Busch, who has grown accustomed to delays in Nascar. There was the pothole debacle at Daytona International Speedway last month and then he had to drive several extra laps last week to secure a victory at Atlanta.

He has waited considerably longer for this. Two years, to be exact.

“Little did I know how serious that we were going to jump into it,” Busch said.

Busch’s venture began at the United States Nationals in 2008, when he watched the event with the legendary drag racer Don Prudomme. About the same time, a drag strip was being built near his home in Charlotte, N.C.

“I said, ‘Well, I’ve got to have a car,’ ” Busch said. “They’re going to have Nascar Night, and there’s going to be nobody out there that’s going to beat me on the Nascar side. That’s really the main objective.”

Busch certainly could have the car to beat.

He bought a 1970 Dodge Challenger on eBay for $15,000 and started getting it into race shape. The street-legal car puts out nearly 1,200 horsepower now.

Busch got it on a track for the first time Monday, when he took it to Rockingham Dragway and made about a dozen passes in preparation for Gainesville, the only N.H.R.A. event that coincided with a weekend off for Nascar’s Sprint Cup series.

“We’re here and we’re enjoying ourselves,” Busch said. “It’s really neat, the camaraderie with the guys, hanging out in the pit area and just being one of the group. It’s just fun hanging out and having an off-week and spending time with my guys and just enjoying the weekend.”

But Busch is still waiting to get behind the wheel.

He spent much of Friday walking through the garage area, signing autographs, shaking hands and posing for photographs. He also mingled with other drivers and even stood near the starting line with his fingers in his ears for several qualifying runs in other series.

His cellphone kept ringing, too. The caller? His Nascar team owner, Roger Penske.

“He keeps checking in, saying: ‘How you doing? How are things going? Are you being safe?’ ” Busch said.

Busch assured his boss there was nothing to worry, even though he keeps receiving offers to jump in other rides this weekend.

Busch has some experience, too. After he got the bug to race, his wife sent him to the famed Roy Hill drag racing school.

“When I followed him and learned more about the drag-racing world, I learned that there was quite a bit that I didn’t understand,” Busch said. “Roy has taken me under his wing, and when you do something wrong, he’s the first one to tell you straight to your face. It reminds me a little of how my dad taught me how to drive in the oval ranks.”

He teamed up with his longtime friend Jesse Walker and started building a competitive car. Although Busch has struggled with his reaction times in practice, he says he is eager to see what it will do assuming he gets it on the strip at the Gatornationals.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to get behind the wheel,” Busch said.

But don’t expect this to be a full-time venture anytime soon.

“I still hope I’ve got 10 or 15 years left on the Cup circuit,” said Busch, 31. “But the fun meter’s been pegged, and I’m having a great time doing it. Who knows? The opportunity could be out there to do something in N.H.R.A. racing later on.”