Pre-Race: Chicago

Searching for Victory in Company-Owned No. 54

Posted July 18, 2012

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 18, 2012) - This week the NASCAR Nationwide Series visits the 'Windy City's' Chicagoland (Ill.) Speedway for the STP 300 event, race 18 of the 33 season schedule. Kyle Busch will return to the seat of his company-owned No. 54 Monster Energy Camry, in search of that first win as driver of his own vehicle. To date, Kyle has attempted a 2012 NNS victory nine times with the young team he started last December, out of the Kyle Busch Motorsports camp in Mooresville, N.C. Busch's brother, and fellow Monster Team Athlete, Kurt has jumped behind the wheel of the No. 54 Toyota eight times this year, already enjoying the success of a win, from Richmond (Va.) International Raceway in April.

In its inaugural season, the Monster Energy Camry has accumulated one win, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. For the stand-alone Nationwide Series event on Sunday, from the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval of Chicagoland, the KBM group will be bringing a chassis to the field that has seen track time already this year. Chassis #006, the team's primary intermediate-track race car, has raced three times in 2012. At Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway in March, with Busch behind the wheel, the young team accomplished their first top-10 result, finishing eighth. Raced in Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May, with Kurt Busch as driver, chassis #006 brought a top-five start and another eighth-place finishing spot. Then in June, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, the elder Busch advanced their success with this car, bringing home a third-place finish.

The team is hopeful for an even better performance this week from their veteran car and driver. Busch maintains the title of being the winningest driver in the Nationwide Series, with 51 victories across 231 series starts, including 23 poles and 10,682 laps led. He currently holds an eight-year streak for consecutive wins. Although there is still plenty of time to accomplish the task this year, Busch and team are focused to ensure that win streak isn't broken, hoping Chicagoland Speedway offers the fledgling group another chance to visit victory lane, this time with their owner as the man behind the wheel.

Kyle Busch, Driver of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:

Chicagoland Speedway is another track you've been able to have success at in all three of NASCAR's top series, what is the key for you here?

"I like racing Chicago and think our intermediate-car program at KBM is competitive enough that we can have a good finish. In Cup in 2008, I started at the top of the grid and won the event -- that was pretty cool. Then between 2008 and 2010 I had two wins each, in the Nationwide and Truck series here - one that came in our KBM truck. Hopefully, we can get the monkey off our back now and put another win in the column for the KBM Nationwide team, here in Chicago."

Rick Ren, General Manager of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry Team:

You've progressed with each intermediate track attended this year, how do you feel about your odds at Chicagoland?

"Our odds are always good with Kyle in the driver's seat. On the competition side we've made gains in our intermediate-track program, improving our equipment since this car ran last at Michigan. The results we've seen at the seven post and in the wind tunnel show us we should unload really fast."

The team has experienced some adversity over the last few weeks, how do you keep everyone motivated going into the second half of the year?

"The main thing to overcome is beating ourselves. There have been four races this year that come to mind, where we were contenders for the win and beat ourselves with errors. Each race had a different set of issues, and each of those problems have been addressed internally. Last week's fuel cell problem was disappointing, but we duplicated the problem on the chassis dyno and have made adjustments to our processes that hopefully will keep that type of hurdle from happening again.

You have to remember, we are still a young team. We are learning every week, but that learning curve is getting smaller. With Kyle behind the wheel and with limited mistakes, we will be strong in Chicago."

Kyle Busch's No. 54 Monster Energy Camry:

Chassis KBM-006: KBM will unload intermediate car #006, first raced at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway with Kyle Busch, then Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn with Kurt Busch, all producing top-10 finishes for the KBM team this season. The backup machine is Chassis KBM-007, regularly traveled as a second team car.

Notes of Interest:

Crew chief Mike Beam's Chicago statistics across all three top-tier series include five races, zero wins, three top-five and three top-10 finishes with 179 laps led.

In loop data statistics over the past 7 years at Chicagoland in the Nationwide Series, Busch has the highest number of Fastest Laps Run with 177 and highest number of Laps Led with 348.

Busch is recorded second Fastest on Restarts with an average speed of 161.567 mph, in loop data statistics over the past 7 years at Chicagoland in the Nationwide Series, to older brother Kurt, with an average speed of 162.644 mph.

Kyle Busch's last NNS win came on 9/09/11 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Busch has competed in 10 series races since then, achieving a high-finishing position of second-place twice.

Fans can follow @KyleBusch on Twitter and use #KB250 to earn a chance to win his M&M's firesuit.

What are fans saying about Kyle on Social Media sites?

Facebook: Kyle Busch (132, 646+ followers)

Chris Gutierrez: Kyle might lose his cool from time to time, but I would bet most if not all of us in this world make mistakes and have moments we regret. That was really cool to see him do the My Wish! I really think Kyle is a nice guy, just competitive as heck! (July 16)
Matthew Christy: Great story. I have a lot of respect for you Kyle, but after seeing that story on Sportscenter, you are one of my favorite people in professional sports.
(July 16)
Pam Brock Hedlund: I saw this on ESPN (a My Wish segment). Great job Samantha and Kyle. What great role models you are for others. God Bless You! No wonder I am a Kyle Busch fan. (July 16)
Angela Stout: Kyle you are a great person and an awesome race care driver. Hope to see you at Bristol at the Food City 250. This will be my 6 year old daughter's first race. She is a huge fan of yours! (July 16)

Twitter: @KyleBusch (246,000+ followers) - Tweet #KB250 and WIN his FIRESUIT!

@Monstre_Andres RT@JasonWilbur1823: Kyle Busch will drive the wheels off of any race car you put him in, he's my pick! (July 16)
@DR_FNP Kyle Busch back in the 54 car for the NNS race at #NASCAR Chicago!!
(July 16)
@Collin_Miller1 @sportscenter @KyleBusch I have so much respect for Kyle Busch doing #MyWish, this put a huge smile on my face J (July 16)

From Kyle himself:

@KyleBusch Been a tuff month n a half. Team has been working hard, fans have been supportive, time to get things turned around...Let's do this! (July 15)

Kyle's preferred Monster Energy drink flavor:
Original Green

Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 54 2012 NNS Season Summary:

Date	Site	Driver	Start	Finish	Laps	Laps Led	Status	Owner Pts/Pos	Winnings
2/25/12	Daytona	Kyle	24	18	119	2	Accident	27/18^th	$44,445
3/3/12	Phoenix	Kyle	14	11	200	0	Running	60/13^th	$13,875
3/10/12	Las Vegas	Kyle	20	33	127	0	Running	70/15^th	$15,075
3/17/12	Bristol	Kyle	8	17	299	40	Running	99/15^th	$19,025
3/24/12	Fontana	Kyle	15	8	150	13	Running	136/14^th	$18,840
4/13/12	Texas	Kurt	6	30	187	0	Overheat	150/15^th	$16,165
4/27/12	Richmond	Kurt	10	1	250	68	Running	197/12^th	$40,100
5/5/12	Talladega	Kyle	12	2	122	36	Running	241/11^th	$40,100
5/11/12	Darlington	Kurt	4	8	151	3	Running	278/11^th	$12,545
5/20/12	Iowa	Kurt	31	5	250	2	Running	318/11^th	$25, 225
5/26/12	Charlotte	Kyle	12	3	200	0	Running	359/9^th	$31,150
6/2/12	Dover	Kurt	9	4	200	0	Running	399/9^th	$20,525
6/16/12	Michigan	Kurt	15	3	125	0	Running	440/9^th	$22,350
6/23/12	Road America	Kurt	22	8	50	0	Running	476/9^th	$13,275
6/29/12	Kentucky	Kurt	8	2	200	0	Running	518/8^th	$51,825
7/6/12	Daytona	Kyle	20	23	94	3	Running	540/8^th	$15,475
7/14/12	Loudon	Kyle	5	28	121	0	Fuel Press	556/9^th	$10,570
7/22/12	Chicago	Kyle	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD