NASCAR® Veteran, Pro Stock Rookie

You might have heard of Kurt Busch—he’s kind of a big deal in the NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series. But he’ll be just another upstart driver trying to qualify for the 16-car NHRA Gatornationals field when he makes his Pro Stock debut.

Words: Darren Jacobs

Mopar® Dodge Avenger Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson carries the banner for Team Mopar in the NHRA—that’s fitting, since Mopar’s factory backed representative enjoyed a banner 2010 season himself while duking it out on the quarter-mile.

No. 22 Dodge Charger R/T pilot Kurt Busch has accomplished about everything a driver could wish for on the NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series. Earn a championship trophy? Check—Busch added the title hardware to his display case in 2004. Drive to double-digit wins? Done—he’s banked 22 of them, sixth most among active Sprint Cup drivers.

But his entire circle track prowess won’t amount to a hill of beans when Busch debuts his Mopar®-powered Shell Dodge Avenger Pro Stock car at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway. There, the NASCAR star will be low man on the totem pole, just another Pro Stock rookie trying to make the show.

Okay, that’s not entirely correct. Truth is, Busch will likely draw a media entourage at Gainesville to rival that of NHRA Funny Car legend John Force—definitely not the usual treatment afforded an upstart drag racer. But those expecting the diva role out of Busch will be sorely disappointed. He’ll happily assume the role of novice drag racer because of one simple fact—he just plain has fun at the drag strip.

Busch competed in the NHRA Super Gas Sportsman class at the Gatornationals last year and enjoyed himself so much he decided to make a run at qualifying in the NHRA Pro Stock ranks. “The 2010 event was an experience of a lifetime, the camaraderie with the Sportsman guys was a truly fun experience,” Busch recalled. “The grassroots effort of the Sportsman guys is what makes the true heart of NHRA racing.”

Busch isn’t barging into Pro Stock in a cocky or boastful manner. His approach is respectful, humble; he’s fully aware of the heavy lifting that lies ahead if he is to realize his quest to qualify for the Gatornationals Pro Stock field.

“Pro Stock is the tightest pro category as far as the elapsed time is concerned and it’s not going to be an easy task,” Busch admitted. “It’s a whole different world than NASCAR. The toughest part is staging the car and of course cutting a good light; the thrill of the launch and the speed at the top-end is why I’m so fascinated with drag racing. But I do know that heading to the Gatornationals and running with the pros, I will get a full dose of ‘humble pie.’”

While respectful and well aware the odds might be stacked against him, make no mistake—Busch is going drag racing not just to play, but to go rounds. Known as a fiery competitor on the Sprint Cup circuit, that demeanor is sure to pop up while Busch is straight-lining it on the drag strip.

Busch spent a good portion of his off-season away from his Mooresville, N.C. home, located in the heart of NASCAR-land, testing with Mopar Dodge Avenger NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson and his J&J Racing team. Busch acquired his sea legs in a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger and earned his Pro Stock license for his run at the Gatornationals. Johnson, for one, is not betting against the temporarily reformed roundy-rounder.

“Kurt’s developing great, and I was very impressed with how he performed during our test sessions together,” said Johnson, who struck up a friendship with the NASCAR driver when Busch competed at the 2010 Gatornationals. “He’s picked up everything real quick, and he’s also having a lot of fun while doing it. He’s a great analyzer of things and he’s just a lot of fun to be around.”

“I feel me teaming up with Allen Johnson and the Mopar folks, we’ve given ourselves the best opportunity to make the show,” said Busch, who will use Mopar HEMI® engines supplied by Johnson’s J&J Racing team and built by Allen’s father, Roy Johnson.

Busch showed enough during his test sessions to make NHRA Pro Stock competitors shake in their racing shoes. He recorded an impressive best-pass of 6.576 seconds at 210.43 mph during shakedown runs at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park—which would have been good enough to earn Busch the No. 11 starting spot in Pro Stock at the 2010 NHRA Gatornationals. He added a 6.58-second pass during another Bradenton test session with Johnson on Feb. 9, under warmer track temps.

“Kurt came in and he was in early, gung-ho and ready to go,” said Johnson of Busch’s Feb. 9 outing. “He really drove well. On his last two runs he was absolutely perfect—you would have thought he’d been driving for five years! It’s a treat to watch him learn and grow behind the wheel of a Pro Stock car. He’s got a fire about him; he’s not in this to mess around. He really wants to make the race. I think he’s a shoo-in to qualify for the Pro Stock class come Sunday at Gainesville.”

Will the storied NASCAR star make it big in NHRA? Here’s five words of advice for the haters: Don’t bet against Kurt Busch!

For up-to-date news on Busch’s adventures in straight-line racing, visit www.moparspeed.com.