KBM Team Returns to Dover with Confidence
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 25, 2012) – If anyone is going to master Dover (Del.) International Speedway this weekend in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, it’s going to be the duo of Kyle Busch and his No. 54 Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) team crew chief Mike Beam. Between them, they’ve accomplished 11 wins and led 1,580 laps across NASCAR’s top three divisions on the one-mile oval, appropriately named the “Monster Mile.” How fitting would it be for them to achieve victory together in their inaugural season, and in support of their full-time partner Monster Energy?
In 2010, Busch dominated the Delaware short track, achieving wins at both the spring and fall Nationwide Series events. In the spring race that year, Busch earned his victory from the pole position after, leading 191 of the 205 event laps. In the fall race, he backed up the win from the second-place starting spot, again dominating with the lead in 192 circuits of the 200-lap race. Needless to say, Busch is used to racing up front on this short track.
That year and in 2011, the driver and his crew chief were also working under different colors. For Busch, after earning victory in the NASCAR Truck Series the day before, he ran very strong in the Nationwide Series spring event and finished in second place – to a car led by Mike Beam. Beam’s team achieved victory at that first Dover event, from the pole position and with 87 laps led. They followed it up with a strong repeat victory in the fall race, leading 179 of 200 laps, proving he too, is accustomed to leading and winning at the Dover facility.
This time the two winners will be paired up together. In his 17th start as owner-driver of the black No. 54 machine, Busch is eager to repeat success and earn his first victory of the year, with his KBM crew chief, team and sponsor.
Kyle Busch, Driver of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:
You’ve had much success on this Dover racetrack, how much are you looking forward to attempting it in your own ride?
“Kurt ran here for us in the spring and did a really good job, finished fourth, and gave us some good notes to return with. I have high expectations for this one since I feel I know the track pretty well, and I know Mike (Beam, crew chief) has been successful here too. In fact, I finished second to him here last year, so I want another stab at it and this time we can win it together.”
Mike Beam, Crew Chief of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:
How will this Dover event be different from the spring race?
“We are taking the #003 chassis again, but we’ve updated the car. It ran well in Dover the first time and then at Bristol, but we know it’s better now. I know our team and fleet of cars have improved since the first race, and every week we are trying our best.
It’s also exciting to have Kyle in the car, since he’s so good there. I’m usually up against him and he was always hard to beat here. This time we are together. We need to win a race with Kyle and hopefully we can do that this weekend.”
Kyle Busch’s No. 54 Monster Energy Camry:
Chassis KBM-003: KBM will unload car #003, raced several times this season, including a fourth-place finish at the first Dover event in June. The Camry was also driven by Kyle Busch at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway (33rd, wreck), New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon (28th) and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (3rd). The backup machine is Chassis KBM-007, regularly traveled as a second team car.
- Crew Chief Mike Beam’s Dover International Speedway statistics include 42 races, four wins, eight top-five finishes, 19 top-10 finishes, one pole and 869 laps led.
- Loop Data Statistics over the past seven races record Busch with the highest Number of Fastest Laps Run (396, 22.3%), Most Laps Led (853), Highest Percentage of Laps Led (38.4%), Fastest by Quarter (2.329 mph diff.) and Fastest Late in a Run (144.990 mph).
- Busch holds the second highest Driver Rating (117.0) at Dover in the Nationwide Series with an Average Finish of 12.7.
- The younger Busch is recorded with the second fastest Speed in Traffic at Dover in the NNS, 144.697 mph, second to the older Busch’s 144.898 mph.
- Busch is recorded among Top-10 Drivers with the third-fastest Green Flag Speed (145.964 mph), fourth-fastest Early Run Speed (147.949 mph), fifth in # of Top 15 Laps (1860, 83.7%) and Fastest Restarts (142.316 mph) and seventh in Average Running Position (8.125).
- In the 2012 spring Dover NNS event, Kurt Busch piloted the No. 54 Monster Energy machine, recording a ninth-place starting spot and a fourth-place finish.
|
Series |
Wins |
Top 5 |
Top 10 |
Poles |
Led |
Earnings |
AvSt |
AvFn |
|
Sprint |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 races |
2 (’10 &’08) |
7 |
9 |
0 |
448 |
$2,363,210 |
12.9 |
14.3 |
|
Nationwide |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 races |
3 (Both’10 & ’08) |
6 |
9 |
3 |
853 |
$366,210 |
10.4 |
12.1 |
|
Truck |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 races |
2 (’11 & ’05) |
2 |
4 |
1 |
711 |
$162,350 |
4.1 |
10.9 |
|
Series |
Wins |
Top 5 |
Top 10 |
Poles |
Led |
Earnings |
AvSt |
AvFn |
|
Nationwide |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
238 races |
51 |
124 |
157 |
24 |
10,786 |
$8,807,342 |
8.7 |
10.7 |
-All-time winningest driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with 51 victories
-Has registered at least one win in each of the last eight seasons and one pole in each of nine seasons
-2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner’s Champion Driver for JGR (a record 13-win season)
-2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver’s Championship and Owner’s Championship with JGR
-2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner’s Champion Driver for JGR
-2004 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year
What are fans saying about Kyle and Kurt on Social Media sites?
Facebook: Kyle Busch (117,304+ followers)
Eric Wright SWEEP DOVER KYLE!! You are the Number #1 driver in racing!! Give them hell this weekend here in my home state of Delaware. #54 & #18 are the BEST!!! (Sept. 25)
Kevin Vaughan Rowdy…been a loyal NASCAR fan...30+yrs…I respect your style of driving…you have brought it to the track every race…just want to say thanks for the excitement!! (Sept. 24)
David Dwain Dowdy I am and always have been a Kevin Harvick fan for various reasons. But bro, your thumbs up for my buddy Lane (Goodwin, young man fighting cancer) has earned you a spot in my book of respect that not everyone makes. You’re alright bro!!!! (Sept. 24)
Lora Dawes Kyle, you have had the most bad luck this year. But I think you are the best race car driver that NASCAR ever had. Hang in there, you will come back and win soon. (Sept. 23)
Lisa Abernathy McCurry Go out there and show ‘em they are missing a Star from the Showdown!!! (Sept. 23)
Twitter: @KyleBusch (281,600+ followers)
@ProudRowdyFan A Monster on a mission!! Go KURT! Keep pressing on!! (Sept. 23)
@cbarnes1967 You brothers can move positions with the best!!!! (Sept. 22)
@hicksonfamily Let’s go Kurt get win #2 for @KBMTeam in the NNS! Pulling for you! Go 54!! (Sept. 22)
@nclady18 Let’s rain on their parade! Unleash the Monster!! (Sept. 22)
@lhend699 Wishing for the best: Busch brothers have talent to get it done!! (Sept. 22)
Kyle’s preferred Monster Energy drink flavor:
Original Monster Energy Green
-KBM-
