Although sporting familiar colors in the No. 54 Monster Energy Camry, Busch’s team is a new unit under the watch of crew chief Adam Stevens. This week Busch will tackle once again the famed Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl. (DIS), a 2.5-mile oval that offers the best of racing, the highs and lows of superspeedway action.
After starting from the 24th position in the 2012 NNS event, Busch worked his way through the field without incident, methodically building his position towards the front. The No. 54 Monster Energy Camry led two times for two laps that year, the last time on the final lap of the event. Although he could taste the checkered flag, Busch’s opportunity for victory was snatched away from him when a crash, that brought out the race-ending caution, caused damage to the black machine forcing Busch to finish 18th.
This week Busch looks to place himself back in the lead position for redemption, again on the final lap, but with a better end result. While last year he partnered with his brother NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch through the race, to maneuver the draft, we may see a new ‘dancing partner’ in his new JGR teammate, another NASCAR Champion, Matt Kenseth.
Kyle Busch, Driver of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:
What are your expectations entering your 11th season as a NASCAR Nationwide Series driver?
“I expect to keep getting those wins. I look forward to a New Year with Joe Gibbs Racing. Even though I’m back in the Nationwide Series shop, I’m working with a new team and crew chief so there is a little learning curve there, but I hope we will have results like what I’ve experienced there in the past.”
How has the off-season been, working more closely between your company and JGR?
“It’s a technical alliance that wasn’t there before. It was real important to Coach Gibbs that I race more under his roof, and it was important to me to have solid resources that would allow Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) to improve for the long term. KBM will prosper with the young talent we have in place there now. I’m still here to support them and watch them continue to grow and win races.”
Adam Stevens, Crew Chief of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:
You are partnered now with the ‘Winningest Driver’ of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. How do you approach the new relationship?
“I am thrilled to not have to race against him anymore! This is my first time working with Kyle in this capacity. I was the race engineer on the No. 20 Cup car when he first came to JGR and then was Joey’s crew chief on the NNS side the last year Kyle drove the No. 18 Nationwide car for us. So I have been around him quite a bit. Kyle is fiercely competitive. His capabilities behind the wheel have been proven time and again. His will to win is second to none and I’m glad to be part of his drive for more victories this year.”
What are your goals, entering this season with Kyle as driver of the 54 Monster Energy Camry?
“I have never taken the time to establish yearly performance goals. I believe that I am a lot like Kyle in the fact that my goal is simply to win. We need to bridge the communication gap quickly and figure each other out in order to make that happen. Daytona will be a good ‘get to know you’ session for us leading into some of the more mechanical tracks like Phoenix, Vegas or Bristol, where we will really need to communicate effectively.”
What do you expect for the No. 54 team in Daytona this week?
“Daytona is a different animal since the repave. The rules package for us is quite similar to last year so I would expect pack racing with only short stints of two-car tandem drafting. It’s all about being in the right place at the right time and having something to race them with at the end. Kyle is an excellent restrictor plate racer.
We are bringing a proven car. It has a win at Daytona and a win at Talladega. Interestingly this car has been in first or second place taking the white flag, every race it has run. So I expect good things.”
Notes of Interest:
-Loop Data Statistics over the past 16 races at DIS, record Busch first in: Most Green Flag Passes (1749), Most Quality Passes (1481), Number of Fastest Laps (80), Laps in the Top 15 (1415, 79.5%) and Laps Led (250, 14.1%).
-Crew Chief Adam Stevens’ Daytona statistics include 58 races over two years, 11 wins (Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano), 23 top-five finishes, 42 top-10 finishes, seven poles and 1,508 laps led.
-All-time winningest driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with 51 victories
-Completed the 2012 season with one pole in each of the last nine years
-Completed the 2011 season with at least one win in each of the last eight years
-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 on Social Media sites?
Facebook: Kyle Busch (123,467+ followers)
Carol O’Boyle This is truly going to be Kyle’s year. Go get ‘em Rowdy! (2-18-13)
Joanne Hansen Rowdy, your year to win, go…go…go… (2-18-13)
Donnie Gayle Let’s do it this year. Rowdy is back!! (2-18-13)
Steelhead Fisher It’s your year Kyle. Bring back a little bit of ‘Wild Thing’ for your fans. (2-18-13)
Wilma Banach Can’t wait, you are the best driver! (2-18-13)
Rick Meng I’m betting the farm on ya Kyle, GO GO GO! (2-14-13)
Twitter: @KyleBusch (309,800+ followers)
@Trukn62Gary Kyle I hope you have a good season ahead of you. (2-19-13)
@OnlyColeDavis Found my Kyle Busch shirt for Sunday, ready for the 500 (2-19-13)
@sassynevada26 Kyle Busch you are the best NASCAR driver in the world (2-19-13)
Kyle’s preferred Monster Energy drink flavor:
Original Monster Energy Green
About Monster Beverage Corporation:
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy refuses to acknowledge the traditional and the disingenuous. Monster always supports the scene and the sport. Whether it be motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MotoGP, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians symbolize. Much more than a drink, it’s a way of life lived by our athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Beverage Corporation – including all of its drinks – at www.monsterenergy.com and Facebook.com/MonsterEnergy.
Source: Kyle Busch Motorsports Press Release
Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson Gimax
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