NEXTEL Cup Showdown Contenders Think Pressure Is All On Busch

Brickyard 400 Winner Gordon Just 21 Points Back

By Dick Mittman
allstate400atthebrickyard.com
Friday, November 19, 2004

If NEXTEL Cup Series points leader Kurt Busch is frazzled by the intense pressure on him heading into the final race of the first "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup," he sure isn't showing it this week.

He spoke calmly and articulately during a NASCAR teleconference earlier this week, as if he was going to do no more than drive down to his local ATM and made a withdrawal. And if he wins the title Nov. 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he'll have another $5.2 million to add to his bank account.

Busch said he has thrived on the tension that built up during the 26 races that led to the 10-race Chase and the increased burden of staying on top of the standings after grabbing the "Chase" lead by winning the first "Chase" on Sept. 19 at New Hampshire. It is now up to him to protect his 18-point edge over Jimmie Johnson in the dramatic season windup in the Ford 400.

"It's definitely been a different feeling this week from the previous week and the week leading up to the one that was before that one," said Busch, the 26-year-old Las Vegas native who drives the Smirnoff Ice/Sharpie Ford for Roush Racing.

"The focal point is to be able to balance out the regular stress of the regular season as well as the high-intensity pressure of this playoff atmosphere. It's been fun to be part of it."

He has four challengers left in Johnson, Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon, who is 21 points behind; Dale Earnhardt Jr., 72 points behind; and Mark Martin, 82 points behind.

Johnson, driver of the Lowe's Chevrolet, is the hottest driver of the bunch having won four of the last five races. He talked like a football coach during his turn on the teleconference, saying how he switched from defense to offense when he fell near the bottom of the top 10 after the first five races.

"I think we kind of took on the mentality of defending and playing some defense," he said. "I don't think that our team performs to its best with that mindset.

"In a sense, in my eyes we were eliminated from the Chase early in the Chase for the Championship. We switched gears in our heads and started playing offense, trying to win races, trying to finish up the season on a positive note. And if there were troubles, then we would be back in the middle of it."

Gordon, who drives the DuPont Chevrolet, has won four NASCAR championships - 1995 by 34 points over Dale Earnhardt, 1997 by 14 points over Dale Jarrett, 1998 by 64 points over Mark Martin and 2001 by 349 points over Tony Stewart. Gordon said he'd rather be in Busch's position right now, but then he noted he had finished third the past two weeks to create some momentum for himself.

"I feel like he knows the pressure is on," Gordon said. "He knows that we're breathing right down his neck, and that we're racing for wins. I think that he's feeling the pressure, and I think he'll do a good job with that. I don't know. It's hard to say. I think we'll all find out how well he handles it this weekend."

Earnhardt Jr., driver of the Budweiser Chevrolet, didn't sound particularly convincing about his chances in his comments as he admitted he has not performed well in races or testing at Homestead.

"I don't really feel a lot of pressure,' he said. "because, I mean, I think if I'm Kurt I would be really nervous. Because he's in the situation where, you know, it's really basically up to him and his team to win or lose it. We just have to go out there and race as hard as we can and throw, you know, everything we got at it and see what happens. You, know, that's really not hard at all."

Martin drives the Viagra Ford for Roush Racing. This is his 22nd season, and he says next year will be his last as a full-time driver. He has finished second four times in the championship. For him, the chance, as slim as it is, is there to win that first title at age 45, but he is relishing even more that he is in the hunt heading into the final race.

"This is all a bonus," Martin said.

"It was a lot of pressure for us to get into the Chase from where we were. That's where the really, really high pressure was for us. The toughest part of the season was the first 26 races, especially leaving Daytona (500 last February) 43rd.

"I'm just tickled to death to be in this thing and to be a contender. We're going to go to Homestead and race for a win."

Johnson's torrid streak should make him the race favorite. Winning five of the last six races of the year is something that has never been done in a NASCAR season.

Herb Thomas (1952), Joe Weatherly (1961), Richard Petty (1968, 1971), Bobby Isaac (1969) and Darrell Waltrip (1981) all won four of the last six. Only Petty in '71 and Waltrip won the championship. Isaac finished sixth with 17 season victories.

Johnson, who led the standings throughout the summer before the Chase started, admitted he would have liked to win the championship under the old points system. But he also admits that change is good for the sport.

"I have to be a realist and realize that this points system has created a lot of interest, sparked a lot of new fans," he said. "There's a lot of hype around it. The sheer fact is that I believe this points system is going to be in effect for, you know, many years to come."

And either Busch, Johnson, Gordon, Earnhardt or Martin always will be remembered as first winner of the "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup." ***

2005 tickets: The 12th Brickyard 400 is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005. Customers who are upgrading or purchasing Brickyard 400 tickets for the first time should act quickly to increase their chances of obtaining their desired seats.

To purchase tickets, camping or parking, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.


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