but first, these notes of interest:

-- Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch has quietly displayed such time trial proficiency so far during the 2006 season that he deserves the nickname of “Professor Friday.”  Never known for his qualifying prowess entering the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, winning only three poles in 184 races, he  has surprisingly been qualifying’s “Mr. Consistency,” winning two poles (California & Infineon) and posting a starting average of 9.050, the best in the sport.  He has qualified in the top-10 in 14 of the 20 races and has yet to qualify outside the top-20. (see release for comparisons to other drivers)

“It’s a credit to Penske Racing, their great engines, cars and team personnel,” said KB.  “Penske cars have always been known for starting up front.  Rusty (Wallace) won a ton of poles while driving the No. 2 Miller car and Ryan (Newman) has been known as the ‘pole king’ for the past few years.  We take great pride in the qualifying aspect of our program this year and we’re pretty focused out there every Friday.  It’s certainly been a big bright spot for us this season.” (much more in release)

-- This weekend’s Allstate at the Brickyard could put KB’s newfound qualifying penchant to test.  He has qualified in the top 10 in only one of five races and has started 34th or worse in three of the races.  His average start is 26.0 at Indy.  However, KB has already displayed recent Indy qualifying potential.  He was second-fastest in the pre-race testing for this weekend’s 160-lap battle on the hallowed 2.5-mile track.  He turned in a lap of 181.025 mph (49.717 seconds) and was bettered only by rookie Reed Sorenson’s 181.892 mph (49.480 second) lap. 

-- Kurt Busch and his Roy McCauley-led Miller Lite Team will be racing their PRS-092 Dodge Charger this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  The team tested their “92 car” and the PRS-096 Dodge Charger at Indy earlier this month (7/11-7/12).  The “92 car” was last raced at Martinsville.  The weather-abbreviated test session saw the team log 55 laps in the PRS-092 and nine laps in the PRS-096.  The “92 car” will serve as the primary car this weekend, with the “96 car” in the team transporter, available for a backup if necessary.

-- Are we really into the second half of the 2006 NEXTEL Cup season yet?   Not according to KB:   “For a first-year team like ours, you really have to look on down the line for the second half of our season to kick in,” KB explained.  “We had Daytona, then we went to Chicago, which has only one date, then to Loudon for the first time this year.  They threw in the new left-side tire deal at Pocono and with the rain washing out Saturday’s practice, that was a big question mark.  Then we have the single events at Indy and at Watkins Glen, so this year’s second half really begins at Michigan, especially for a first-year team looking to go back to the same tracks a second time around.  The big thing about it is that there are only four races left to draw from past experience and put together a solid run toward making the Chase.  Michigan, Bristol, California and Richmond makes up the stretch run.  We’ll give it our best in the effort to make the Chase, but it has been a pretty successful season for our first-year team regardless.”

-- KB’s second-place finish at Pocono on July 23 moved him up to 13th in the NEXTEL Cup point standings and has him within 166 points of eligibility in making the Chase for 2006.  “We cut off 40 points in the deficit in that one race and there’s still plenty of time to get it done with six races remaining,” KB said.  “Matt Kenseth was 213 out with six to go last season and they pulled it off.”  As incredible as Kenseth’s 2005 comeback was, consider the late Alan Kulwicki’s charge to the 1992 championship under the old points system.  Kulwicki made up a 278-point deficit in just six races to win the title by 10 points.

-- With six races remaining to determine the 2006 Chase lineup, KB is 13th in the NEXTEL Cup point standings with 2,311 points.  He is currently 166 points behind 10th-place Tony Stewart.  He trails 11th-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 151 points and he is 122 points behind 12th-place Greg Biffle.  He currently holds a 61-point advantage over 14th-place Carl Edwards.

-- “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” Malcolm Forbes

KURT BUSCH HAS BEEN “MR. PROFICIENT” IN 2006 NEXTEL CUP QUALIFYING-Never Known For Qualifying Prowess, Miller Lite Dodge Driver Quietly Becoming “Professor Friday”-

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 1, 2006) – Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch was never known for his qualifying prowess entering the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, winning only three poles in 184 races.  But in the 20 races completed so far this year, he has quietly displayed such time trial proficiency that he deserves the nickname of “Professor Friday.”

Entering this weekend’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, Busch has surprisingly been qualifying’s “Mr. Consistency,” winning two poles (California & Infineon) and posting a starting average of 9.050, the best in the sport.  He has qualified in the top-10 in 14 of the 20 races and has yet to qualify outside the top-20.

“It’s a credit to Penske Racing, their great engines, cars and team personnel,” said Busch, who was second-fastest in the pre-race testing for this weekend’s 160-lap battle on the hallowed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Busch turned in a lap of 181.025 mph (49.717 seconds) and was bettered only by rookie Reed Sorenson’s 181.892 mph (49.480 second) lap.  “Penske cars have always been known for starting up front.  Rusty (Wallace) won a ton of poles while driving the No. 2 Miller car and Ryan (Newman) has been known as the ‘pole king’

for the past few years.”

            “We take great pride in the qualifying aspect of our program this year and we’re pretty focused out there every Friday,” said Busch.  “It’s certainly been a big bright spot for us this season.”

            Entering this weekend’s race at Indy, Jeff Gordon’s 9.550 average start rates second-best, but the 54-time pole winner has gone 40 races since winning his last pole in June 2005 at Infineon Raceway.  Greg Biffle’s 9.950 is third-best after winning two poles and points-leader Jimmie Johnson has a 10.850 average start and one pole to his credit.

            Perhaps as startling as Busch’s qualifying consistency this season is some of the other competitors’ hit-or-miss results.  Kasey Kahne leads all drivers with four poles this season, yet he has started outside the top-20 in five races and has a 12.050 average start.  Newman, whose 37 poles in 172 races entering this season earned him the moniker of “Mr. Friday,” has an 11.500 average start.  He has two poles this year, but has started in the top 10 in only eight races.

            “My teams in the past were never known for winning poles or for their qualifying ability,” Busch offered, “so this has been such an enjoyable change here with our Miller Lite Dodge team this year.

            “I’ve seen what a great team morale builder qualifying up front can be,” said Busch.  “It really gets all the team members and the sponsors pumped up for Sunday’s race.  But the most important element is the benefit you receive for it on race day. 

“You select your pit spot by the order in which you qualify.  I think that’s more important today than it ever has been.  So many of these tracks and races are all about track position these days.  When you qualify well, you get the opportunity of selecting the best location to pit.  You can get a spot with an opening in front or back that allows your crew the maximum space to get their job done on pit road.  That is so important out there today.”

* * *

IS IT REALLY THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON?  Not according to Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch:

            “Yeah, a lot of people look at it being the start of the second half of the season when we hit Daytona in July (for the Pepsi 400), but I can vouch that’s not really the case – especially this year,” offered Busch.  “Daytona was the first track where we went back for a second race and it was just about the half-way point during a 36-race season, but for a first-year team like ours, you really have to look on down the line for the second half of our season to kick in.

            “We had Daytona, then we went to Chicago, which has only one date, then to Loudon for the first time this year.  They threw in the new left-side tire deal at Pocono and with the rain washing out Saturday’s practice, that was a big question mark.  Then we have the single events at Indy and at Watkins Glen, so this year’s second half really begins at Michigan, especially for a first-year team looking to go back to the same tracks a second time around.

            “The big thing about it is that there’s only four races left to draw from past experience and put together a solid run toward making the Chase,” said Busch.  “Michigan, Bristol, California and Richmond makes up the stretch run.  We’ll give it our best in the effort to make the Chase, but it has been a pretty successful season for our first-year team regardless.”

* * *

This weekend’s schedule at Indianapolis calls for practice sessions on Friday from 1:30 p.m. till 2:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. till 4:30 p.m.  A single round of qualifying at 10:10 a.m. on Saturday will determine Sunday’s 43-car stating field.  Saturday’s action also includes final practice after the starting field has been set.  Sunday’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard has a scheduled 2:30 p.m. start.  NBC-TV and the IMS Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

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