Busch dominant at Atlanta track

Elder brother Kurt leads bulk of race

By David Poole | The Charlotte Observer • Published March 09, 2009

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HAMPTON, Ga. – After leading 234 of 330 laps but still having to battle his way past Carl Edwards in a green-white-checkered finish to win Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kurt Busch did a curious thing.

His victory celebration consisted of a full lap around the 1.54-mile track in reverse. He didn't simply go the "wrong" way, as the late Alan Kulwicki did when he clinched the championship here in 1992.

Busch put his No. 2 Dodge in reverse and went trunk-first into Turn 1 and all the way around. What was his message?

How about, "I'm back?"

Busch plugged his car's sponsor as he described how he got the idea.

"It's something me and my buddies brewed up after a few too many Miller Lites," he said. "It kind of lets the car relax and wind down. It's like cooling down a horse after a good run in the Kentucky Derby or something."

Busch said his friends came up with a name, too. He believes it needs work.

"You have to know the guys I was partying with," Busch said. "They called it 'The Donkey.' They wanted me to push for that, but I don't know if I want that to stick."

Busch won 14 races and a championship between 2002 and 2005 while with Roush Fenway Racing, but had won just four times in three years since moving to Roger Penske's team. His only victory of 2008 came in a rain-shortened race in which strategy meant more than speed, and he's made the Chase for the Sprint Cup only once in his first three years in the No. 2 Dodge.

Lately, he also has become the "other" Busch brother as Kyle has emerged as a superstar. "I feel like I need to hold up my end of the bargain," Kurt said.

There wasn't anything cheap about what he did to the field at this 1.54-mile track on this sensationally sunny afternoon. Simply put, Busch put a hurting on his fellow drivers. By Lap 65 his lead was 11 seconds, and if not for the occasional caution he might have lapped the field.

As it was, though, Busch's 19th career victory did not come without challenge and consternation.

By his own estimation, Busch said he hit the wall a dozen times while rim-riding the high line to let the new-generation Dodge engine in his car eat. "You just have to hang her out there and let her rip," he said.

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