NASCAR Cup Series

Brake issues lead to Kurt Busch's exit

Published Aug. 15, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kurt Busch's day ended on Lap 49 at Watkins Glen on Monday.

Busch blew a tire and went nose-first into the tire barrier in Turn 5. He stood 38th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series road-course race when he exited. It was his worst finish of the season.

“I had a big problem getting into the braking zones today, just rear brakes locking up,” Busch said. “I had to crank eight rounds of front brake in our Shell/Pennzoil Dodge just to survive. All that does is generate brake heat, and I blew out the left front tire.

“It was just a bummer of a day and not anything that we expected. It must have been something with the brake package. Whatever (teammate Brad) Keselowski found at Road Atlanta, I had a problem with today.”

Busch’s problems Monday started on Lap 2, when he slipped off the track. The team pitted and on Lap 9, and Busch, who was a lap down, punted then-race leader AJ Allmendinger.

“My brakes just locked up,” Busch said. “We put new master cylinders on the car and I was locking up the rear brakes. I’m sorry I ruined his day and his chances today.”

Busch entered the weekend fourth in the point standings, 14 points behind points leader Carl Edwards. He won the Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen on Saturday and the Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway in June.