NASCAR Cup Series

Busch balancing new competitiveness, commitments

Published Jul. 11, 2009 5:36 p.m. ET

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Kurt Busch has been a busy man of late.

Not only is the Penske Racing driver enjoying renewed success in the NASCAR Sprint Cup ranks, but he has also been in high demand at a variety of events — showing his range and versatility outside of the car. While some might struggle to balance the demands of being a competitive NASCAR Cup driver with the other encroachments on one's time that roll creates, Busch seems to have found a way to meld the two perfectly.


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After all, just look at the season he's enjoying. Busch and his Pat Tryson-led team have a newfound level of success together. Busch looks more like the driver who won the 2004 title, not the one who labored to finishes of 18th and 16th in the last three seasons. Busch has finished in the top 10 in two of the last four seasons as well, but hasn't been in position to challenge for the championship. Now, after an offseason of hard work and a season of smart calls and moves, he is.

Does he feel the pressure of his return to top status and his consistent stay in the top-five in the standings as the Chase for the Sprint Cup nears?

Apparently not. After all, just look at his recent schedule.

Mixed in with the races have been some unusual appearances and personal side trips. For example, Busch recently planned to go hunting in Montana with Darius Songaila of the Washington Wizards, one of his neighbors. But he didn't just plan to fly out to the site. Instead, he planned a trip that included a plane ride, a 90-minute drive and a three-hour donkey ride.

While in California for the road-course race at Infineon, he took time to participate in a taping of "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" His response after the filming: "Yeah, I guess they proved that I'm not."

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