NASCAR Cup Series

No jitters for Kurt Busch at Daytona

Published Jan. 13, 2012 1:04 a.m. ET

foxsports

For many drivers in new situations, the first day of preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway is like the first day of school.

On the No. 51 Phoenix Racing team radio, there was a happy Kurt Busch interacting with his new squad. The 2004 Sprint Cup champ was pleased with how smoothly the crew interacted on Thursday.

“The whole team was excited when we hit the track and we finished the first session third (fastest) overall,” said Busch, who posted a lap of 192.361 mph. “That’s more than we expected, but yet when you’re dealing with Hendrick power and Hendrick chassis in bodies at Daytona, you’ve got the best of the best.

“Now, we just have to be smart and filter through the sequence that we did today and find where we lost speed and how to get it back for tomorrow.”

Busch and the crew opted to save the drafting portion of the test for Friday. Given the success he’s had working the tandem-draft with Regan Smith in past Daytona races, the pair expects to partner up again. Busch added with Richard Childress Racing down-sizing to three cars, he has options there, as well as with NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr,

“Dale Jr, called up and said he wants to draft with us,” Busch said. “To get out there and draft with another Hendrick car will be good as well.”