Kurt Busch thanks first responders, discusses his championship chances

September 11. It’s a date that is recorded in American history and will continued to be remembered throughout the United States. NASCAR driver Kurt Busch is no different than any other American as he reflects back on Sept. 11, 2001, and today he spent time with local firefighters and paramedics, and members of the Kansas Army National Guard to thank them.

Busch first thanked the staff at Fire Station #6 in Kansas City, Kan. and recognized not only their day-to-day efforts but also with their close proximity to Kansas Speedway, the extra effort they must put in around Kansas Speedway’s race weekends, including the upcoming Hollywood Casino 400 on Oct. 6, which sees tens of thousands of people descend on the area.

The firefighters in return, gave Busch a tour of their station and were more than willing to let him climb into the driver’s seat of a fire truck as part of the tour, along with testing out the sirens. While at the station, Busch also signed Kansas Speedway memorabilia that will be part of fundraisers for fallen firefighters families across the Kansas City Metro area.

After the fire station, Busch headed to Kansas Speedway to meet with the fire and safety crew that works Kansas Speedway events and to have lunch with the Kansas Army National Guard. Busch spent time thanking the National Guard for their sacrifices and discussed some of his visits with injured soldiers.

Busch also, learned about Kansas City BBQ from TrueBud BBQ, which won a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned contest at Kansas Speedway earlier this year.

The last thing on Busch’s schedule was to talk racing and the start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, which starts this weekend in Chicago. Busch may be “the” story of the Chase as part of a one-car team based in Denver, Co. and its ability to make the Chase. Busch qualified eighth for the Chase this year and points to 2004 when he was also considered the underdog and went on to win the championship.

“In 2004, I qualified seventh and we had a strong start to the Chase and built a good points lead, which is important,” said Busch. “The first five weeks is really important and you have to have good points races and consistency to win the championship.”

Busch, who struggled earlier this season at Kansas Speedway, knows he must be better when he returns to Kansas Speedway on Oct. 6 for the fourth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“I think we can put something together and have a good race here,” he said. “It’s a fast track since the repave and doing well when we come back will be important to our championship hopes.” 

Kansas Speedway PR