Kurt Busch: Looking for Luck in the Irish Hills of Michigan

Rolling hills with lush green grass, expansive lakes and small, quaint villages are in full view on the drive along U.S. Highway 12 in southern Michigan. Golf courses and vast farmed land also are part of the otherwise tranquil scene. It’s a serene setting and one conducive to the quiet country life many enjoy in the area. Any thundering noises that may disturb this quiet setting are typically the tell-tale signs of an impending storm. It’s all part of an area referred to as the Irish Hills of Michigan.

The Irish Hills were named in homage to the Irish immigrants that settled in the area in the early to mid-1800s. Today, the area is known for its resorts that attracts numerous tourists with its state parks and its multitude of lakes. It is a laid-back atmosphere conducive to families seeking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

That all changes this weekend when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rolls into the Irish Hills for Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. It is the second time the series will be competing at Michigan as part of the 2012 schedule. The one thing everyone learned the last time the series visited the 2-mile track? It is superfast after the repaving project the track completed during the offseason. Teams will be looking forward to taking advantage of that speed during this second go-round at Michigan.

Kurt Busch and the No. 51 Phoenix Racing team, however, will be looking for more than just speed this weekend. Three races have taken place since the last off-weekend the series enjoyed, but each of those events have been plagued with plain, old bad racing luck for Busch & Company. From an engine failure at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to a blown tire at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway to the mechanical failure at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, each race transformed promising performances into nothing but disappointing results. A trip to the Irish Hills may be just what the team needs to turn its luck around in the hopes of picking up a little bit of the luck of the Irish.

While an added dash of luck could provide a big assist, the team will rely on Busch’s previous experience and success at Michigan just as much. The 2004 Sprint Cup champion goes to Michigan as a two-time winner at the 2-mile oval.  Busch scored his first Michigan win during the track’s June race in 2003, leading 23 laps along the way. He scored his second Michigan win with more of an exclamation point by leading a race-high 95 laps on Aug. 21, 2007. In addition to the two victories, Busch has a pair of poles. He earned the top starting spot for the track’s June races in both 2010 and 2011. Combining Busch’s success at Michigan with a little bit of luck just might yield the recipe needed for the No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services team to capture desired results on Sunday.

Yes, the calm, serenity of the Irish Hills will be under siege by thundering racecars once again this weekend. While Busch and Phoenix Racing will be very much a part of the disruption, they are hoping to catch a break in the luck department and have Irish eyes smiling on them.

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