Monday, Nov. 09, 2009

NASCAR notebook: Kyle Busch crew chief misjudges

FORT WORTH, Texas -- It didn't take Dave Rogers long to face a huge decision as crew chief for the volatile Kyle Busch.

Rogers said it wasn't much of a decision at all. He was sure Busch had enough fuel to stay in front to the finish Sunday in Texas, where Rogers made his debut atop the pit box for the No. 18 Toyota.

Rogers was wrong by three laps.

That's when Busch ran out of gas just as he was starting another trip around the 1 1 / 2-mile high-banked oval. He sputtered through the backstretch and was passed by older brother Kurt Busch and quite a few others. Kyle Busch finished 11th.

Busch, known for his outbursts when things aren't going well and mistakes are made, didn't disagree with the decision to stay out because Rogers said they never really discussed it.

Edwards still winless

Carl Edwards' oh-fer season continued.

The nine-time winner from a year ago was knocked out about halfway through the race when he pulled alongside Juan Pablo Montoya just before Montoya lost control and grazed Edwards, sending him into the wall.

Edwards took the optimistic outlook before the race when he said he preferred to view things as nine wins over two seasons rather than the big zero of 2009. He had the same rosy outlook after the wreck, too.

"I guess I'll win the race home," Edwards said. "I get to go home and see the wife. That's a good thing."

More tributes

Fort Hood soldiers played a prominent role in NASCAR's pre-race ceremonies just 170 miles from the site of the massacre that left 13 dead at the Army post.

There were 40 Fort Hood soldiers displaying the huge American flag during the national anthem Sunday. The number was supposed to be 45, but five soldiers scheduled to attend were among the 29 injured in Thursday's shootings, track officials said.

A U.S. Army logo with the words "God Bless Our Fort Hood Troops" was pained on the infield grass Friday.

Space race

Space shuttle pilot Doug Hurley went for a different ride before Sunday's race. Two, actually.

Hurley, who guided Endeavour in July, was inside the pace car, which was inside a Chinook helicopter that landed on the infield. He drove the car off the helicopter.

The Marine colonel is a season ticket-holder at Texas Motor Speedway.

Spark plugs

Sunday's unofficial attendance was 167,000, the lowest in 18 races at Texas. Attendance figures have declined steadily the past couple of years. The previous low was 171,000 last fall. ... Kurt Busch's victory made a $1 million winner of Oklahoma school teacher Michael McGee. The 25-year-old from Broken Bow picked Busch in a random drawing of the 12 Chase drivers. McGee was chosen the Dickies American Worker of the Year, earning $50,000 and the shot at the bigger prize.