Busch caps busy weekend with fifth-place finish

NEWTON - Kurt Busch had a busier weekend than most drivers.

The 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion was the lone driver pulling double-duty in NASCAR's top two series this weekend.

After finishing eighth at the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Busch capped the weekend by finishing fifth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 at Iowa Speedway on Sunday.

The finish was strong for Kyle Busch Motorsports, which is in its first year running a Nationwide car.

“It's great to sniff the lead, get close to it,” Busch said. “It's just missing a couple little components.”

Busch's commitment with Phoenix Racing for the All-Star event kept him from being able to qualify Saturday. Teammate Drew Herring, who won the pole here last May, qualified the car in 31st, but Busch started at the back of the pack with the driver change. He made his way to the front, leading for two laps. Busch was third on the final lap before getting caught up with Michael McDowell, sliding sideways but saving his car and a top-five finish.

“At the end, my weak spot was Turn 1,” Busch said. “We were loose getting in there all day. McDowell got down in there, I was trying to hold him off and that's what racing is all about. Two guys got together. Yeah, we got the short end of the stick but I don't care.”