Tulsa World: NASCAR Notebook: Busch's new crew chief ready for first tirade

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NASCAR Notebook: Busch's new crew chief ready for first tirade

Crew members change tires in the last pitt stop for Kyle Busch during the NASCAR Nationwide O'Reilly Challenge auto race at Texas Motor Speedway, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas. AP PHOTO

By Associated Press
Published: 11/8/2009 2:31 AM
Last Modified: 11/8/2009 7:53 AM

Kyle Busch's new crew chief knows what's coming.

Dave Rogers also knows it won't do any good to worry about the demanding driver's first tirade.

"I'm probably going to take some beatings from him," Rogers said. "We all know that he can be verbal, and I'm probably going to have a give a few back. It's going to be a good working relationship."

Busch and Rogers make their debut in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Texas. Joe Gibbs Racing announced last week that Steve Addington would be replaced as Busch's crew chief after last weekend's event at Talladega.

Addington and Busch, known for berating his crew when he doesn't like his car or the pit efforts, won 12 times in 68 races since the start of 2008. That included four wins this year, but the duo narrowly missed the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in part because of 12 finishes outside the top 20.

Toyota talk: Toyota's withdrawal from the Formula One circuit will not affect the manufacturer's commitment to NASCAR, a company executive said Saturday.

Lee White, president and general manager of Toyota Racing Development, said the operations are separate financially.

"It should have no effect whatsoever on our NASCAR program and our NASCAR plan and our NASCAR future," White said.

Toyota said Wednesday it was withdrawing from F1 to cut costs and focus on its core business. The complete withdrawal makes it unlikely Toyota will return if the economy improves.

Go, Kurt, go: An Oklahoma

man has a vested interest in Kurt Busch winning Sunday's Sprint Cup race.

Michael McGee of Broken Bow, Okla., was named the Dickies American Worker of the Year last month in Las Vegas. He won $50,000 and will take home $1 million if Kurt Busch wins.

The 25-year-old McGee ended up with Kurt Busch by picking him in a random drawing of the 12 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship drivers.

McGee teaches agriculture and owns a 41-acre horse training farm.

Don't count the chickens: Jimmie Johnson's commanding Sprint Cup series lead makes it possible for him to become the first driver in the Chase era to clinch the title before the finale.

Johnson can wrap it up next week in Phoenix, but that's not the way he's thinking.

"I feel like if we start focusing on average position where we need to finish, do some things that are different than what the 48 car does, we will set ourselves up for a problem," Johnson said. "I'm certainly not going to do stupid things on the track, take a lot of unneeded risk. But I've always been a believer of playing offense." By Associated Press

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blindshoe, (11/8/2009 4:04:27 AM)

bush who cares

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