导出博客文章HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Kyle Busch is hardly the peoples choice.His championship run
last year was overshadowed by Jeff Gordons farewell. His quest to repeat
probably ranks behind Tony Stewarts retirement and Jimmie Johnsons shot at
making history.Hes overlooked but far from overmatched. Busch might even be the
man to beat in the NASCAR finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.I think
winning the championship last year definitely impacted us, Busch said. It just
gave us a greater sense of belief in ourselves and our team and confidence in
being able to go out there and do it again. You know, theres no reason to think
that what we accomplished last year is a one-time thing.We feel were just as
good last year if not better and performed better throughout this Chase in order
to get ourselves in the position were in. There are plenty of reasons as to why
we can be beat and plenty of reasons as to why we can beat the rest of
them.Buschs championship run last year was something befitting a Hollywood
script. He missed the first 11 races of the season after breaking his leg and
foot in a hard crash at Daytona International Speedway.He transitioned from
comeback kid to championship contender after winning four of five races during a
summer hot streak. With a new son, a supportive wife and a newfound maturity,
Busch looked like a changed man.He won the finale at Homestead and gave Toyota
its first Sprint Cup championship.Now, hes looking to make it two in a row.
Standing in his way are Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and
Johnson, who can tie the NASCAR record held by Richard Petty and Dale
Earnhardt.I certainly think that its different from last year for sure, Busch
said. Last year, I was just a part-time champion, so this year I hope to become
a full-time champion.He wont get any help from Edwards.Team owner Joe Gibbs said
Friday that Busch and Edwards will be on their own during practice and once the
green flag drops.To be quite truthful, both of them want this in the worst way
and theyre going to compete, Gibbs said. Theyre not sharing a lot of stuff. Its
going to be up to them individually. ... We kind of felt like obviously theyre
going to be kind of individually going for it. Theyll both kind of be on their
own here.That was news to Busch and Edwards after qualifying Friday. The two
were loose and light and said Gibbs, who earlier in the day said hes so nervous
this weekend he accidentally walked into the womens bathroom, was mistaken on
the sharing.Joe is not in our meetings. Dont listen to Joe. Were not sharing
with him, Busch said. Everything right now is all the same, open notebook. Ive
been looking at Carls stuff all day.Working with teammates has been a crucial
piece of the success at JGR, and played into Buschs discouragement after last
weeks race at Phoenix. Buschs teammate, Matt Kenseth, had the win in hand until
a late caution sent the race to extra laps. Although Kenseth cleared traffic on
the restart, Busch made contact with Alex Bowman that altered Bowmans racing
line. Kenseths spotter told the driver he was clear, but he actually moved down
on Bowman and crashed.Busch took much of the blame after the race. But after
studying replays, Busch felt he had less to do with the wreck than he initially
thought.I was definitely hard on myself, Busch said. If you look at what
percentage of blame should be given to everybody, I think we all have a piece,
but what exact percentage that is, Im not sure.As for Busch and Kenseth, theyve
havent exactly made up.Weve exchanged texts back and forth, Busch said. Its as
good as its going to be good right now with him still probably being rightfully
upset with how it all went down last week. I mean, man, he was, what, 30, 35
seconds away from taking the white? Thats a pretty bummer situation.Busch surely
would be bummed with anything short of another championship.But winning that
first one was a career-defining moment.I feel like maybe on the racetrack you
get an extra four inches instead of one inch from particular people, but it also
depends on what lap its on, Busch said. When it comes down to the end of the
race, its pretty much every man for himself all the time. But just having that
accolade and being a part of the sport, having recognition from other champions
come up to you with the likes of Darrell Waltrip or Dale Jarrett or Rusty
Wallace, those guys that come put their arm around you and tell you, `Welcome to
the club.He has a chance Sunday to join even more exclusive company.---More AP
auto racing:
www.racing.ap.org
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. As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his
hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th
rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved
too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third
straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night.
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Superstar Black Mens Sale . They were putting most of their energy into a
record-setting offensive display. The major two-year-old races are on the agenda
for Kings Authority after the Mick Price-trained colt raced to an impressive
debut win at Flemington.Kings Authority stepped out in Saturdays Christmas
Season Plate (1100m) down the straight course at Flemington and after angling
into the clear with 200m to run, the colt powered to the line to win by 1-1/2
lengths.Price trained the quinella in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes last
season with Extreme Choice and Flying Artie and will aim Kings Authority at that
race in February at Caulfield before the Golden Slipper in Sydney.He said Kings
Authority had the prize money now so he could get his timing right to target the
bigger races.Hes a nice colt and hes going somewhere, Price said.Hes got
improvement in him and Ill probably give him a breather and run him in the one
of the Preludes into the Blue Diamond.He doesnt have to go out but it would be
nice to think we could go iinto the Blue Diamond and the
Slipper.ddddddddddddKings Authority ($4.60) got cover as the field came down the
grandstand side, before Mark Zahra steered him to his left to find clear running
at the business end of the race.He defeated Aspen Angel ($10) with American
Genius ($3.70) three-quarters of a length away third.He looks nice and round in
condition so theres plenty of improvement to come and it was good to see him do
it under pressure, Price said.Hes still learning a fair bit so I thought he did
a good job to go left and then go left and then go left again and still have a
really good finish on him.He didnt trial like some of those fast two-year-olds
like last year, but that doesnt matter.Hes better in the blinkers and hell be a
Blue Diamond, (and) hopefully Golden Slipper type horse. ' ' '
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