Changes to Busch schedule maximize thrills
By Troy Fletcher, Special to Turner Sports Interactive
January 5, 2002
2:22 PM EST (1922 GMT)
For the most part, the schedule for the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series will mirror last season's. But there was some noteworthy tinkering done to the upcoming campaign.
Unlike a year ago, when the Busch Series drivers competed in 33 events, the 2002 version has them vying for 34 checkered flags.
Gone in 2002 is the Busch event at the 2.45-mile Watkins Glen International road course in New York.
In its place are two events at Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 16, the season opener, and July 5), and a pair of events at Nashville Superspeedway on March 13 and June 8.
"I think dropping the race at Watkins Glen was a good move," said David Green, the 1994 Busch Series champion, who has competed in the series full time the past two seasons.
"The reason being is because it was the only road course on the schedule and if we going to keep road-course racing in the series, we needed to do it at least two tracks. Plus, I think having two races at Daytona is a real positive for us. The crowds will be bigger because the Winston Cup guys will be there with us, and it gives us a chance to race in front of fans who normally would not be there to see us."
As for Nashville, Tenn., it has always been a hotbed of racing. The 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway, which was new in 2001, is sure to meet the drivers' and fans' liking for a double dip in 2002.
Another visible change in 2002 is Atlanta Motor Speedway moving its Busch event to Oct. 26. AMS historically has hosted its Busch race in March.
Additionally, North Carolina Speedway has kept the same weekend for its second race, but switched spots in the schedule's pecking order.
A year ago, the Rock held its last race Nov. 3, the week before the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In 2002, however, the season will conclude with races on Nov. 9 at Phoenix International Raceway and Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami.
The schedule also offers plenty of excitement with night races at Richmond International Raceway (May 3 and Sept. 6), Daytona (July 5), Gateway International Raceway (July 20), Indianapolis Raceway Park (Aug. 3) and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (Aug. 23).
"I really like racing at night," said Green, a native of Owensboro, Ky., who is still trying to put things in place for the 2002 season. "It reminds me of the Saturday night shows I raced in growing up. Plus, the conditions are usually a lot cooler at night, which give the track more grip and lets the cars handle better and makes for better racing."
Besides Daytona, Nashville, Richmond and Rockingham, Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (March 16 and Aug. 31), Bristol (March 23 and Aug. 23), Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. (May 25 and Oct. 12) and Dover (Del.) Downs International Speedway also have two events in 2002.
As in 2001, the following will host one race again in 2002: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (April 2), Texas Motor Speedway (April 6), Talladega Superspeedway (April 20), California Speedway (April 27), New Hampshire International Speedway (May 11), Nazareth Speedway (May 19), Kentucky Speedway (June 15), The Milwaukee Mile (June 30), Chicagoland Speedway (July 13), Gateway International (July 20), Pikes Peak International Raceway (July 27), Indianapolis Raceway Park (Aug. 3), Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 17), Kansas Speedway (Sept. 28), Memphis Motorsports Park (Oct. 19) and Phoenix (Nov. 9) and Miami (Nov. 16).
All the 2002 Busch races will be broadcast live on TV by FOX, FX, TNT or NBC.
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