Kurt Busch comes to Phoenix with a single-minded purpose

Kurt Busch practices Friday at Phoenix. (Getty Images)
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Kurt Busch practices Friday at Phoenix. (Getty Images)
Kurt Busch practices Friday at Phoenix. (Getty Images)

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Though he’s last in the Chase standings, 34 points below the current cut line with one race left in the Round of 8, Kurt Busch already has had plenty of reason to celebrate this month.

After all, his beloved Chicago Cubs rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series and break a 108-year championship drought.

Likewise, Busch will have to rally from two lackluster races in the Chase’s Round of 8. Barring an extraordinary set of circumstances, he’ll have to win Sunday’s Can-Am 500.

“Yeah, that’s what we’re hopeful for,” Busch said on Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. “Our scenario to advance is to win. It’s very similar to last year, with how we made it through to the Round of 16, the Round of 12 and the Round of 8. We find ourselves with a must-win at Phoenix. It’s a unique format and it’s a lot of fun to work through it.

“To have a shot at it with only one race to go before the championship round makes you feel like you’ve had a successful season. We always want more, and we know we can do more. We want to try and go out with a win here in Phoenix to give ourselves a shot at the championship.”

Busch will start 12th Sunday.

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.