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SPORTS Wednesday 12 February 2020
Busch has done it all in NASCAR, except win the Daytona 500

By DAN GELSTON At the last second, he
AP Sports Writer dropped low on the track to
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) line up in front of Busch. The
— Kyle Busch has partied in JGR teams had planned
victory lane at every NAS- on winning with teamwork,
CAR track from Darlington and Stewart thought he
to Dover, from Bristol to the would need Busch to make
Brickyard. Busch has even it to the checkered flag.
celebrated at Daytona, The decision backfired in
with a 2008 summer Cup the blink of an eye. Stew-
Series victory on his resume, art couldn't hook up with
and trophies from races in Busch fast enough, and
other series or exhibitions the two Penske cars steam-
in his collection. Kyle Busch rolled past him on the top.
prepares to get in his car "I think Tony, to want to
during NASCAR auto race stick together and work as
practice at Daytona Inter- teammates, took an op-
national Speedway, Satur- portunity to do that with
day, Feb. 8, 2020, in Day- me rather than jumping out
tona Beach, Fla. and getting in front of the
He has yet to take his tra- other two that were com-
ditional bow as the confetti ing," Busch said. "That took
flies at the Daytona 500. He away his Daytona 500. I
is 0 for 14. Kyle Busch prepares to get in his car during NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International think it was his to win. But
Winning the biggest race in Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. we were right there, and
NASCAR is the last drop in Associated Press we were right there close
filling a bucket list of mile- he's not letting on. where Busch really has not a late-race miscalculation and had a fast car, too."
stones that includes two "The whole aspect of hav- much left to prove. by a teammate cost him Trying last season to be-
Cup championships and ing one item not checked Last season, Busch was a shot at the Harley J. Earl come No. 1 at Daytona,
more than 200 NASCAR is not that big of a deal," agonizingly close to win- trophy. Busch was instead second
victories for one of NAS- Busch said. "It's not going ning the "Great American Busch gets another shot in the 1-2-3 finish for JGR.
CAR's all-time greats, who to end my career by any Race," finishing second in a Sunday at winning the Busch was leading on a
is just 34. If failing to win the means." race where he led inside of race that Trevor Bayne, Ja- restart with nine laps to go
Daytona 500 is gnawing Maybe not, but it would 10 laps left. He had another mie McMurray and Derrike and opted to start from
at the tempestuous Busch, put a tidy bow on a career strong chance in 2008 until Cope all managed to fig- the bottom lane after win-
ure out. ner and teammate Denny
Red Sox promote Ron Roenicke to Busch could move past Hamlin told Busch's crew
Rusty Wallace and into that they would "race it out"
interim manager ninth on the Cup career without working together.
wins list if he emerges from Before the final restart,
the anything-can-happen though, Busch said Hamlin
By JIMMY GOLEN wanted to "go back into
AP Sports Writer pack. Among active driv- preservation
ers, Busch's 56 wins and two teammate
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — mode." Busch did some
The Boston Red Sox pro- titles are behind only sev- that allowed
en-time champion Jimmie blocking
moted bench coach Ron
Roenicke to manager Johnson (83 wins). Busch Hamlin to hold off Joey Lo-
gano.
could become the first re-
Tuesday, hiring him to re-
place Alex Cora on the peat Cup champion since "It hurt not being able to
Johnson won five straight bring home that trophy
day the team’s pitchers and for Denny to be able
and catchers reported for from 2006-2010. to bring home two, but
The good times through-
the start of spring training.
The move is an indication out his career are etched that's just a part of racing,"
in Busch's Hall of Fame Busch said. "Hopefully we
that Roenicke — and per-
haps the entire Red Sox or- credentials, but the near can get it done this year
or whenever, sometime or
misses at Daytona are un-
ganization — will escape another, before it's all said
punishment in baseball’s Ron Roenicke, right, speaks as Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer forgettable.
In 2008, Busch's first season and done for myself to be
sign-stealing investigation. Chaim Bloom looks on after being after being named interim
of the Boston Red Sox baseball team Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020,
Cora was let go for his in Fort Myers, Fla. at left. at Joe Gibbs Racing after able to at least have one."
a complicated breakup Busch's bad luck extends
role in the Houston Astros’ Associated Press
cheating, but the team at Hendrick Motorsports,a beyond the checkered
drive toward the finish with flag drought. He crashed
has maintained that there next week. The person ported Tuesday and have
was no similar scheme in spoke on the condition their first workout Wednes- teammate Tony Stewart into a concrete wall in a
race the day before the
came down to the wire.
Boston when the Red Sox of anonymity because day.Roenicke, 63, takes
won it all in 2018. A deci- there was no formal an- over a team that is deal- Running out front in the 2015 Daytona 500 and
high line, Stewart held off broke his right leg and left
sion from Major League nouncement. Commis- ing with the fallout not foot. Busch was stuck in a
Baseball had been ex- sioner Rob Manfred said only from the cheating two Penske cars over the fi- hospital bed, the Daytona
nal thrilling laps. But as Pen-
pected before the start of last week that he hoped investigation but also the
spring training, but a per- to have the investigation salary dump of onetime ske drivers Ryan Newman 500 just a race on TV. Busch
and Kurt Busch closed in on withstood multiple surger-
son with knowledge of the wrapped before the start AL MVP Mookie Betts and
probe said the investiga- of spring training; Red Sox Cy Young winner David him, Stewart didn't feel safe ies, went through a gruel-
running alone without any ing rehabilitation program
tion would continue into pitchers and catchers re- Price.q
allies. and missed only 11 races.q