NASCAR Sprint Cup star Kurt Busch had an unusual assignment last Friday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The 2004 series champion spent part of the day taping an intro for this Saturday night’s edition of “America’s Most Wanted,” the popular FOX TV show hosted by John Walsh.
“John was at the track filming on Friday and it was great to meet him and do the filming,” Busch said. “I was in my Miller Lite fire suit and we did a nice little interview first. Then I did the introduction to a segment where they are looking for a woman named Jenny Liang.
“She was living in (Las) Vegas and working at the Mirage Casino when she supposedly murdered her boyfriend and then went on the run. I really enjoyed spending the time with John and I hope that our efforts add support in helping them capture this woman.”
One of the things that impressed Busch most about the taping was Walsh’s companions.
“John has an entourage of about 20 people, with two armed guards following him at all times,” Busch said. “With his show helping take down nearly 1,000 dangerous fugitives in the past 20 years, it’s pretty easy to understand why he has that kind of support crew.”
The show airs Saturday at 9:00 p.m.
CLASSIC RACE: The 56th edition of the Hoosier Hundred, one of the most prestigious dirt racing events of the year, will take place Friday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
Reigning U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown Series champion Bud Kaeding and two-time National Midget Series champion Jerry Coons Jr. are tied for the Silver Crown points lead.
The race, one of the perennial highlights of the week leading up to the running of the Indianapolis 500, has a list of winners that reads like the roster of a racing hall of fame, including A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, Rodger Ward, Al Unser, Jimmy Bryant and Bob Swiekert.
Coons, who won the series opener at Phoenix in February, and Kaeding are both looking for their first Hoosier Hundred win, along with Tracy Hines, who leads this year’s midget series. Hines, who drives for Tony Stewart Racing, has started the event eight times and placed sixth or better in seven of them.
Track qualifying record holder Johnny Parsons, who first raced in the event 38 years ago, will seek a record 30th start. He also is looking for that elusive victory after finishing second in 1973 and 1989.
One driver not looking for his first Hoosier Hundred win is Dave Darland. The Lincoln, Ind., driver is a prerace favorite, having won the event three times, the latest in 2004.
KING’S REIGN: Stock car King Richard Petty will celebrate his 50th anniversary in NASCAR during the Chicagoland Speedway Sprint Cup race weekend in July.
The 70-year-old Petty, the son of NASCAR pioneer Lee Petty, made his driving debut on July 12, 1958, in the Convertible Division at Columbia Speedway in Cayce, S.C., starting 13th and finishing sixth. He went on to race for 35 years, winning 201 races, including one of 15 starts in the Convertible Division before going on to win seven Cup championships.
Petty Enterprises, the team begun by his father and now run by Richard Petty and son Kyle, will mark the anniversary with several special events and promotions. The team has extended an invitation to the CEOs of its sponsors and partner companies to come to Chicago to help them commemorate the anniversary.
A promotion to get fans involved with the celebration will be announced in June.
“As much as he is renowned for his success on the racetrack, The King has always connected with the fan and still does to this day,” said Brian Moffitt, vice president of marketing for the Petty team. “It’s just part of who he is.”
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