Kurt Busch to pilot ’70 Challenger Super Gas Car at Gatornationals

Posted on March 10th, 2010 • by Bill Cawthon

Fresh off his Sprint Cup Series win at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kurt Busch will swap his NASCAR Dodge Charger for a Mopar-powered 1970 Dodge Challenger Super Gas car. The 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champ is set to do battle on the drag strip in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at the 41st Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals March 11–14 at the Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.

Busch is taking a rare break in the hectic NASCAR schedule to race his rebuilt Dodge Challenger, powered by a stroked, 1,167-horsepower Mopar 6.1-liter HEMI, in NHRA competition. Qualifying is set for Thursday, March 11, with eliminations beginning on Friday, March 12.

“Gainesville is one of the marquee events on the NHRA calendar, and it’s a privilege to compete against the best Sportsman racers out there,” said Busch. “I spent over 30 hours at Roy Hill’s drag racing school, and have had two tests in my own Dodge Challenger, but that’s nothing compared to the seat time many of these guys have in their own cars. We are going to go out there and do our best competing against these talented Sportsman racers.”

On Saturday, March 13, Busch will take part in a Team Mopar autograph session at the Mopar Image Center located in the manufacturer’s midway. The time of his appearance will be announced at the track. Mopar HEMI-powered Pro Stock drivers Allen Johnson, V. Gaines and Vinnie Deceglie will appear from 10:30–11:30 a.m. on Saturday and NHRA Funny Car racers Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan and Melanie Troxel will visit for a signing session following the first round of qualifying on Saturday.

On Friday, Mopar racing legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits will make his own appearance at the Mopar Image Center at 3 p.m.

Two hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, March 14, beginning at 12 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information, log on to the NHRA website.