NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Kurt Busch Seeks Triple At CMS
Kurt Busch looks to sweep the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Charlotte Motor Speedway...
Mike Hembree  |  Posted October 12, 2010   Charlotte, NC
Kurt Busch looks to make history in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Kurt Busch is in position to make a bit of history this week at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch won both races – the Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 – at CMS in May and thus can become the first driver to sweep all three major NASCAR events at the track in a single season with a win in Saturday night’s Bank of America 500.

It’s only the seventh time a driver has had a shot at the three-race sweep. Those who have failed to get the third victory after winning the two May races are Darrell Waltrip, Davey Allison, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne.

Of course, in the bigger picture, a win would keep Busch in the running for the Sprint Cup title. He’s currently sixth in points, 140 behind leader Johnson, whose success at CMS over the years is likely to make him one of Busch’s biggest obstacles Saturday night.

“I would have assumed that Jimmie Johnson had two or three sweeps at the Charlotte track over the years,” Busch said. “Dale Sr., of course, Waltrip. It’s really a neat fraternity of guys to be part of. To have my shot at it here in 2010, we’re definitely going to give it all we got. The best part about it is if we do that, that only helps us for our chances for the championship this season.”

The NASCAR Hall of Fame worked out an agreement with Penske Racing to put Busch’s No. 2 Dodge on display at the hall if he wins Saturday night’s race. If that happens, its time there might be limited because the team might choose to use it in another race before season’s end.

“Of course, I hope we have this problem of a race-winning car that swept all the race weekends here in Charlotte, and we're talking about taking that car down to Homestead for the final race of the year,” Busch said. “We’ve got three distinct cars in our fleet that have an advantage in downforce over the other cars. And with us being in the Chase, the 2 car gets a choice.”

As a final incentive, sponsor Miller Brewing, which will move over to Busch teammate Brad Keselowski next season, has promised Busch free beer for life if he wins the championship in his final season under its sponsorship.

“It’s my last few rides in the Miller Lite Dodge,” Busch said. “They made an agreement – we’ll give you beer for life if you win this championship. So if I’m running over guys, you know my motive now.”

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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