NASCAR notes: Kurt Busch making final push for Chase

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — With only six races left before NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup begins, Kurt Busch isn’t about to take a break. Not with one of the coveted 12 spots still within his grasp.

Less than 24 hours after a disappointing 14th-place finish at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis, Busch was back behind the wheel of his black No. 78 Chevrolet on Monday, blistering through the tricky turns at Watkins Glen International and giving as much feedback as he could to crew chief Todd Berrier.

“I always like to test at tracks I’m not exceptionally good on and polish up on what might be a weak spot,” Busch, the 2004 Cup champion, said. “We chose to come and test here because we’re putting a heavy emphasis and pushing all of our eggs into the basket of trying to get into the Chase. We’re trying to use this as a strength, come here and polish up and be even better.

“After Watkins Glen, it’s four to go, and we like our chances.”

Busch and his Furniture Row Racing team, his third team in three seasons, were among six cars to make the trek to upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region searching for some sort of edge for the Cup race here in two weeks. Though he’s been in contention on a regular basis all season, Busch is winless and sits 14th in points. He’s hopeful two days here on the track will translate into something big when the green flag waves for the Cheez-It 355 at The Glen on Aug. 11.

Stewart fine after sprint car accident

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tony Stewart was not injured in a scary accident in Canada in which his sprint car rolled five times.

A day after Monday’s wreck, Stewart was still scheduled for the World of Outlaws race Tuesday night at Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario. He’s the defending race winner.

But the three-time NASCAR champion will sit out a pair of races this weekend as his team takes its cars to Indiana for repairs.

Stewart finished fourth Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and said he’d be in a race car every day this week. Although he declined to reveal his entire schedule, he said he was testing today, racing Thursday and would be at Pocono Raceway this weekend.

Spokesman Mike Arning says races Friday and Saturday night have been scrapped only for car repairs.

Duchardt promoted to No. 3 at Hendrick

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Longtime Hendrick Motorsports executive Doug Duchardt has been promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president and general manager.

Duchardt will report to team owner Rick Hendrick and company President Marshall Carlson.

The expanded role puts Duchardt in charge of all racing operations for Hendrick Motorsports and makes him the primary liaison between the organization and NASCAR’s competition group.

Touring Series names technical director

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Three-time Daytona 500 winning crew chief Tony Glover has been named technical director of NASCAR’s Touring Series.

The appointment was one of several made Tuesday.

Former crew chief Chris Wright was named K&N Pro Series East director. Kip Childress was named K&N Pro Series West Director. Les Westerfield resumes his role as Touring Series technical coordinator and K&N Pro Series East race director.

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