Kansas: Kyle Busch Motorsports preview

BRIAN ICKLER & TAYLER MALSAM
Kansas -- Not a Bad Place To Pick Up a First Win

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 28, 2010) -- Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) drivers Brian Ickler and Tayler Malsam are considered two of the best young prospects in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

But like many young up-and-coming drivers, they are looking for that first victory and they know each race gives them a chance to join the exclusive club of drivers who have scored a win in one of NASCAR's top three divisions.

There might not be a better track for Malsam and Ickler to get their first win than Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, site of Sunday's O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 Camping World Truck Series event.

In the nine Truck Series events conducted at the 1.5-mile oval since it opened in 2001, three drivers have scored their first career win in the series. The late Ricky Hendrick did so in the inaugural race in 2001, while Jon Wood (2003) and Erik Darnell (2007) followed suit.

Ickler and Malsam have one start apiece at Kansas (both in 2009) and both had impressive showings. Ickler started ninth and finished fifth, while Malsam started 10th and finished 11th. Amazingly, Ickler's fifth-place effort came in what was his Camping World Truck Series debut.

Kyle Busch Motorsports enters Kansas with plenty of momentum as driver-owner Busch scored the team's first victory on April 2 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. The win came on the heals of Ickler's third-place finish the previous weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway -- a race that saw Malsam cut a tire with less than two lap remaining to cost him a top-10 finish.

While searching for that first win, Ickler and Malsam will also look to move up in the points. Ickler, who is splitting time with Busch in the No. 18 KBM Toyota Tundra, will look to improve on the team's third-place position in the owner championship as the No. 18 is just 36 points behind the No. 2 truck of Kevin Harvick, Inc.

Malsam, who is running the full schedule, is ninth in the driver championship, just 197 markers behind leader Timothy Peters.

Brian Ickler, Driver, No. 18 Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:

You made your debut in the Camping World Truck Series last year at Kansas and finished a very impressive fifth. What do you remember about that weekend?

"It was my first time in the trucks. I learned a ton, not only about the trucks, but about the racetrack. We spent a couple of days there due to the rain. It gave me a lot of time to spend on pit road and talk to people and get some coaching. I learned a lot about Kansas itself, and a lot about the Truck Series. I've learned a lot since then, too."

Three drivers have scored their first career Camping World Truck Series victory at Kansas. How much would it mean for you to be able to add your name to that list?

"It'd be huge. We definitely have the equipment and the personnel to make it happen. I'm looking forward to going back to a racetrack that I've run at before in both the trucks and the ARCA car. I'm looking at it as an advantage I didn't have all of last year from the standpoint that I've seen the racetrack and turned laps there."

What have you done over the last month with the Truck Series on a bit of a break?

"I've been working in the shop. I've been to Kyle Busch Motorsports everyday. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about these trucks. I'm trying to get to know the guys better. Just trying to learn as much as I can."

Tayler Malsam, Driver, No. 56 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:

Overall thoughts heading into Kansas?

"Kansas is one of my favorite racetracks to go to. I think I've been to all the 1.5-mile ovals, now. It'll be a lot of fun. I know we have a really good truck that we are taking there, so I'm excited to see what happens."

Three drivers have scored their first career Camping World Truck Series victory at Kansas. What do you think makes it a track that produces first-time winners?

"I think it's a very forgiving racetrack. I think there is enough room that you can make a little mistake and still be fine. There's a lot of room to race. You can run the high line or you can run the low line. There's room to make a pass."

What have you done over the last month with the Truck Series on a bit of a break?

"I went back home (to Seattle) for a little bit and did some sponsor stuff with Kyle. I ran some shifter karts back home, too. I've just been hanging out and working out. I've spent some time at the shop working with the guys."

Are you happy the long break is over?

"I don't like these breaks. Coming from Sprint cars, where we ran twice a week every week, I don't like taking these long breaks. I'm ready to get back out there and race and get a rhythm going."

-source: kbm