Kyle Busch joins 2002 ASA Rookie Class

Pendleton, Ind. (February 28, 2002) - Kyle Busch, younger brother of Winston Cup driver Kurt Busch, will compete in the 2002 ASA Racing Series. The 17-year-old Nevada native plans to enter all 20 events starting with the March 24th Florida 200 at USA Inter national Speedway in Lakeland (FL).

Busch will drive a car owned by Noah Yoder Racing, a longtime competing ASA team based in Hicksville (OH). Roush Racing will support the program and is currently involved in a sponsor search for the team.

"We're pinching ourselves over this arrangement," says Noah Yoder, a Northwest Ohio Ford dealership owner and operator. "Kyle's dad and Jimmy Parker came with him and have been at our shop for a few weeks and are real fine people to work with."

Yoder has been a car owner in ASA for more than 10 years. "All the people that have been with our program in the past have brought us this credibility to now be connected to Roush Racing. I'll be involved as much as ever and we're going to give this a real shot."

Busch was the set to drive the Roush Racing number 99 Ford F-150 and contend for Rookie of the Year honors in the Craftsman Truck Series. However, a new rule recently mandated that all drivers must be 18 to compete.

"I am really excited about this opportunity," explains Busch. "Just a few months ago, I thought I would be competing in the Trucks, and then the rule change occurred, and for a time I thought that I wouldn't be able to race in any series. I can't wait to g et back into the seat and compete. I'm thankful for the opportunity that Noah Yoder and Roush Racing have put together for me and for having a family that supports me the way they do."

In 2001, Busch competed in six Craftsman Truck Series events and had two top-five finishes and three top-five starts. In 2000, he was the Nevada State champion in the Legends Pro Division and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Track Champion in Legends Cars.

"I really think that Kyle will do well in ASA," adds Jack Roush, owner of Roush Racing. "It is a good series and he will be able to learn a lot and it will keep him busy until he turns 18 and returns to the seat of the 99."

Busch is on schedule to graduate from high school this June, one year earlier than the rest of his classmates.

Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Roush Industries and operates nine Motorsports teams including five in the Winston Cup Series, two in Busch Grand National and two in the Craftsman Truck series. Four-time ASA National Champion Mark Martin is among Roush's Winston Cup drivers.

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