In a time when money is tight and people are having a hard time with funding, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kyle Busch is going against the norm and expanding.
Starting at the beginning of the year, Kyle Busch started a two-truck team, ready to dive head first into the series. He knew he would have to have the right backing so he hired Rick Ren, 2009 championship crew chief for Ron Hornaday, to be competition director.
So far this year has worked out well for Busch in 27 races. Johnny Benson, Brian Ickler, Kasey Kahne, Taylor Malsam, and Busch himself have combined for five wins, five poles, 11 top-fives, and 16 top-10s.
There were rumors swirling that Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) may shut down early due to lack of sponsorship. However, KBM is going in the opposite direction as on October 14th they will be opening the newly completed headquarters for a complete Grand Opening and Fan Appreciation Day.
The event will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., including a morning autograph session featuring Busch and fellow driver Ickler. The autograph session is slated to start at 9:30 a.m., and limited to the first 200 fans that purchase a wristband for $2. Proceeds from the wristband sales will be donated to the Kyle Busch Foundation. Fans can begin purchasing the wristbands at 8:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. With the wristband, you are allowed to have a maximum of two items signed.
Racetrucks and show cars will be on display in the showroom and will be able to tour the 77,000-square foot KBM facility to see where the trucks are built.
“We are extremely happy with how our facility has turned out, and we’re excited about the opportunity to open our doors to our fans and let them inside for an up-close-and-personal look at the world of Kyle Busch Motorsports,” said Busch on his team’s website. “We’re proud of our team, we’re thankful for our sponsors and supporters, and we’re so glad to invite everyone to our race shop. Actually, I think ‘corporate headquarters’ is a more appropriate description of what we have here. Not only do we build and prepare our racetrucks, we also are equipped to conduct executive meetings and gatherings for our partners and prospective partners on a daily basis. And we’re also proud of the fact that our facility has become a cornerstone for a number of ‘green’ initiatives. There are enough cutting-edge technologies involved in the construction of our building to put it on a path to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which would be something that’s unprecedented in motorsports facilities, whether it’s in NASCAR, IndyCar or Formula 1. That’s something in itself to be proud of. We welcome our fans to come out, see what we have going on here, and have a great time.”
There will also be interactive displays as they can try their hand at changing a tire, try the Traxxas radio-controlled cars, sample NOS Energy Drink and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies.
Fans attending the Grand Opening and Fan Appreciation Day festivities can tour the high-tech and environmentally friendly 77,000-square-foot KBM facility, where the team builds and prepares its stable of Toyota Tundra racetrucks.
Lastly, there will be merchandise and memorabilia available for purchase, and fans will also be available to purchase drinks and foods that support KBM, including Mars. Inc. chocolate bars and Moose Juice Slurpee products.
While fans are checking out the shop, they can also buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a 2010 Toyota Tundra and a round-trip airfare and accommodations for two to the Nov. 12-14 race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Details about the promotion can be found at here.
Kyle Busch Motorsports is located at 351 Mazeppa Road in Mooresville. There will be free parking across the street from the facility on the day of the Grand Opening and Fan Appreciation Day.
Late updates and more information can be found at here.
Busch Sets New Record At Gresham
While testing at Gresham Motorsports Park, Busch turned a lap of 16.992 seconds, which is the first time a full-size NASCAR vehicle has turned a sub 17-second lap on the half-mile. A video interview with Busch is posted on the YouTube section of the Gresham Motorsports Park website.
