Kyle Busch competed in the season finale for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this past Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  The No. 15 ditech.com/National Land Liquidations Chevrolet finished the rain-delayed 200-miler in the sixth position.  Busch participated in 11 NCTS events this year for Billy Ballew Motorsports and captured three victories and nine top-10 finishes in those 11 starts.

Rain for much of the early morning on Friday limited the amount of time on the track for practice.  During qualifying, Busch felt the No. 15 ditech.com/National Land Liquidations Chevrolet was a little loose, but still managed to post the 15th quickest time.  After trying to start the Ford 200 numerous times Friday evening, Mother Nature won out and delayed the race until Saturday morning.

Come Saturday morning, the weather was more cooperative and allowed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to close out their season.  It didn’t take long before the first caution waved for an incident on the track.  By lap 20, Busch had made his way to the eighth position.  “It started off really tight, but it’s pretty good right now,” said Busch.  “We’re all about equal.  It’s not bad.  I don’t know what to do to make it go faster.”

When the second caution flag waved on lap 33, crew chief Richie Wauters and Busch decided they would just make an air pressure adjustment to the left side tires when they pitted.  Busch brought the No. 15 ditech.com/National Land Liquidations Chevrolet down pit road on lap 34 for four tires and fuel.

The Chevrolets seemed to be at a disadvantage the Homestead-Miami Speedway as the many Toyotas dominated the race.  Busch was amazed at how the Toyotas could run so well.  Busch keyed, “How do they do that?  It’s not turning with the front.  It’s like I need to be loose in the back and I can’t do that.”

After a run of long green flag laps, it was time to pit once again.  This time Busch and Wauters called for two rounds up on the trackbar, along with their four tires and fuel.  They came in on lap 95 in the 10th position and when it all cycled around, Busch and the Billy Ballew Motorsports team remained in the 10th position.  A caution on lap 124 allowed the team to pit for their final stop with less than 10 laps remaining.  Tire pressure adjustments were the only changes called for on this pit stop.

Busch restarted in the ninth position with eight laps to go to close out the season.  Busch thought this race could end up like Atlanta, where the team posted a victory after pitting for fresh tires in the closing laps of the race.  However, another caution slowed their chances and Busch knew his opportunity had expired.  “I could’ve just won this race,” said Busch when the caution came out.  “That’s it boys; we’re done.”

The race restarted with five laps remaining and Busch, who had already picked up two spots from the last caution, was able to pick up one more spot to bring the No. 15 ditech.com/National Land Liquidations Chevrolet home in the sixth position.

“There’s not much else I could’ve done,” said Busch following the race.  “We might have had a shot there at the end if the last caution wouldn’t have come out.  It just ruined my momentum to get up to the front with my fresh tires.  I just appreciate everything this Billy Ballew Motorsports team has done for me this season.  I want to thank Billy (Ballew, owner) for the opportunity to do this.  It’s been really fun. I have seriously enjoyed working with this whole group of guys.  Maybe I’ll be able to talk Rick (Hendrick, Busch’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team owner) into doing one more race next year.  Maybe we can run a reunion race at Lowe’s (Motor Speedway).”

Billy Ballew Motorsports was able to maintain their top-five positioning by finishing fifth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Owners’ Points Standings.  Billy Ballew Motorsports had eight different drivers pilot the No. 15 Silverado this season which attributed to Ballew’s highest finish ever in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Owners’ Points Standings.  John Andretti, Kyle Busch, Kerry Earnhardt, Blake Feese, David Gilliland, Shane Hmiel, Johnny Sauter and Martin Truex, Jr. all contributed to the success of Billy Ballew Motorsports this year.

“I want to thank everyone that has helped us this year,” said Ballew.  “We managed to complete this season due to the support of all of our sponsors, drivers, fans and most importantly, my team.  These guys put forth such an effort to make it to the track each week, and I truly appreciate their determination.  We had unimaginable success this year with three wins, two poles and 13 top-10 finishes.  We also completed 93% of the laps possible.  That shows how well-prepared and set up Richie and the guys have these trucks.  We were also quite lucky this year.  It’s been a wonderful season.  Hopefully, we can produce as great of records or better in 2006.”