“Rowdy Busch in Victory Lane tonight!” That’s what Kyle Busch exclaimed when exiting the No. 51 National Land Liquidations/Manheim Auto Auctions Chevrolet Friday night in Victory Lane. Busch captured the Quaker Steak & Lube 200 for his second year in a row for Billy Ballew Motorsports. The sixth race of the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season was Busch’s first for the year.

“Rowdy Busch” was developed after the team decided to use the No. 51, reverse of Billy Ballew Motorsports’ main team, the No. 15 in which Kyle Krisiloff pilots. Days of Thunder is one of Busch’s favorite movies and the character Rowdy Burns drives the No. 51 in the movie. Busch decided to play off that and it worked, much to the delight of everyone.

Thursday didn’t start off so well, as Busch wrecked his primary truck in practice. The Richie Wauters-led team moved to preparing the back-up truck as Busch’s primary. Never missing a beat, Busch had the truck in the top-five in the practice session.

Busch qualified the No. 51 National Land Liquidations/Manheim Auto Auctions Chevrolet in the 20th position, after fighting what most competitors had during qualifying, a loose condition. “The No. 51 National Land Liquidations/Manheim Auto Auction/Quaker Steak & Lube Silverado was very, very loose. It was all over the place. My goal was to bring it back in one piece and have a strong starting spot.”

From the drop of the green flag, Busch was on a mission. His only goal was to be the first competitor to see the checkered flag waving. By lap four and the first caution, Busch had moved up to the 11th spot. Busch radioed in that he thought the valance was dragging though. The team wasn’t too concerned and told Busch everything was fine.

Fine it was, as by lap 20, Busch had clicked off positions and was now sitting in the fifth spot. By lap 30, he was in second and gaining on leader Mike Skinner. The No. 51 National Land Liquidations/Manheim Auto Auctions Chevrolet took the lead on lap 37 and continued to show the way until the second caution on lap 47. Busch brought the truck down pit road to the attention of his team for four tires with air pressure adjustments and a half turn down on the track bar. The team got him back onto the track with the lead.

It was smooth sailing for Busch as he retained the lead until the third caution on lap 85. Once again, Busch called for only tire pressure changes and the team got him back out on the track with the lead where he pulled away for the remaining 44 laps taking the victory over Terry Cook for the second year in a row by over three seconds.

“It was a great effort for Billy Ballew Motorsports, Richie Wauters (crew chief), and all the guys on this team,” said Busch. “I want to thank Hendrick Motorsports and Rick Hendrick for letting me have this opportunity to be able to go out and race some extra races. I really enjoy running here at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway, it is a really neat race track. Tonight we had a great race truck, and it seems like there was nothing that we could do wrong to the truck.”

“Rowdy Busch was back again tonight, and I told Billy Ballew (team owner) that if we win tonight, we are going to make a t-shirt that says: “Rowdy’s Back”, so coming to a store near you soon. I know Cole took over for him and everything, but I don’t think the truck would look as good with green numbers and Mello Yello all over it. I just like it the way it is.”

Busch will return to the seat of the No. 51 for Billy Ballew Motorsports at Dover International Speedway next weekend, where he is also the defending champion. Busch will try to make it two-for-two in 2006.