Kurt Busch, tired of just turning left, will go straight

News from the media tour: Kurt Busch, the 2004 Sprint Cup series champion, has decided he wants to race without fooling with all those pesky turns. He'll make his National Hot Rod Association Full Throttle Series debut in March at the 41st GatorNationals.

Busch, driving for Allen Johnson and J&J Racing, will run that sweet Shell Dodge Avenger there at right, competing for one of 16 qualifying spots in the Pro Stock class. 

This is no dilettante-dabbling for Busch; he spent much of the offseason testing, and earned his NHRA Pro Stock license. His best run in earning his license would have qualified him 11th for last year's race.

We'll go into more detail once the GatorNationals arrive in early March, but briefly, Busch and his competition will get four qualifying runs, two on Friday and two on Saturday, and if he gets in the mix, he'll run on Sunday.  

"It's a whole different world than NASCAR," Busch said in a statement. "The toughest part is staging the car ... [O]f course cutting a good light, the thrill of the launch, and the speed at the top-end is why I'm so fascinated with drag racing. But I do know that heading to the GatorNationals and running with the pros, I will get a full dose of humble pie."

If all goes well, Busch ought to rock that ride at Talladega. It'll be brutal in the turns, but he can run down everybody on the straightaways. 

Shannyn Sossamon Rachael Leigh Cook Elisha Cuthbert Ciara Rachel Hunter