With an impressive display of racing by FBG's Busch series team, the gap narrowed to just a one point advantage in the owner's championship. Griffin Motorpsorts qualified well, but then the selected team with the exception of Kevin Harvick, struggled throughout the race. While team captain and defending Busch series champion Martin Truex Jr. dropped to eighth in the points standings, Clint Bowyer has been a bright spot for the team finishing with a top five position. SA Motorsports owner Tim Pogue has had a some what rough transition into the racing world. He currently sits 15 points behind the leader, and was heard over the weekend that he is looking forward to the first trading oppurtunity. 

Controversy within the Busch Series before the season even gets underway. In statement today, Griffin Motorsports president Lincoln Griffin announced that newly acquired driver Derick Cope would be removed from his stable of drivers. This coming just one day after selecting him as the last pick of the G2 Auto Racing Draft. Griffin stated, "well this move has more to do with lack of sponsorship than lack of driving skills by Derick". He continued, "While efforts were being made to find Derick a full time ride, it appears that Advil could not guarantee a full season deal. With the way our league is designed, there is no benefit for us to have a part time Busch series driver. Lucky for me, I work with two other understanding owners that realize this move is being done out need more so than desire. If the draft had been in any other order, this is a move that could not have been made, but b/c Derick was the last selected driver overall, it changes nothing for my fellow owners. Due to the fact that this is an alternate spot, I am going to go in the direction of a team that I know will field a car throughout the season. For this reason, Denny Hamlin and the #20 Rockwell Automation machine will be signed to fill the vacancy. I am sorry for any confusion this may have caused, and wish the best for Derick Cope and his team in the 2005 season. Griffin Motorsports is glad to get this out of the way though and look forward to the upcoming year."  

2005 Busch Series: On Your Marks, Get Set...

Welcome to the 2005 Series. The teams have been invited, ballots have been cast and the press has been finalized. With yesterday's Busch Series Draft complete, team owners can sit back and watch their points accumulate. Not that they won't have some nail-biting to do; team owners are still responsible for picking drivers each week that will put them in the lead for the G2 Busch Championship.
So let's meet the G2 Auto Racing Busch Series Teams for the 2005 Season:

FBG Racing:

Reed Sorenson, No. 48 Discount Tires Co. - Captain
Carl Edwards, No. 60 Charter Communication
Shane Hmiel, No. 32 TrimSpa/Win Fuel
Ryan Hemphill, No. 4 GEICO
Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Waste Management - Buschwacker
Kasey Kahne, No. 38 Great Clips - Alt. Buschwacker
Johnny Sauter, No. 1 Yellow Freight - Alt. Primary Driver


Griffin Motorsports:

Martin Truex, Jr, No. 8 Bass Pro Shops - Captain
Clint Boyer, No. 2 AC Delco
Jason Keller, No. 35 McDonald's
J.J. Yeley, No. 18 Vigoro/Home Depot
Kevin Harvick, No. 21 Reese's - Buschwacker
Jamie McMurray, No. 64 Top Flite - Alt. Buschwacker
Denny Hamlin, No. 20 Rockwell Automation - Alt. Primary Driver


SA Motorsports:

David Stremme, No. 14 Navy - Captain
Ashton Lewis, No. 25 Team Marines
David Green, No. 27 Kleenex/USPS
Paul Menard, No. 11 Menard's
Jeremy Mayfield, No. 64 Miller High Life
Kyle Busch, No. 5 Lowe's - Alt. Buschwacker
Stacy Compton, No. 59 Kingsford Charcoal, Alt. Primary Driver

Good luck, teams.

G2 Auto Racing Busch Series Draft Today

Three G2 Auto Racing CEO's will meet today via conference call for the first-ever Busch Series Draft. Team owner duties have prevented the honchos from FBG Racing, Griffin Motorsports and SA Motorsports from meeting in person, but all felt that the draft should occur as soon as possible, particularly before practice sessions for this week's race in Daytona took place. "Granted, by having the draft over the telephone, we aren't able to create a media-friendly atmostphere, but that's just the way it goes," stated FBG Racing founder and CEO Frank Gordon earlier this morning.
The G2 Draft will commence at 1PM Eastern today.

FBG Racing - Gambling With Driver Development?

There has been some speculation in the garage area as to whether or not FBG Racing CEO Frank Gordon's decision to put rookie Reed Sorenson into the coveted captain's seat for FBG's Busch team, meaning that a rookie will take the field at every Busch event for the 2005 season, was a wise one. Or even a sane one. But Gordon is all smiles.
"After watching Reed at the Fall ASA race at Talladega and then the Busch Series race in Atlanta, I said to myself, 'Man, this kid is gifted, if I ever start a Busch team, I'd like him on board.' When I heard that he was planning on attending UNC, I thought it would be a while before he'd be willing or able to take a full time ride." Early last week, however, Sorenson got a call from the FBG Racing founder when the rumor mill began spinning tales that Reed would take a full-time ride if offered one, and owners started scrambling. "I already had the deal with Discount Tires sewn up", says Gordon, "As soon as I heard that Reed wanted to compete for the Busch Championship, I went after the sponsor while the other guys were trying to get the driver. After that, it was as simple as one telephone call."
While no one is objecting to Sorenson's climb to the Busch Series, there has been some speculation as to whether or not he's ready to handle the responsibility of being a team captain. Gordon contends that No. 41 driver's job is to race cars, not be a political figure. "I just wanted him to race for me, didn't feel that I needed to bother waiting on the draft. Besides, I'm confident in his abilities."
And the numbers speak for themselves. Already a driving force in the Legends and ASA Series, Sorenson chalked up a top 5 and 3 top tens in just five Busch Series starts last year. Some drivers don't place stats like that after 2 years behind the wheel of a Busch car.
Sorenson makes his first start for the FBG Racing team at the Hersey's Take 300 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida on February 19.

G2 Auto Racing announced this afternoon several changes that are sure to shake up its Busch series program. First, came the announcement of SA Motorsports as the newest member of the G2 Auto Racing family. Frank Gordon stated, " We are very proud to have a new piece to the overall puzzle which is G2 Auto Racing. Not only do Lincoln and I want G2 to continue to grow, but also grow in the direction that we feel will benefit the sport. We feel that SA Motorsports can be a tremendous asset, and look forward to moving along with them on board". SA owner Tim Pogue wasted no time, quickly introducing David Stremme as the "captain" of his Busch team. Streme, who last year drove for Braun racing, is expected to do good things this year in the #14 Navy machine.
With one team announcing its chosen driver, it was not long before Lincoln Griffin and Frank Gordon were at the podium again with their selected drivers. Griffin Motorsports unsurprisingly went with 2004 Busch series champion Martin Truex Jr. This will continue the strongrealtionship with DEI that began last year. "Obviously, we had a hell of a year last year, and I feel like we can keep it right up when we get quality people like Martin", Griffin stated afterwards. In a somewhat surprising, yet fan favorite move, Frank Gordon went with 19-year-old local sensation Reed Sorensen. Sorenesen, who gets his first full time Busch ride in the #41 Discount Tires machine is from Peachtree City, GA., less than one hour from FBG Racing headquarters.