Mark Pipitone Assistant News Director

If Saturday night was any indication of how the next two weekends are going to go at Lowe's Motor Speedway, you better practice your 'boos'.

Kyle Busch was the class of the field last night and became the youngest driver to ever win at Darlington Raceway, running away with the Dodge Challenger 500. It didn't matter to Busch that he was showered with boos by the Darlington crowd from pre-race introductions to his victory "bow" on the front stretch. Busch has been the target of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., fans since collecting Junior in the final laps of last weekend's race in Richmond. Junior was leading at the time.

"These guys love the noise the fans make," Busch said, nodding toward his Joe Gibbs Racing team. "Keep it up everybody. ... We need to keep that bull's eye on us, where everybody is shooting at us."

Busch was a monster all night. His only hiccup came from something that happened while he wasn't racing. He survived a black flag penalty for a missing lug nut following a caution on lap 140. That left him 23rd on the restart. But you knew it was just a matter of time before Busch charged to the front of the field to take the lead again. It was just a question of how long would it take him. At one point, the Motor Racing Network gang said Busch was racing like a "madman" to get back to the front.

The only person all night who may have had a shot at Busch was Greg Biffle. He and Busch swapped the lead for the first third of the race. But on lap 234, Biffle pulled into the pits during a green flag run. His engine was toast.

"Loose wheels all night, bad vibration, then I think the motor blew up. All I want is equipment to drive that stays together," he said.

So now with the All-Star Race next weekend and the Coca Cola 600 a week later, Kyle Busch is center stage again. Expect the same outpouring of emotion on Busch at Lowe's. And who knows, it may get even worse, with Junior Nation fans getting angrier and angrier as Busch continues to win and Earnhardt extends his two-year winless streak.

But you've also got to love the rivalry that's brewing between Junior fans and Busch fans (yes, there are some). About midway through Saturday night's race, a Busch fan adorned in a bright yellow Kyle Busch t-shirt took the opportunity when he was heading for a bathroom break to stop in the middle of the stairwell, and pose, showing off his Busch colors. He faced the crowed, flexed his muscles, gave us a gladiator pose, and flashed the "Number One" sign. Tough dude. He got pelted with an assortment of hamburger buns and hot dog wrappers. Fortunately that was it and nobody was injured in the making of this Busch-Earnhardt rivalry moment.

Can't wait to see what happens next in this battle. Who knows, maybe Junior can pull one out at home next week or the week after. And if that happens, what a perfect time for Junior Nation to flex their muscles.

Other news and notes: One of the coolest happenings of the day was getting a chance to see David Pearson's 1971 Mercury. Yep, the original, complete with four sticks of gum taped to the dashboard. David was a notorious gum chewer during races. "Step back boys, don't leave any drool marks on the paint!."

A couple of those who were drooling: Dodge boss Ray Evernham and driver Sterling Marlin. Evernham looked like a kid in a candy store, checking under the hood, in the driver's compartment, yukking it up with Leonard Wood, one of the original "Wood Brothers."

"Is it legal to have the front-end that low?," Evernham kidded. Several crew members from the Cup teams were giving the Mercury a once-over, too. Maybe checking for competitive advantages...

Ever smell tire smoke? I smelled it all night last night, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Turn 4 is the place to be at Darlington. I had the best seat in the house on the far side of 4. You catch the guys striping the wall through three, and then you get a full monty of them banging the end of the turn 4 wall as it juts out into the straightaway. One of the drivers told me it's like they stuck a wall right in the middle of the front straightaway...

Something has got to be done about the traffic disaster at Darlington. Fans sat in parking lots for up to two hours after the race. Cops were doing the best they could. The city needs to close 151 to non-race traffic when races get out, and route all race fans out in one direction.

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