Wife helps keep Kurt Busch on track

Don’t take for granted that Kurt Busch is talking about his blue No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge that nearly has carried him into the Chase for the Championship in the Nextel Cup series.

After all, racers often use a feminine pronoun when referring to their car.

Life and love revolved around fast cars for Busch like a spinning tire until he met Eva Bryan on a July 27, 2003, blind date. They got engaged two years later and married a year ago, each time on the anniversary of when they met.

That’s the romantic side few in the public have seen of Busch.

"She’s the best person to watch (replays of) a race with and to go over notes she’s taken during a race," he said. "She sheds light on the big picture."

She’s been taking good notes lately.

The big picture in racing came more clearly into focus for them Sunday at California Speedway when they almost were able to celebrate his return into the Chase for the Championship after a ninth-place finish in the Sharp Aquos 500, which was won by Jimmie Johnson.

"All in all we’ll take this finish," Busch said. "A top-10 is all about consistency."

The 2004 series champion moved up one spot to 11th for the 12-driver, 10-race Chase. He can clinch a spot by finishing 36th or better Saturday in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in Richmond, Va., where he placed fifth in a spring race.

Busch, 29, missed the Chase last year and is eager to put Penske Racing into championship contention with the only Dodge in the playoff field.

In addition to the prestigious title, the championship bonus will pay around $7 million.

"Eva wants a horse, but I’ve been able to put that off," he joked before the race.

That could change with a championship payday.

While waiting for her husband to be introduced before an estimated crowd of 70,000, Eva explained her job during a race while sitting with crew chief Pat Tryson atop the team’s pit box.

"When I first started to go to races with him, on the plane ride home he’d ask me questions about what happened on this caution and that caution. There was so much going on out there that I started taking notes."

Her job has been expanded to keeping lap times key opponents. That’s a long way from what she knew about NASCAR when she met Busch.

"I had no idea who he was," she said. "I’d heard of big names like Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"I didn’t realize how big of a sport it is. Now it consumes my life, but it’s a great life."

The first time she accompanied him to race was in 2003 at Bristol, Tenn. That was one week after he had a verbal confrontation with popular driver Jimmy Spencer, who reached into Busch’s car and sucker punched him.

The majority of fans there favored Spencer, who had been suspended for that race.

"She thought getting booed was normal at a race," Busch said Friday, about an hour before he won his first pole of the season.

Many fans, however, are warming to Busch since he joined Penske and since his wife helped with the transformation. That was clear when cheers outnumbered boos when he was introduced at California.

"She’s seen the tough days and the good days," Busch said. "It’s all part of being married to a professional athlete.

"It was interesting timing; two big steps in a short amount of time," he said of joining with Eva and racing icon Roger Penske.

Busch said she has provided a balance to his life.

Like a NASCAR veteran, Eva credits her husband’s changes to Penske and his two-month hot streak to Tryson joining Busch’s team in June. They have won two of the past five races.

"Pat’s a car guy just like Kurt, so they speak the same language," she said.

And Eva now needs few translations.