Rogers thrown into fire right away
Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas – It didn't take Dave Rogers long to face a huge decision as crew chief for the volatile Kyle Busch.
Rogers said it wasn't much of a decision at all. He was sure Busch had enough fuel to stay in front to the finish Sunday in Texas, where Rogers made his debut atop the pit box for the No. 18 Toyota.
Rogers was wrong by three laps. That's when Busch ran out of gas just as he was starting another trip around the 1½-mile high-banked oval. He sputtered through the backstretch and was passed by older brother Kurt Busch and quite a few others. Kyle Busch finished 11th.
"Welcome to the club, huh?" Rogers said.
Busch, known for his outbursts when things aren't going well and mistakes are made, didn't disagree with the decision to stay out because Rogers said they never really discussed it.
"I told him my plan was to stay out. He trusted me. It didn't work," Rogers said. "It's discouraging. It's hard for Kyle, and it's hard for myself."
Rogers replaced Steve Addington after an inconsistent season kept Busch out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Those points standings played a role in Rogers' choice. He said it would have different if they had been racing for points.
"We really didn't have anything to lose," Rogers said. "If we would have pitted, the 2 car certainly would have beat us. Our only shot to win it was to stay out, so we gambled. Sometimes when you gamble, you lose."
Rogers said he didn't face the wrath of Busch, who disappeared without talking to reporters after losing despite leading 232 laps.
"He said, 'We're out of fuel' and after the race he took his helmet off and went to his motor home and calmed down," Rogers said. "I think he handled it well. You lead all these laps and we could have gone for the clean sweep this weekend, won all three in a row, deserved to win all three in a row and we get beat. It's tough."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined Kyle Busch among a group of several trying to push their fuel to the limit. He ran out, too.
Earnhardt ended up stalled on pit road after creeping up the standings while others ahead of him pitted. He ended up 25th.
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