From the Pit Box: Q&A with crew chief Roy McCauley

For the second consecutive year, Kurt Busch and Roy McCauley will undergo on-the-job training. Last year it was finding a comfort level between driver and crew chief, a brand-new combination for the No. 2 Dodge team. This year it's the Car of Tomorrow.

Early runs this season indicate a rapport has been developed, although Busch has just one top-10 in three starts. He led a race-high 95 laps at Daytona before getting entangled in an accident. He finished eighth at California, but a blown motor ruined his run at Las Vegas.

This week Busch is at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he has posted one-third of his career victories, including his first and thus far only victory in the No. 2. Dodge. But this year won't be like any other at Bristol, with NASCAR set to debut the much talked about COT.

McCauley had his say, too.

Q: Are you ready for the COT?

McCauley: I'm looking forward to it. I think the debut of the COT is going to be a neat event. I think NASCAR has done a good job of trying to bring it to fruition. It's not going to be without its growing pains, but overall I think everybody has done a pretty good job of getting to this point.

Q: What about the COT specifically appeals to you?

McCauley: I just like it because it's different. We might not run as good as we want to all the time, but it's a new challenge. I think it's kind of cool.

Q: Is Bristol the right track to debut the COT?

McCauley: Certainly. Bristol adds a dimension to it, because it's such a small racetrack and we have some pretty exciting racing there. As far as the race itself goes, it's still going to be Bristol. You're still going to have the same type of racing.

There might be a few changes in strategy because of tire life or what the car is doing, but I don't think you're going to see anything radically different as far as how the race finishes up.

Q: Will introducing a new style of car hinder Kurt's success at Bristol?

McCauley: Kurt's ability at Bristol is unquestioned. We have to give Kurt the car that he needs because the COT is not going to affect his ability to drive at Bristol one bit.

With Kurt, I think we could take a dump truck to Bristol and do just fine. (Continued)