Kyle Busch was a hit with fans of all ages in Phoenix.

Even as Phoenix temperatures soared above 110 degrees for a record-setting 29th time in 2007 last Wednesday, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Kyle Busch was unfazed by the tremendous heat, as ready as ever to give back to the Valley's growing NASCAR community.

"I'm used to 118 in (Busch's hometown) Las Vegas, so this dry heat is great for me," said Busch, making an appearance at the south Phoenix sports bar Gallagher's, where he met with over one hundred NASCAR fans and signed everything from the conventional - hero cards, pictures, diecast cars, hats - to the strange, like cereal boxes and human skin.

"Phoenix is awesome."

Busch was in the Valley as Phoenix International Raceway decided to thank its loyal fans who come back to PIR's one-mile oval year after year to support NASCAR, by providing them a chance to meet and ask questions of one of the NEXTEL Cup Series' rising stars in advance of the November 11 Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil.

Fans asked Busch about his impending move to Joe Gibbs Racing and his racing upbringing, and a number of fans walked away having won merchandise signed by Busch and other top NASCAR drivers for correctly answering trivia questions covering a range of topics, including the histories of PIR and NASCAR.

It's not just the pressure of the rising mercury or even signing scores of autographs for the throngs of passionate fans that comes easily to Busch, however. After meeting with fans in the Valley, Busch traveled to California, where a third-place finish in the NEXTEL Cup Series race on Sunday helped him clinch a spot in the 10-race 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup playoff that begins in just under two weeks.

The Chase berth could potentially bring Busch to PIR with a chance at his first NEXTEL Cup Series championship. Of the 12 drivers currently situated at the top of the series point standings, Busch is one of seven with a PIR win in his NEXTEL Cup history.

If you missed Kyle Busch in Phoenix, don't worry: he'll be back. Sunday, November 11 marks the running of the Semi-Final Showdown in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, the Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil, and that's not the only green flag that the 22-year-old driver will take. Busch also plans to run in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Casino Arizona 150 and the NASCAR Busch Series ARIZONA.TRAVEL 200 on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

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