When the final checkered flag of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season falls on November 18th at Homestead-Miami Speedway (FL), most drivers will pack up their fire suits for the final time and head to their homes for a couple months of vacation before the new season begins in February at Daytona.

Kyle Busch is just like the rest of his Cup Series cohorts and will leave from Homestead to visit a place he truly enjoys; only it won't be some secluded tropical resort for some rest and relaxation.  Instead, Busch will be banging fenders with the best short track racers in the country in the 40th Annual Snowball Derby at Pensacola, Florida's Five Flags Speedway.

And that's just where Kyle Busch wants to be.

"I'm looking forward to the Snowball Derby, but I look forward to and enjoy Super Late Model racing in general.  I love that stuff," said Busch.  "Going back to the local ranks and racing with the local guys, seeing the young talent coming up through the ranks and seeing what kind of technology is out there is a lot of fun for me.  I like to support the local racing because that's where everybody grows up and that's where new drivers come from.  If we can keep that trend going, the better off the sport is.  It's just fun for me to do and I enjoy it."

Busch is no stranger to the Snowball Derby.  He competed in the prestigious event as a 16-year-old in 2002, but bad luck relegated him to a disappointing 33rd-place finish.  Now, the former West Coast Super Late Model and ASA racer will be getting back to his short track roots.

"It will be a lot of fun racing with some of those short track guys again.  I know Scott Carlson is going to be tough because he's the local guy.  Guys like Clay Rogers will be tough because they're always tough everywhere they go.  There's going to be some pretty cool guys that are going to be down there and I'm just looking forward to racing with those guys in the Derby."

Busch will be piloting his own #51 Chevrolet with support from the former Snowball Derby-winning team of Richie Wauters, who will also have NASCAR Busch Series driver Steven Wallace, a former Snowball Derby winner himself, in their stable for this year's Derby.

"Me and Richie pretty much built the thing and work on it," added Busch.  "Richie and those guys house it for me and stuff, but I own it and I know how expensive it gets.  It's going to be cool to go down there knowing that they run so well down there.  We've got a new setup package that we're going to run this year to see how it works, but we've also got notes that we can go back to if we need to."

Kyle Busch has won races from the short tracks of America to the NEXTEL Cup Series.  He's a Chase contender for the title this year on the Cup circuit.  He's got trophies from all over the country on his mantle, but a Snowball Derby trophy would be a welcome addition to the collection.

"It would mean a lot to me to win the Snowball Derby.  Winning a trophy anywhere means a lot to me.  I've won two Super Late Model races this year and they're both really cool and really special because those were the first Late Model races I had won in a long time.  I used to win them out in Vegas all the time, but never racing against people from across the country.  That's what I'm looking forward to in the Snowball Derby too."

Tickets and RV Parking spots for the 40th Annual Snowball Derby are still available, but they are going fast.  Four-day advance Reserved seats are only $70.  For more information on tickets and RV passes, contact Five Flags Speedway at 850-944-8400 or order tickets online at www.snowballderby.com