Kurt Busch’s Recent Visit To Wrigley Will Always Be A “Special Memory”
July 15, 2009
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 15, 2009) – Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch’s week in Chicago was topped off by his Sunday visit to Wrigley Field, where the 2004 NASCAR Champion took in both games of a double-header between his beloved Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Busch threw out the ceremonial first pitch and led the packed house in singing during the “seventh-inning stretch” of the first game.
“We had been in Chicago since Wednesday, as we came in early to do the special TNT shoot and to visit the new MillerCoors headquarters,” Busch said. “Except for the way our race turned out there at Chicagoland (Speedway) on Saturday night, it was a very enjoyable trip. Sunday’s visit to Wrigley will always be a special memory.
“We made it to Wrigley about 45 minutes early and that opened up a great additional opportunity,” Busch said. “My old high school buddy, Ryan Ludwick, is on the roster for St. Louis. We were down on the field behind home plate and ‘Luddy’ was wrapping up batting practice. He came over and invited me to visit the Card’s dressing room before the game. He had one of their trainers to go get me a Cards jersey to wear.
“The visit over to the other side was so cool and they treated us so well. ‘Luddy’ introduced us to all the other players. Albert Pujols went the extra mile to be nice, calling me over to autograph a bat for me to take home with me. I love my Cubbies, but I have to admit that the Cards are a great team and a super bunch of guys.
“I thought I did okay on the first pitch, a little on the high side, but right above the middle of the plate,” Busch said. “I just wanted to make sure that it didn’t drop before reaching the plate. That’s a big no-no.”
“We had a blast doing the seventh-inning stretch…leading the singing. We did it from the WGN (TV) broadcast booth. They invited me to sit in on the broadcast for a couple of innings and that was so much fun. We must have done a pretty darn good job because we got nothing but cheers from the fans when we came out of the booth and headed back to our suite. We had to stop for about 10 minutes to do an impromptu autograph session for the fans and that was cool.
“Zambrano (Carlos, Cubs pitcher) smacked a homer and that helped us win the first game by a score of 7 to 3. It was pretty wild as we were hanging out on the rail, all singing “Go Cubs Go,” the Cubbies’ victory song.
“They had to clear the facility in between games, so we headed over to the Cubby Bear to party a little and get ready for the second game. It’s a neat place with a ton of atmosphere and it’s located directly across the street from Wrigley.
“What was so cool about the second game was that ‘Luddy’s’ wife, Joanie, hooked up with us and she watched the second game with us from the suite,” said Busch. “Of course, we were pulling for the Cubs -- everyone but Joanie, that is -- but we still wanted to see Ryan do well. As it turned out, he had one of the best games of his career, blasting two different two-run homers. Having Joanie there with us, watching her husband smack the ball like he did, was really cool and it took off a little bit of the sting of the Cards beating us 4 to 2.
“We’re dead even 43-43 (43 wins and 43 losses) for the season and now 3 ½ games out of the lead (behind the Cardinals) at the break (for the 7/14 All-Star Game) and we just have to play better and get more consistent during the second half of the season,” Busch said on the ride back to the airport after the big day at Wrigley Field. “A great time was had by one and all. I want to say a personal thanks to Katie Marta and her staff at the Cubs. They had everything arranged so well. My Girl Friday, Kristy Cloutier, and Katie really put together a trip that will always hold a special memory for me and our entire group who made the visit.”
