Robinson looking for Busch program: Shawna Robinson will likely forego competing on the Winston Cup circuit in 2003, and will instead try to make her mark in the Busch Series. “The reason that the focus is on the Busch car is because money and sponsors are just really hard to come by right now,” Robinson said. “(The Busch Series) is very, very competitive. Believe me, honestly, in this situation, it’s not going to be any easier to go run Busch than it would be for me to go run Cup.” Robinson had high hopes for last season when she was hired to drive for the newly-formed BAM Racing operation. It seemed that all her work, effort and sacrifice was about to pay off. But a young and inexperienced team, along with on-track mishaps, ended her season abruptly. “If I would have stayed in the BAM car this year and wouldn’t have stopped after seven races and ran for the year and grew with the team, because the team would have stayed a lot more consistent, we’d have gone into 2003 knowing that we took everything we learned in 2002 and would be better,” Robinson said. “And I feel we could have done that; there’s no question in my mind that we could have done that. But, things didn’t work out that way. There were a lot of other areas that were researched and tried, and that’s what a new team has to do to really find their place.” Ironically, when Robinson joined BAM prior to last season, she suggested starting in the Busch Series, and eventually making the transition to Winston Cup. “I’m fortunate to be under contract to BAM because that’s the commitment we made at the beginning of the year,” she said. “And, at the beginning of the year, my thoughts to them were ‘Let’s go Busch racing, and then towards the end of the year, let’s do five Cup races and really grow this team. What I learned in the seven races and what I learned in any races prior to that, I’ll take and make better every time I get into a car. It’s just getting an opportunity to get in the right situation and that’s what I’m trying to do now.” Robinson remains under contract and is currently working with team officials to find sponsorship to compete in as many Busch events as possible in 2003. She also may do some driving for hire in the NASCAR Truck Series, as well. (much more to this story at ESPN)(12-14-2002) (12-13-2002)
