Busch fan monopolizes her time, creativity in his honor

Christina Kendall loves Kurt Busch. Hard to believe, right?

Busch was named one of the country's most-hated professional athletes in 2006 by a national publication, third only to Barry Bonds and Terrell Owens. And he's certainly not a fan favorite in the NASCAR garage.

But don't tell that to 32-year-old Kendall, she doesn't care. Busch's personality and competitive spirit alone is what convinced this Indiana native to become a NASCAR fan in the first place five years ago.

"It was the 2003 Darlington race in March," Kendall recalled. "I was planning my wedding at the time and thought I'd watch the race on television. The last few laps of that race were just awesome. I saw Kurt's interview and was so impressed by his character even though he lost the race by a hair."

Ricky Craven beat Busch by two-thousandths of a second in one of the closest margins of victory since NASCAR introduced electronic timing and scoring in 1993.

Since that day, Kendall has vowed to be a Busch supporter through thick and thin, regardless of her driver's perceived guise. Though one-sided for the most part, it's a fan-ship that has given her great joy throughout recent years.

Busch gives the game a thumbs-up at a recent autogpraph session.

What's more impressive is not what Busch has given this NASCAR fan, but what this NASCAR fan has given to Busch.

She gave him "Buschopoly."

What is that, some Busch family cartel, control over the NASCAR world?

No, it's a board game Kendall spent months creating and designing from her home computer in Jeffersonville, Ind. The game carries similar rules and principles as the popular board game. Only Buschopoly is relative only to Kurt Busch, his family and his racing career.

Kendall spent months researching his fan site, weeks of e-mailing questions to fellow Busch fans across the nation, days of designing paper money with Busch family faces on the front, and hours of laminating card stock.

What would compel someone to do such a thing?

"I got the idea and a friend told me I should send it to him," Kendall said. "I just wanted him to know that he has loyal fans out here that appreciate what he does, and this was my way of showing it." (Continued)