DARLINGTON, S.C. - As expected, Kyle Busch was raucously booed during driver introductions, where fans made it loud and clear how they felt about his late-race accident last week in Richmond that might have cost Dale Earnhardt Jr. a win.

But NASCAR's newest villain took it in stride, enticing the crowd to keep it coming by raising his arms in the air and cupping his ear as he passed the stands on the back of a pickup truck.

As the truck rounded Turn 1, a member of Earnhardt's crew rushed to the pit road wall to jeer Busch on his way by, and the driver responded by turning and flipping his middle finger at them. Crew members up and down pit road marveled at Busch's bravado. The rest of Earnhardt's No. 88 team simply smirked as he passed by.

NO SECOND DATE: The romantic in Jim Hunter would love to see the Southern 500 back at his beloved Darlington Raceway.

The pragmatist in NASCAR's chief spokesman is certain why it shouldn't.

Seemingly ever since the Southern 500 left this country track for California Speedway on Labor Day weekend after 2004, whispers have abounded about a triumphant return to South Carolina where the race was run for 54 years.

Hunter doesn't expect more changes.

"We could sell 55 to 58 thousand tickets here on Labor Day five years ago," Hunter said Saturday. "We moved it to California and they sell 90 or 92 [thousand] or something. From a business standpoint, that is a no-brainer."

BIFFLE'S NIGHT: Greg Biffle had the fastest car, but his night ended in frustration.

Biffle had set the track's qualifying record with a speed of 179.442 mph Friday. Mechanical problems cost him a chance at a third Darlington title.

Biffle's Ford was parked in the pit stall with the hood up.

"Guys are just digging their heart out, but the fact of the matter is in this sport in this day and age, you cannot leave the wheels loose," Biffle said. "Someone's going to get hurt."

MOTHER'S DAY: Since Darlington's lone race date moved to Mother's Day weekend, the track always makes sure to remember mom.

Several NASCAR mothers were on hand to give perhaps the most unique call in motorsports, "Sons, start your engines."

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