Drivers show 'Raw' sides

BUFFALO, N.Y. - While wrestling and NASCAR have met as punch lines of jokes in the past, the two truly collided Monday night.

After doing burnouts in the parking lot, Sprint Cup drivers Kyle Busch and Joey Logano drove a pair of Richard Petty Driving schools cars into the HSBC Arena to take command of WWE's "Monday Night Raw" as guest hosts.

Busch and Logano became the latest in a growing number of professional athletes who have served as guest host - or matchmaker - on Raw this season, including NBA player Shaquille O'Neal, boxer Floyd Mayweather and NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Less than 10 minutes into the show, Busch and Logano stood toe-to-toe with two of the WWE's biggest - literally and figuratively - stars, The Big Show and Chris Jericho.

Both got a thunderous reception from the packed arena of fans, who actually cheered loudly for Busch when he first appeared from his car.

Busch - who is typically booed by race fans - was quick to take on the role as heel and tossed out a series of insults toward the Buffalo Bills, claiming they "haven't seen success since Hulkamania." And followed that with, "What has T.O. done for Buffalo?"

Both soon got down to the business of making matches for the night.

Throughout the afternoon, Busch and Logano were introduced to many of the WWE's stars who stopped by their dressing room, including Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston and The Big Show.

What were the words of wisdom from the man billed as 7-feet tall 485 pounds? "Relax and have fun with it," he said.

Logano didn't appear at ease though, as The Big Show squeezed in next to him on a loveseat for 10 minutes of conversation and joke-telling.

Logano, a Connecticut native, was a favorite of many of the employees of WWE, which is based in Stamford, Conn.

Shawn Michaels, one-half of the tag-team "DX" and self-described NASCAR fan, took pictures of Logano and Busch practicing burnouts in the parking lot.

The JGR drivers' appearance served another purpose as well.

Logano and Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Series cars will at Texas next month will feature paint schemes for the new WWE Smackdown v. Raw 2010 video game.

The WWE will send wrestling legend Jerry "The King" Lawler to the Texas race to join Busch and Logano as part of the promotion.

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