Busch knocked out in opening round of NHRA event

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch has been eliminated in the first round of the NHRA Gatornationals.

Erica Enders, the only woman in the 16-driver field, edged Busch by half a car length on the quarter-mile drag strip Sunday. Enders, the No. 5 seed, covered the distance in 6.538 seconds. The 12th-seeded Busch crossed the finish line in 6.541 seconds.

Enders advanced to the next round. Busch headed home after ending his professional drag-racing debut. The 2004 Sprint Cup champion felt great about his first race, though, especially since he rebounded from two error-filled qualifying runs Friday and enjoyed a solid weekend.

Busch, tied for the points lead in NASCAR's top series, is considering racing again in Denver in July. That NHRA event coincides with another Sprint Cup off weekend.