FONTANA, Calif. --- For most of his racing career, Kurt Busch has been the driver fans loved to hate. That's why he's so uncomfortable being the new poster boy for all that is good and righteous in NASCAR.

A week ago, Busch jumped behind Penske Racing teammate Ryan Newman on the final lap and pushed him past Tony Stewart to win the Daytona 500. He was the consummate teammate on the final lap, forgoing any chance to win to be Newman's wingman.

After listening to Newman and car owner Roger Penske -- and everyone else in the garage area -- heap praise on him for the past week, Busch would like nothing more than to get his edge back during today's Auto Club 500.

"It's been overwhelming, having the fans' support and the people talking about what happened at Daytona and the excitement of how the race ended," Busch said. "To me, I was just doing the best thing that I could for me to win the race, and secondly, the next best thing happened -- my teammate won the race."

Newman embarked on a national publicity tour after last week's victory, and he's talked about Busch at every stop. But enough is enough, Busch said. Now it's time to worry about 250 laps at the Auto Club Speedway.

"The regular season now really begins," Busch said of today's 3:30 p.m. start on Fox-Ch. 54. "We've got a long way to go before the Chase gets underway. Now this is what the core of our season is about -- the two miles, mile-and-a-halves and the newness of the Car of Tomorrow on these new styles of tracks."

Busch's metamorphosis actually started during the off-season, when he agreed to swap his points from the 2007 campaign with rookie Sam Hornish Jr. By doing that, Hornish, the winningest driver in IRL Indy Car Series history, was guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races of the year. Busch either had to qualify on time or use a past champion's provisional exemption.

He needed that exemption to start last in the Daytona 500. When qualifying for the Auto Club 500 was rained out Friday, Hornish was allowed to use Busch's success from a year ago to start seventh in today's race, while Busch is forced to start way back in 36th. The starting lineup is set by a complicated format using last year's standings.

As the defending series champion, Jimmie Johnson will start on the pole today, with his teammate Jeff Gordon starting second.

"The points swap was something that I thought was beneficial to Penske Racing all the way around," Busch said. "It guarantees Sam into these races. We'll weather the storm here, literally, and hopefully after the first five races are in the books we'll be back up in the top 10 in points."

Busch had a reputation at Roush Racing for not being a team player. He won the championship in 2004 but was fired with two races remaining in the 2005 season. Since then, he's worked hard on re-shaping his image. Until Daytona, every step in the right direction was followed by three steps back.

He was fined $100,000 and docked 100 points for slamming into Stewart's car on pit road last year at Dover, Del., in retaliation for an earlier accident.

He also had problems at Daytona this year. A week before pushing Newman to the victory, he renewed his rivalry with Stewart by running into his car at least four times coming onto pit road during a practice session.

Years from now, Busch knows most won't remember how Newman won the race. Or care. That's why he's ready to move on.

Reach Don Coble at don.coble@morris.com.