Guitars (not Cadillacs) a hot topic at Nashville

GLADEVILLE, Tenn. – Guitars were a hot topic Friday at Nashville Superspeedway. Kyle Busch won last June’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Nashville and proceeded to smash the Sam Bass-designed Gibson guitar the track awards as its trophy.

The winner of Saturday’s Nashville 300 will be presented another guitar, and drivers clearly want one.

"Winning these guitars here is an honor," Carl Edwards said. "They’re beautiful. Gibson does a really good job. Sam Bass, he’s an amazing artist."

Edwards is the career leader in victories at Nashville with three, though he’s kept only one of the guitars.

"It’s the coolest trophy that I’ve ever seen," Edwards said.

Edwards simply said no when asked if he’d ever smash one in celebration.

Harvick has won one guitar, and "I didn’t smash it, I know that for sure," Harvick said to laughter.

The guitar holds a prominent place in Harvick’s trophy case, he said.

"That was one of the most exciting things about the 2006 season was winning the guitar here," Harvick said.

Busch ended up winning Friday night’s Camping World Truck Series race, but his guitar/trophy remained intact.