Kyle Busch grabs fourth Nationwide win of season

The beginning of the race saw Busch running in front for the first 67 laps with Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski on his bumper. The mid-part of the race was the exciting part of the race as several accidents resulted in several green flag pit stops but the three were still running in the same race order after the race started again on lap 104. Busch stopped for a final time during a green flag stop with 35 laps to go, his crew serviced his Toyota race car in a reserved 14.3 seconds, and after getting under way again was back in front by lap 202. In the end Busch lead four times for a total of 173 laps around the 1.33 mile Nashville Superspeedway and only trailed during his pit stops.

Brad Keselowski finished the race in second, only 0.891 seconds off Busch’s time, and Carl Edwards managed to hang on for third, but still lost ground to Busch in the overall and now trails Busch by 65 points. Mike bliss was able to keep his Chevrolet in one piece until he reached the line and finished fourth, while Jason Leffler seemed to have a problematic Toyota but was able to overcome his problems and finish fifth. Stephen Leicht had a good showing this time and his car ran pretty fast and he finished sixth, while Steve Wallace had a slow start but managed to avoid several close calls to finish seventh. Michael McDowell finished eighth in his Toyota, Erik Darnell took ninth, and Brad Coleman rounded out the top ten in the Federated Auto Parts 300.

The entertainment continued after the race also, as Busch tried to do his best rock and roll impression by breaking the Gibson Les Paul Guitar that was presented to him after the win. He explained later that he wanted to break it up to give a piece to every one on the team, so they could all feel a part of the win. He wasn’t really successful in his attempts, but we’re sure once he gets the trophy back to the shop, he’ll do a better job.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Kyle Busch Wins Federated Auto Parts 300

Image details: Meijer 300 served by picapp.com

In only his third start in the Nationwide Series, 18-year old Joey Logano was nothing but masterful during Saturday’s Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway en route to picking up his first career victory in the series. Logano passed teammate, Kyle Busch, for the lead on lap 147 and stayed there for the ensuing 53 laps to become the youngest winner in Nationwide history at 18 years, 21 days (the former record was held by Casey Atwood at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days in 1999 at Milwuakee). The victory also gives Joe Gibbs Racing their leading 10th victory on the season.

Logano finished 2.259 seconds ahead of Scott Wimmer, who ran second in the race, with veteran, Mike Wallace, coming home third. Fourth place went to last week’s race winner, Brad Keselowski. Rounding out the top-five was rookie driver, Bryan Clauson. Sixth place was taken by second year Nationwide driver, Marcos Ambrose, and David Ragan, Mike Bliss, Clint Bowyer, and Jason Keller completed the top-ten finishers.

Kyle Busch had a great day turned sour. After flying into Kentucky Speedway late, he was forced to start the race dead last in 43rd. Forty laps later, however, Busch found himself with the lead and went onto lead a race high 85 laps on the day. After surrending the lead to Joey Logano on lap 147, Busch tried to fight back from the second spot, but he lost control of his car on lap 164. The spin sent Busch slamming into the outside retaining wall down the backstretch, and he went onto finish 30th.

Clint Bowyer retained control of the points lead, and now leads Brad Keselowski by 170 points. Keselowski jumped three spots in the standings to take over 2nd over David Reutimann and Carl Edwards, who finished 13th and 20th. Kyle Busch’s run dropped him from third to fifth in the standings.

For Logano, he has now led laps in each of his first three starts in the series. Those three starts have resulted in a win, 2 top-ten’s, and 2 pole awards. Between Logano’s driving abilities and the dominant team that Joe Gibbs has assembled for him over in that no. 20 car, the rest of the series could be in for a very long, agonizing season.

Click here for the complete results from the Meijer 300.

Nationwide Series Standings:

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Logano Masters Kentucky

Ron Hornaday picked up his 35th career victory in the Craftsman Truck Series on Friday – and, his first at Texas Motor Speedway - as he held off Kyle Busch on a green-white-checkered restart to get the win at the Sam’s Town 400. The restart was setup after rookie, Scott Speed, slammed into the wall with only 2 laps remaining in the scheduled 167-lap event.

Busch had to start in the back of the field because he was not there to qualify his truck himself on Thursday, due to his commitment to run three races over the weekend in three different cities. As the team continually worked on his truck to make it fit Kyle’s style, though, he was able to work his way up to the top-ten after only 53 laps. Busch hadn’t led a lap all night long and trailed Hornaday by more than half a second when the final caution flag came out, but Hornaday pulled away on the restart, and Busch couldn’t capitalize. Kyle will also run the Nationwide race in Nashville on Saturday, and then head back to Pocono for Sunday’s Cup race.

Third place in the race went to the Bill Davis Racing Toyota of Johnny Benson, and Hornaday’s Kevin Harvick Inc. teammate, Jack Sprague, finished fourth. Todd Bodine completed the top-five. Hornaday’s second win of the season was enough to bump him up two spots in the standings, as he now assumes the points lead over Matt Crafton, who finished seventh. Rick Crawford entered Friday’s event with the points lead, but a 21st place finish at Texas has dropped him down to 6th place.

Craftsman Truck Series Standings (from nascar.com):

*Credit photo to Newscom

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Hornaday Edges Busch on Restart to Get the Win