Kyle Busch was in a league of his own as the veteran driver completely dominated the NASCAR Nationwide series Stater Brothers 300 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana California.
Busch, who started on the outside pole took the lead on the first circuit and continued to pace the field to eventually lead 143 of the 150 scheduled laps.
(Kyle Busch photo courtesy of Icon Sports Media)
Busch nearly broke his own record at the track; just missing the mark he set at the track last August when Busch and his Joe Gibbs Racing team led 144 laps. Incredibly Busch has all but thirteen laps of the last two series event held at the speedway.
Setting records appears to be business as usual for the Las Vegas native, earlier in the day, Busch dominated and won in the Camping world truck series event at the track making him the first driver in NASCAR’s sixty one year history to win two national touring events in the same day.
“It’s a phenomenal opportunity to be associated with all these guys and everybody that makes it possible for us to come out here and race. I thank the fans for coming out here and supporting us for two races. It was a blast”, said Busch
Although Busch dominated the event, at times building as much as a four second lead there were still six lead changes among three drivers.
Most of the passing occurred on pit road including a lap 131 exchange that took place during the forth and final caution of the night. Pole sitter Carl Edwards and his Roush Fenway team were able to beat Busch off pit road for the final restart but lost the lead after the field went back to green flag racing. Edwards dropped through the field as Kevin Harvick and Joey Longano battled for position with Harvick finishing second behind Busch, followed by Longano, Edwards and David Ragen.
The win was the twenty-second career series victory for Busch in 140 starts.
Teammates from Rusty Wallace Racing, Brendan Gaughan and Steven Wallace were the highest finishing drivers who do not compete full time in the Sprint Cup series, finishing ninth and tenth respectively. Gaughan was the highest finishing rookie.
Bad Luck at Fontana continues for Jr Motorsports driver Brad Keselowski. Keselowski who has never finished better than thirty second in his five series starts at the facility appeared to be getting the better of the track by running in the top ten and even leading a lap. Keselowski’s bad run at the two mile track returned late in the event when he was tagged by Greg Biffle on lap ninety –seven putting the team several laps down to finish twenty seventh.
Attendance was down from the previous series event at the speedway. Last August 35,000 fans shared the grandstands as only an estimated 15,000 attended this year’s event.
Forty seven cars attempted to make the field. Seven cars dropped out of the event for various reasons within the first fifteen laps of the race.
Leaving Fontana Busch, by virtue of this win and his second place run at Daytona Kyle Busch leads the championship point’s battle, twenty markers ahead of Carl Edwards. Currently five drivers listed in the top ten in points are not schedules to run a full season in the series.
Next week the series heads to Las Vegas for the Sam’s Town 300 where Mark Martin is the defending race winner.
Race Notes
Chevy drivers got to use there new engine package on a non –restrictor plate track. After lobbying NASCAR last season Chevy team were allowed to use the new motor provided they use the same tapered spacer currently used by Toyota teams. The allowance appears to be bringing some parody to the series as Toyota had four team in the top ten, Chevy also had four, and Ford had two. The highest finishing Dodge team was fourteenth.
Three Nationwide teams penalized following Daytona.
John Wes Townley driver for Jay Robinson Racing and crew chief Blake Bainbridge were penalized for an improper roll bar. Driver, crew chief and team owner were all received fines involving monetary penalty as well as driver and owner points as well as being placed on probation until June of this year.
Driver/owner Mike Harmon and crew chief George Bartlett were both fined money and points for a weight infraction.
Michael Hobson, crew chief for the Chevy driven by Danny O’Quinn Jr., was fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 for a spring violation.
Used Dodge Charger
