Kyle Busch was class of the field as the Nevada native was untouchable in winning his second Busch series event of the season.
Busch, driving for Hendrick Motorsports grabbed the pole during qualifying and never looked back, leading 227 of the 252 circuits at the three-quarter mile bull ring.
“We wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Busch who won his first ever Busch event at Richmond back in 2004.
Rousch driver Matt Kenseth seemed to be the only other car to have something for Busch. Kenseth led for twenty two laps but lost the handle on the car after a lap 161 spin.
“Kenseth had the car to beat today and I knew that,” Busch said. “But our car was right there with him. He got the lead from us a couple of times. Then he spun himself out over there with the lapped car.”
The event was slowed eight times by caution including a late race red flag for oil on the track. The late race track clean-up set up a green-white-checker finish, but Busch easily pulled away to a .868 second margin of victory to claim the ninth series win of his career.
Busch was followed to the checkers by Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and a stand out run by Mike Bliss.
Leaving Richmond, Edwards continues to be a lock in the championship points with a 733 point lead over Kevin Harvick, while Richard Childress Racing maintains a forty marker lead over Rousch Racing in the owners championship.
The series has next week off before heading to Dover for the Road Loans 200 where Clint Bowyer is the defending race winner.
Race Notes
Brad Kelelowski came to Richmond ready to race following his horrific crash at California. Kelolowski arrived at Richmond knowing that he has been signed to remain in the Jr Motorsports entry for the remainder of the season. Richmond also was the first race for a new cooperative agreement between Jr Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports. Keselowski started fifteen but was involved in a crash on lap 196 to regulate him to a thirty-eight place finish.
Brewco Motorsports announced that Robby Gordon will drive one of its entries at the Dover race in two weeks.
