Kyle Busch capitalized on Carl Edwards’ long, late-race, pit stop to take the lead and win the Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway.
With his eighth win of the year. Busch now extends his series’ win record to 51 races. He admitted he didn’t have the best car but he credited his team with making adjustments to put him in position to win,
“These guys (his crew) just kept digging kept trying. The guys on pit road making the adjustments; they did an awesome job."
Edwards appeared to have the race in the bag, leading 160 laps of the 250 at the three-quarter mile oval. The final caution following an incident between Kevin Harvick and Trevor Bayne set up the final pit stop.
With 35 laps to go, Edwards roared into the pits, slammed, too hard, on the brakes for his final pit stop. That pinned the right front wheel to the fender. That lengthy pit stop cost him three spots. Busch took the lead on that final stop.
Edwards took the problem in stride. “It was just racing,” he said. He also complimented his teammate, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – the series points leader who got out on the track ahead of him – when he said “Ricky let me have a shot at Kyle at the end.”
Stenhouse finished third and extended his points lead to 16 points over Elliott Sadler and 45 over Reed Sorenson. “I thought we had a little bit for Kyle at the end,” said Sorenson. “We started off really good and we were running him down but we just lost forward grip.”
With his eighth win of the year. Busch now extends his series’ win record to 51 races. He admitted he didn’t have the best car but he credited his team with making adjustments to put him in position to win,
“These guys (his crew) just kept digging kept trying. The guys on pit road making the adjustments; they did an awesome job."
Edwards appeared to have the race in the bag, leading 160 laps of the 250 at the three-quarter mile oval. The final caution following an incident between Kevin Harvick and Trevor Bayne set up the final pit stop.
With 35 laps to go, Edwards roared into the pits, slammed, too hard, on the brakes for his final pit stop. That pinned the right front wheel to the fender. That lengthy pit stop cost him three spots. Busch took the lead on that final stop.
Edwards took the problem in stride. “It was just racing,” he said. He also complimented his teammate, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – the series points leader who got out on the track ahead of him – when he said “Ricky let me have a shot at Kyle at the end.”
Stenhouse finished third and extended his points lead to 16 points over Elliott Sadler and 45 over Reed Sorenson. “I thought we had a little bit for Kyle at the end,” said Sorenson. “We started off really good and we were running him down but we just lost forward grip.”