“Icing on the cake,” exclaimed Kyle Busch as he took the checkered flag and the Nationwide Championship at the Miami Homestead Speedway on Saturday evening.
Busch, driving a Toyota, held off a determined charge by Carl Edwards who coincidentally finished second in the points in a Ford.
In Victory Lane Busch celebrated with his team high-fiving his crew. “I don’t mean to be selfish this was the way to go out (of the year),” he explained.
Even though he clinched the title by merely starting the race he wanted to end the year with a win.
Talking about holding off Edwards, last year’s champion he said, “It was a little unnerving. I knew Carl would be coming on fresh tires, I was just trying to hit my marks every time, finally I found something and kept my lane. He made a banzai there, I hoped he didn’t connect.”
It was Busch’s ninth Nationwide win of the year, 30th in his career.
Brad Keselowski, the series enfant terrible was third. Denny Hamlin continued a feud from previous races and delivered on a threat when he hit Keselowski’s car early in the 200-lap race.
“I don’t hold any grudges I hope he moves on, I’ve already moved on. He’s got problems,” said Keselowski.
Hamlin, who finished fifth, had hit Keselowski purposely on lap 35 was penalized for NASCAR during the race. Hamlin and Keselowski had crashed earlier in the year.
“I feel great right now it was well worth it, NASCAR had to do what they had to do. My objective was to win the race first and take care of him (Brad) second,” he said.
Busch, driving a Toyota, held off a determined charge by Carl Edwards who coincidentally finished second in the points in a Ford.
In Victory Lane Busch celebrated with his team high-fiving his crew. “I don’t mean to be selfish this was the way to go out (of the year),” he explained.
Even though he clinched the title by merely starting the race he wanted to end the year with a win.
Talking about holding off Edwards, last year’s champion he said, “It was a little unnerving. I knew Carl would be coming on fresh tires, I was just trying to hit my marks every time, finally I found something and kept my lane. He made a banzai there, I hoped he didn’t connect.”
It was Busch’s ninth Nationwide win of the year, 30th in his career.
Brad Keselowski, the series enfant terrible was third. Denny Hamlin continued a feud from previous races and delivered on a threat when he hit Keselowski’s car early in the 200-lap race.
“I don’t hold any grudges I hope he moves on, I’ve already moved on. He’s got problems,” said Keselowski.
Hamlin, who finished fifth, had hit Keselowski purposely on lap 35 was penalized for NASCAR during the race. Hamlin and Keselowski had crashed earlier in the year.
“I feel great right now it was well worth it, NASCAR had to do what they had to do. My objective was to win the race first and take care of him (Brad) second,” he said.