Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Kyle Busch knows his way to victory lane in NASCAR’s premier divisions.
Once again on a brilliant restart Busch held off arch-rival Kevin Harvick for his 49th Nationwide victory tying him with Mark Martin for the all-time NASCAR record of 100 NASCAR win across all NASCAR divisions.
"It will stick out for a long time because it is No. 100," Busch said. "But I'm not going to say it's the biggest one. This is certainly a special day."
Richard Petty recorded 200 wins in NASCAR’s top division, David Pearson had a total of 106 victories including one in the Nationwide series which puts Busch third overall in all time NASCAR wins (in four NASCAR divisions). On the other hand he stands 28th in all-time Sprint Cup Series victories.
Busch said that the race boiled down to “threading the needle to get past Harvick, and holding him off on all the restarts including the green-white-checkered finish.”
Oddly enough Busch said the outcome was in doubt. “On the restarts I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” said Busch. “I wasn’t sure I was going to get Harvick at the end.” But he did.
Harvick also admitted that he had nothing for Busch at the end. “I couldn’t get going on the restarts, I had trouble with the rear grip.”
More importantly the Harvick/Busch feud played into the result as Harvick explained NASCAR warned him to avoid any contact with his arch rival, Busch.
“I would have liked to get the track position on the restarts,” said Harvick adding, “I have to be careful that’s the way NASCAR wants it. It would be a lot easier to win if you didn't have handcuffs put on you.”
Busch led the final 33 laps (of 206) at the one-mile New England oval to earn his sixth victory of the season and his third consecutive win at New Hampshire.
Kasey Kahne finished third while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola rounded out the top-5.
Once again on a brilliant restart Busch held off arch-rival Kevin Harvick for his 49th Nationwide victory tying him with Mark Martin for the all-time NASCAR record of 100 NASCAR win across all NASCAR divisions.
"It will stick out for a long time because it is No. 100," Busch said. "But I'm not going to say it's the biggest one. This is certainly a special day."
Richard Petty recorded 200 wins in NASCAR’s top division, David Pearson had a total of 106 victories including one in the Nationwide series which puts Busch third overall in all time NASCAR wins (in four NASCAR divisions). On the other hand he stands 28th in all-time Sprint Cup Series victories.
Busch said that the race boiled down to “threading the needle to get past Harvick, and holding him off on all the restarts including the green-white-checkered finish.”
Oddly enough Busch said the outcome was in doubt. “On the restarts I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” said Busch. “I wasn’t sure I was going to get Harvick at the end.” But he did.
Harvick also admitted that he had nothing for Busch at the end. “I couldn’t get going on the restarts, I had trouble with the rear grip.”
More importantly the Harvick/Busch feud played into the result as Harvick explained NASCAR warned him to avoid any contact with his arch rival, Busch.
“I would have liked to get the track position on the restarts,” said Harvick adding, “I have to be careful that’s the way NASCAR wants it. It would be a lot easier to win if you didn't have handcuffs put on you.”
Busch led the final 33 laps (of 206) at the one-mile New England oval to earn his sixth victory of the season and his third consecutive win at New Hampshire.
Kasey Kahne finished third while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola rounded out the top-5.