Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

NASCAR: Kyle Busch Conquers the Monster Mile in Nationwide

Get the best interest rate
Khatir Soltani
While Kyle Busch was running away with the 200-mile NASCAR Nationwide series race in Dover, Clint Bowyer was “having at it” with Denny Hamlin in the closing laps.

Busch, the polesitter, led all but 14-laps of the 205 lap race which ended under a green-white-checkered flag rule.

“I was just trying to get to that white flag and couldn’t get there,” Busch said. “It seems like we can always find something in the last 10 laps to get a caution. But it is what it is. I knew we had a great race car… if we could just get through the restarts and not have someone turn me sideways, we’d be okay.”

After an early failed challenge by Brad Keselowski it seemed that Bowyer, who drives for Richard Childress Racing, was the only one with anything left for Busch towards the checkered flag. That ended on a restart when Hamlin hit him from behind, on lap 198, precipitating a nine-car crash which sent Bowyer to the pits.

After an 11-minute red flag to clear the wreckage, Bowyer drove off pit road and cut Hamlin off under yellow, leaving the Hamlin pointing up towards the outside wall.

Bowyer was immediately black-flagged and summoned to the NASCAR trailer.

Curiously second-place Ryan Newman thought Bowyer was in-the-right.

“From my standpoint, [Hamlin] just never checked up,” Newman said after the race. “I hope that they don’t penalize Clint Bowyer because that’s what every driver wants to do. Nobody wants to hurt anybody, but when you take someone out of the race like that, [it’s frustrating.]”

Jamie McMurray, in the Junior Motorsports Chevrolet was third.

Even more curious was Hamlin’s reaction after the race. He didn’t seem upset at Bowyer at all. Describing the two incidents he said, “I just flipped him on the way by. He spun his tires, I just misjudged it barely. I just didn’t know how close it was. Ruined his day and ruined our day. An eye-for-an-eye. I don’t fault him. It’s hard for me to say he was in the wrong.”

With the victory, his fourth of the year Busch moved to within 11 points of series leader Brad Kesolowski who finished seventh. Kevin Harvick, who finished sixth, is third in the points, 64 back.
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
As a car enthusiast, he tests and compares vehicles from different categories through the eyes of the consumer, ensuring relevant and objective reviews.
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada