Kyle Busch continued to pile up the wins, in his part-time Nationwide schedule, holding off Kevin Harvick at the checkered flag in Newton, Iowa. It was his ninth series victory this year.
In a classic battle, of pit stop strategy, Harvick, going for track position took two tires on his final service. Busch, who would lead 208 laps of the 250 lap race in a Toyota, took four tires and passed Harvick with 25 to go.
Once past Harvick’s Chevrolet the winner had clear sailing.
“I was worried there with (Kevin) Harvick taking two tires. I was like, ‘Man, same thing as last year. I’m going to get beat by two.’ But, I got into my rhythm and I got going and just started clicking laps and got up to Harvick there and beat him. So, hopefully he waits for me so I can get my ride home.”
Kyle Busch was referring to hitch-hiking on Harvick’s plane, for the 950-mile trip back to Pocono for the Sunday’s Sprint Cup race.
It was Busch’s 39th win in NASCAR’s second-tier series.
Jason Leffler finished third in a Toyota followed by the Dodge of series point’s leader, Brad Keselowski. Trevor Bayne, who won his second-straight pole, finished fifth rounding out a strong night for the Toyota drivers.
“We ran really good,” said Leffler who drives for Braun Racing a primarily Nationwide only team It’s hard to run with the 18 (Busch). At times we could run with Kevin (Harvick), but the 18 and the 20 (a Joe Gibbs Racing teammate to Busch) they’re in their own time zone for the last couple of years.”
Brad Keselowski talked about the tire strategy "The last pit stop, we took two and a bunch of guys took four (tires). I agree with our strategy. Just so many guys took two that we just couldn't get by all of them."
With Carl Edwards finishing tenth, Keselowski now leads his rival by 231-points. Busch, who has run four races less than them, is third in the standings 473 points in arrears.
In a classic battle, of pit stop strategy, Harvick, going for track position took two tires on his final service. Busch, who would lead 208 laps of the 250 lap race in a Toyota, took four tires and passed Harvick with 25 to go.
Once past Harvick’s Chevrolet the winner had clear sailing.
“I was worried there with (Kevin) Harvick taking two tires. I was like, ‘Man, same thing as last year. I’m going to get beat by two.’ But, I got into my rhythm and I got going and just started clicking laps and got up to Harvick there and beat him. So, hopefully he waits for me so I can get my ride home.”
Kyle Busch was referring to hitch-hiking on Harvick’s plane, for the 950-mile trip back to Pocono for the Sunday’s Sprint Cup race.
It was Busch’s 39th win in NASCAR’s second-tier series.
Jason Leffler finished third in a Toyota followed by the Dodge of series point’s leader, Brad Keselowski. Trevor Bayne, who won his second-straight pole, finished fifth rounding out a strong night for the Toyota drivers.
“We ran really good,” said Leffler who drives for Braun Racing a primarily Nationwide only team It’s hard to run with the 18 (Busch). At times we could run with Kevin (Harvick), but the 18 and the 20 (a Joe Gibbs Racing teammate to Busch) they’re in their own time zone for the last couple of years.”
Brad Keselowski talked about the tire strategy "The last pit stop, we took two and a bunch of guys took four (tires). I agree with our strategy. Just so many guys took two that we just couldn't get by all of them."
With Carl Edwards finishing tenth, Keselowski now leads his rival by 231-points. Busch, who has run four races less than them, is third in the standings 473 points in arrears.