Kyle Busch surpassed 10k, only it’s not kilometers we’re talking about. In dominating the 300 lapper at Bristol Motor Speedway he’s now led 10,035 laps in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series.
The Toyota driver has won the last four races at the high-banked half-mile, in three different series. That also includes three out of the last four Sprint Cup races, the last two Nationwide Races and the last three Camping World Truck series events at Bristol in the past three years.
And he’s ready to break or set more records: “It’s big and anytime you’re able to break any kind of series record with the likes of Sam Ard and all the guys that made this series what it is,” said Busch.
“Kevin Harvick in his heyday when he was really good -- just a couple years ago. Of course, Mark Martin in his time and all the guys -- (Larry) Pearson and (Tommy) Houston and all those boys. It’s cool and I enjoy it. There’s still plenty more time hopefully to make some more,” he added.
Not even a last minute change, by Goodyear, to a different right front tire could throw Busch off his game. A new right front tire was supposed to increase lap speeds, but, when the track wouldn’t “rubber-up” NASCAR officials decreed that there would be a competition caution on lap 25.
After that teams replaced the tire with last year’s compound. Busch explained the tire switch: “It changed the dynamic of the car quite a bit. We had to compensate for that driving style-wise and then on our next pit stop, get some changes made to the car.
“Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) and these guys did such a great job. We played a lot yesterday with different setups and what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it and what exactly we were looking for.”
Kasey Kahne finished second and Dale Earnhardt Jr. third. Elliott Sadler, who finished fourth, was the top finishing Nationwide Series driver, under the new “pick a series,” rules.
Based on the new rules Jason Leffler, who finished eighth, now leads the points over polesitter Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who was 14th.
The Toyota driver has won the last four races at the high-banked half-mile, in three different series. That also includes three out of the last four Sprint Cup races, the last two Nationwide Races and the last three Camping World Truck series events at Bristol in the past three years.
And he’s ready to break or set more records: “It’s big and anytime you’re able to break any kind of series record with the likes of Sam Ard and all the guys that made this series what it is,” said Busch.
“Kevin Harvick in his heyday when he was really good -- just a couple years ago. Of course, Mark Martin in his time and all the guys -- (Larry) Pearson and (Tommy) Houston and all those boys. It’s cool and I enjoy it. There’s still plenty more time hopefully to make some more,” he added.
Not even a last minute change, by Goodyear, to a different right front tire could throw Busch off his game. A new right front tire was supposed to increase lap speeds, but, when the track wouldn’t “rubber-up” NASCAR officials decreed that there would be a competition caution on lap 25.
After that teams replaced the tire with last year’s compound. Busch explained the tire switch: “It changed the dynamic of the car quite a bit. We had to compensate for that driving style-wise and then on our next pit stop, get some changes made to the car.
“Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) and these guys did such a great job. We played a lot yesterday with different setups and what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it and what exactly we were looking for.”
Kasey Kahne finished second and Dale Earnhardt Jr. third. Elliott Sadler, who finished fourth, was the top finishing Nationwide Series driver, under the new “pick a series,” rules.
Based on the new rules Jason Leffler, who finished eighth, now leads the points over polesitter Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who was 14th.