Kyle Busch's name was on everyone's lips. He so easily won the two NASCAR races Saturday at the Auto Club Speedway (formerly, the Fontana Speedway), the Camping World truck race in the afternoon and the Nationwide race in the evening, that everyone thought it would be a piece of cake for him to do a historical three-peat Sunday afternoon during the Sprint Cup race, driving his No 18 Toyota Camry.
But he would have to fight off Matt Kenseth (Ford No 17), the Daytona 500 winner (who gave owner Jack Roush his first ever win in this prestigious event)! Nobody expected Kenseth to win the Auto Club 500.
Still, he almost dominated the last quarter of the race holding off not only Busch (who finally ended up third) but also former champ Jeff Gordon (Chevy No 24) who acknowledged after the race that Kenseth was untouchable. As a matter of fact, late during the race, Kyle radioed his crew asking them what to do. He could not get even remotely close to Kenseth.
The biggest loser has to be Greg Biffle. His powerful Roush-Fenway Ford No 16 could have challenged Kenseth's No 17 (both are part of the same team). But a bad pit stop where Biffle almost shot through his pit stall made him lose time and he finally wound up fourth.
Kurt Busch (Dodge No 2) finished fifth. For the moment being, after only two races in a series of 36, Kenseth leads the NASCAR Championship...but how long can it last?
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images
But he would have to fight off Matt Kenseth (Ford No 17), the Daytona 500 winner (who gave owner Jack Roush his first ever win in this prestigious event)! Nobody expected Kenseth to win the Auto Club 500.
Still, he almost dominated the last quarter of the race holding off not only Busch (who finally ended up third) but also former champ Jeff Gordon (Chevy No 24) who acknowledged after the race that Kenseth was untouchable. As a matter of fact, late during the race, Kyle radioed his crew asking them what to do. He could not get even remotely close to Kenseth.
The biggest loser has to be Greg Biffle. His powerful Roush-Fenway Ford No 16 could have challenged Kenseth's No 17 (both are part of the same team). But a bad pit stop where Biffle almost shot through his pit stall made him lose time and he finally wound up fourth.
Kurt Busch (Dodge No 2) finished fifth. For the moment being, after only two races in a series of 36, Kenseth leads the NASCAR Championship...but how long can it last?
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images