The Nationwide Series race was a Busch family affair with Kurt Busch coming out on top due to a late pit stop by younger brother Kyle.
Jimmie Johnson, also making a rare appearance in this series, recovered from a pit lane equipment penalty to finish second followed by Joey Logano.
Kyle Busch finished fourth after stopping to top off with fuel on lap 77 of the race scheduled to go 82 laps.
The winner was pinch hitting for the recovering Brad Keselowski (resting for Sunday’s Cup race) and started on the pole. Kyle started alongside – no one else led one lap. The brothers swapped the lead six different times.
It was Kurt Busch’s third win in this series, out of 12 races, and first since 2006 when he won at Watkins Glen.
Although it was a green-white-checkered finish the race was fairly incident free.
According to elder Busch: “I knew that it was going to be a good finish. On the restart at the end, all heck could have broken loose. I actually drove it in a little too deep; that right-front tire was cold.
“I just have to thank this crew for allowing me to step in. They were even starting to call me “Buschlowski” because I was wearing Brad’s fire suit!”
Johnson said: “I knew I had a good car getting better as we ran. I was hoping for a lot of green flag laps and we got it. I was just getting in the rhythm of the things.”
Ontario’s Ron Fellows finished seventh. He was running third at the final caution in a JR Motorsports car, but pitted for tires at the crew chief’s direction and was unable to make up the track position.
Aric Almirola was the highest finishing full-time Nationwide driver in eighth. Ricky Stenhouse, who finished 15th, continues to lead in the series standing by ten points over Reed Sorenson who finished 13th. Elliott Sadler, who finished tenth, is third in the points, 24 markers back.
Ontarian J.R. Fitzpatrick retired early on a suspension problem, finishing 38th. Quebecker Andrew Ranger finished just ahead, in 37th, victim of transmission problems.
Finally Briton Dan Clarke was the victim of engine problems that put him behind. He finished 39th in his NASCAR debut.
Jimmie Johnson, also making a rare appearance in this series, recovered from a pit lane equipment penalty to finish second followed by Joey Logano.
Kyle Busch finished fourth after stopping to top off with fuel on lap 77 of the race scheduled to go 82 laps.
The winner was pinch hitting for the recovering Brad Keselowski (resting for Sunday’s Cup race) and started on the pole. Kyle started alongside – no one else led one lap. The brothers swapped the lead six different times.
It was Kurt Busch’s third win in this series, out of 12 races, and first since 2006 when he won at Watkins Glen.
Although it was a green-white-checkered finish the race was fairly incident free.
According to elder Busch: “I knew that it was going to be a good finish. On the restart at the end, all heck could have broken loose. I actually drove it in a little too deep; that right-front tire was cold.
“I just have to thank this crew for allowing me to step in. They were even starting to call me “Buschlowski” because I was wearing Brad’s fire suit!”
Johnson said: “I knew I had a good car getting better as we ran. I was hoping for a lot of green flag laps and we got it. I was just getting in the rhythm of the things.”
Ontario’s Ron Fellows finished seventh. He was running third at the final caution in a JR Motorsports car, but pitted for tires at the crew chief’s direction and was unable to make up the track position.
Aric Almirola was the highest finishing full-time Nationwide driver in eighth. Ricky Stenhouse, who finished 15th, continues to lead in the series standing by ten points over Reed Sorenson who finished 13th. Elliott Sadler, who finished tenth, is third in the points, 24 markers back.
Ontarian J.R. Fitzpatrick retired early on a suspension problem, finishing 38th. Quebecker Andrew Ranger finished just ahead, in 37th, victim of transmission problems.
Finally Briton Dan Clarke was the victim of engine problems that put him behind. He finished 39th in his NASCAR debut.