It looked once again like Kyle Busch (Camry No 18) was to completely dominate the Nationwide race run on Friday evening at the Darlington Raceway.
But, surprisingly, he was forced to visit his pits when Scott Lagasse (Camry No 11) and Joe Nemechek (Chevy No 87) made contract. Kyle ran on pieces of debris and ended up with a right rear flat.
Then, veteran Morgan Shepherd (Chevy No 89) who was celebrating his 250th Nationwide start at age 67, spun on the restart of a green-white-checkered situation. The yellow was thrown again and Matt Kenseth (Ford No 16) who had inherited the lead was declared winner of the Diamond Hill Plywood 250 (Kenseth also has the pole for tomorrow's Sprint Cup race at Darlington).
Jason Leffler (Camry No 38) came in second as Kenseth's Roush Fenway teammates Carl Edwards (Ford No 60) and Erik Darnell (Ford No 6) followed in third and fourth place. Rookie Justin Allgaier (Dodge No 12) ended up fifth.
As for Canadian Patrick Carpentier's return to the circuit (Camry No 07), he started 23rd (starting grid was decided by owners' points as the rain cancelled the qualifying session) and finished 17th on the same lap as the leaders.
Kyle Busch was credited with the 16th place but he still leads the championship but now with only 37 points over Edwards. Leffler is in third position.
The Nationwide drivers will be back in action on the evening of May 23 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.
But, surprisingly, he was forced to visit his pits when Scott Lagasse (Camry No 11) and Joe Nemechek (Chevy No 87) made contract. Kyle ran on pieces of debris and ended up with a right rear flat.
Then, veteran Morgan Shepherd (Chevy No 89) who was celebrating his 250th Nationwide start at age 67, spun on the restart of a green-white-checkered situation. The yellow was thrown again and Matt Kenseth (Ford No 16) who had inherited the lead was declared winner of the Diamond Hill Plywood 250 (Kenseth also has the pole for tomorrow's Sprint Cup race at Darlington).
Jason Leffler (Camry No 38) came in second as Kenseth's Roush Fenway teammates Carl Edwards (Ford No 60) and Erik Darnell (Ford No 6) followed in third and fourth place. Rookie Justin Allgaier (Dodge No 12) ended up fifth.
As for Canadian Patrick Carpentier's return to the circuit (Camry No 07), he started 23rd (starting grid was decided by owners' points as the rain cancelled the qualifying session) and finished 17th on the same lap as the leaders.
Kyle Busch was credited with the 16th place but he still leads the championship but now with only 37 points over Edwards. Leffler is in third position.
The Nationwide drivers will be back in action on the evening of May 23 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.