One of the most exciting races in many years ends with an unbelievable finish. Kyle Busch wins on a classic turn 4 pass on 2011 champ Tony Stewart.


In segment one we had the first of three big wrecks of the night. The first wreck in between turn 1 and 2 was when David Ragan in the No.34 got into the left rear of Menard’s car and turned him into traffic. Also involved in the wreck were Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Burton, Michael Waltrip, and Jeff Gordon. 


Jamie McMurray led after segment one followed by Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick. The ten minute break allowed drivers and there teams regroup for the final 50 lap shootout. 


Just ten laps into the 2^ND segment, we had Clint Bowyer spinning through the infield by teammate Martin Truex Jr. Bowyer didn’t hit anything and continued to race. About halfway through segment 2, Kyle Busch was tapped from behind by Jimmie Johnson but made an incredible save and kept on racing. On twitter Samantha Busch wife of Kyle tweeted “it’s times like that I really just have to say, “Damn my husband is a bad ass!” 

2nd multi-car wreck of 2012 Shootout

With 20 laps to go we had our 2^nd multi-car pileup. Involved were many of the fastest cars up front including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr, Marcos Ambrose. Most of the wrecks occurred in the turns which were caused by two cars hooking up and making contact with each other in the rear left corners causing the front car to turn up track. 


The ARCA series race prevented wrecks like this by prohibiting drafting in the corners. NASCAR tried that a few years ago but many fans hated it and so NASCAR lifted the warning to drivers. With a week until the Daytona 500 don’t be surprised if NASCAR puts the rule back in action to prevent wrecks. 


Late in the 2^nd segment, in turn 4 Kyle Busch was spun out by Jeff Gordon which caused Gordon to spin up in front of the pack and cause another multi-car wreck. When Gordon’s teammate Jimmie Johnson got into the bottom of Gordon’s car, it resulted in Gordon’s car flipping over and barrel roll on the paved section of the infield before pit road. That was Gordon’s first flip in a stock car. After the race Jeff Gordon was alright and grinning while explaining the wreck. 




Also involved in the wreck were Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, and Jeff Burton. In the first attempt of the Green-White-Checkered flag restart, they made it to the white flag. Kyle Busch made his move in the short-stretch from turn 4 to the tri-oval. Kyle got up high of Tony Stewart and beat him to the line in the closest finish in Bud Shootout history at .013 second difference. Finishing third was Marcos Ambrose.


Later in Victory Lane Kyle said “First race back in the M&M’s car and we’re back in Victory Lane.” Needless to say that was an incredible race and kick-off to the 2012 season. If that race has anything to say about this season we’ll have our best season yet.