Ty Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 27, 2013
Photo – John Harrelson/Getty Images
Picking up his second series win, Ty Dillon did exactly what he did to get his first win, by passing Kyle Busch for the lead in the closing laps of the race.
By the end of the race, Dillon crossed the finished line 5.736 seconds ahead of Brad Keselowski, winning Thursday night’s UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Kyle Busch finished third, followed by 2012 series champion James Buescher and Ryan Blaney.
“To beat Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski, two of the best drivers on four wheels right now, is pretty special. …I want to be like them some day.”
After winning the race, Dillon managed a celebration burnout while hanging halfway out of his driver-side window. But during the race, it was his patience leading him to the checkered flag.
Throughout the race, Dillon took his time tracking down Busch and picked the right moment with 25 laps remaining to make his move to take the lead.
“My car just took off at the end,” Dillon said. “I knew I was faster, so I just really tried not to kill my car, kill my tires, and if finally came to us. I got a good run through (turns) one and two and got by him in three and four. It (Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet) turned into a rocket ship there at the end.”
“I wasn’t that great in the beginning and the middle, but (crew chief) Marcus (Richmond) and the guys kept digging and kept digging.”
When asked about his celebration burnout, Dillon said,
“Hey, man, we’re here to put on a show.”
Rookie contender, Darrell Wallace Jr, spun in turn three, racing hard against the No. 29 of Ryan Blaney, to cause the fifth caution on lap 86. Wallace led a race high 54 laps up to that point, but was now taking his No. 54 Toyota to the garage for repairs.
Having the fastest truck in the race, Wallace was understandably disappointed, but humbly embraced his rookie status too.
“I thought I had it, and I think if he (Blaney) wasn’t there and already gone that I might have saved it and just lost more positions,” Wallace said. “Just hard racing. I’m still trying to figure these (trucks) out. I’m a rookie – that’s what the yellow stripes are for (on the bumpers of rookies’ cars and truck).”
Following the wreck, Wallace’s car owner Kyle Busch, took over the top spot, at least for a while. On the restart on lap 91, Busch pulled away from Blaney to take the lead and by lap 100 held an advantage of 1.025 seconds.
By lap 108, a spin in turn four involving Brian Silas, gave lead-lap cars another chance to pit and pick up enough fuel to finish the race.
Blaney challenged Busch for the lead on lap 118, but ended up with his car into the outside wall, causing damage to the right side of his truck. In spite of the setback, Blaney was able to maintain fifth place.
This time it was Dillon challenging for the lead, eventually passing Busch on lap 125, whose truck was now loose handling. Keselowski passed Busch for second on lap 138, but could not contend for the lead in the remaining 12 laps of the race.
