Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 23, 2013
Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images
The Food City 250 on Friday night wasn’t exactly a battle to the finish – it was total domination.
Competitors know that when Kyle Busch wins the Coors Light Pole for a Nationwide Series race – as he did Friday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway – they may as well concede their chances to win.
In the last 72 laps of green-flag racing, it was indeed, Busch pulling away from second-place, Brad Keselowski to win his sixth Nationwide Series event at the .533-mile short track. It was Busch’s ninth win of the season and 60th of his career, representing a series-record high.
In route to his 15th win at Bristol over NASCAR’s top-three series, Busch led 228 of 250 laps, with his sixth pole position of the season. Amazingly, every pole has led to a win for Busch.
Starting his Bristol weekend with a win in the Camping World Truck Series on Wednesday night, Busch’s Nationwide win set up his team for their attempt at a second weekend sweep at the track. But in his next race, Saturday’s Sprint Cup Series’ Irwin Tools Night Race, Busch will have to race from the back of the field, after spinning during qualifying on Friday afternoon.
“You’ve gotta win two to go for three, and this is two.” Busch professed in Victory Lane.
Rounding out the top-five, Austin Dillon was third, with Justin Allgaier fourth and Rookie of the Year contender Kyle Larson fifth.
After Busch’s wreck during Cup qualifying, many in the crowd cheered loudly. And those cheers – as has happened several times before – motivates Rowdy’s Revenge. What better way to prove his talent than by scoring his 19th Nationwide Series perfect rating of 150.0.
“It comes from preparation, it comes from the show, it comes from practice here.” Busch said as explaining his dominate performance. “(Crew chief) Adam (Stevens) and I – we work real well together. Those guys work hard. Today – just a great car and great job by these guys putting together such a great Monster Energy Camry.”
“It was a lot of fun tonight. It’s cools when you can start-up front, lead laps like that, but yet you have some battles with holding off the 22 (Keselowski) and having to pass the 32 (Kyle Larson, who led briefly after a restart on lap 110) – just a fun day. Whether you’re cheering or booing, don’t matter. We’re here to win races, take trophies home and that’s what we’re going to try to do (Saturday) night too.”
For Keselowski, trying to win his fifth Nationwide Series race in his fifth straight start, it was a frustrating night of racing.
“We were close, just not quite good enough,” said Keselowski wistfully. “We just came up a little bit short. Obviously, on the track, I didn’t have quite enough speed to get by Kyle.”
Brian Vickers also found trouble in a succession of issues for series championship contenders. On lap 167 a wreck out of turn four, put Vickers nose into the inside wall on the frontstretch. Before that, Regan Smith, lost two laps after pitting under green for a loose wheel.
The points leader coming into the race, Sam Hornish Jr struggled as well, losing a lap to Busch. Not long after a restart on lap 179, Hornish hit the outside wall in turn four, dropping back to 13th and one lap down.
Elliott Sadler also fell a lap behind with trouble handling his car, but with a free pass after the caution for Vicker’s accident, Sadler was back on the lead lap. He finished tenth, two spots ahead of Hornish. Smith and Vickers finished 21st and 24th.
With a glimmer good fortune, Hornish kept his points lead by just six points over Dillon. As for the battle of the owners’ championship, Busch’s win for Joe Gibbs Racing cut into the lead of No. 22 Keselowski team from 22 points to 16.
Up next for the Nationwide Series is Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 31st, with race coverage on ESPN2 starting at 7:30pm ET.
Race Results
Point Standings
