Busch Treats Fans to Spooktacular Finish at Texas

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In: NASCAR Truck Series News

Kyle Busch appeared to have the candy in his basket and on his way home to enjoy his take until a late-race caution setup a shootout to the finish of Friday night’s WinStar World Casino and Resort 350 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Busch hit pit road for four fresh tires and fuel, while five trucks stayed out and three other took just two tires, leaving the No. 51 ToyotaCare Tundra in the ninth position for the ensuing restart.

 

The field went back to green with five laps remaining and ‘Rowdy’ quickly went to work. He made things four wide into Turns 1 and 2, then once again in Turns 3 and 4, dove to the bottom coming down the frontstretch and in just one lap had gained six positions. The next lap he picked up one more spot and was tucked in behind leader German Quiroga when the sixth caution of the race set up a green-white-checkered finish.

 

Quiroga chose the inside lane for the final restart, leaving Busch on the inside lane. By the time the two Toyotas exited Turn 2, KBM’s owner-driver had cleared Quiroga and began to distance himself from the field. Shortly after taking the white flag, Quiroga made contact with his teammate, Timothy Peters, and slammed into the outside wall. The incident brought out the caution and ended the race.

 

“It’s pretty awesome to be in victory lane,” said Busch, who led five times for a race-high 80 laps. “Can’t say enough about everyone from Toyota, ToyotaCare, TRD — this is a manufacturer’s championship here tonight, winning it for Toyota.  Everyone at KBM — all these guys, the pit crew guys, Eric Phillips (crew chief) and of course the body guys, they don’t get enough love.  The finish-fab guys as well and of course KBM chassis.  That’s chassis 21 and they keep rocking them out and they’re fast every single week, so we appreciate that.”

Busch picked up his seventh Truck Series victory across nine starts this season, his 42nd career triumph in NASCAR’s third division and his 124th NASCAR National Series victory. Jeb Burton came home behind Busch in the runner-up position. Peters, Tyler Reddick and Matt Crafton rounded out the top-five finishers.

The win was the 12th of the season for Kyle Busch Motorsports, tying the mark for wins by an organization set by Ultra Motorsports in 2001. Busch’s win also was the 16th win by a Toyota driver this season, the most since the manufacturer joined the series in 2004. With two races remaining this season, Toyota has clinched its seventh Manufacturer’s Championship.   

 

Busch’s KBM teammate Darrell Wallace Jr. led three times for 51 laps, but suffered an expired engine and was relegated to 26th-place finish.

 

The 20th race of the 2014 season featured seven cautions for a total of 32 laps. There were 11 lead changes among five drivers. The No. 51 maintained the lead in the Owner’s point standings and the reigning champions now sit 12 points ahead of the No. 88 team with two races remaining. 

 

Erik Jones will be behind the wheel of the No. 51 Dollar General Tundra when the Truck Series resumes action at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway on Nov. 7. Jones is the defending winner of the Lucas Oil 150 and will also be pulling double duty for the first time in his career as he returns to the No. 20 Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing for Saturday’s Nationwide Series event. Live coverage of the Truck Series race will air on Fox Sports 1 beginning with the Truck Series Setup Show at 8 p.m. ET.

 

KBM PR

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