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Busch takes Watkins Glen for 8th season win
Who said Kyle Busch was in a slump? Busch scored his 8th victory of the year in a dominant run at Watkins Glen on Sunday. The win not only was his 3rd on a road course this year, but it helped Busch clinch the top seed for the chase with 4 races to go.
Thanks to Mother Nature, the starting grid was set by driver points putting Kyle Busch at the front of the pack. Dale Jr. (Started 2nd) started out fast passing Busch on just the second lap and pulling out to a nice lead before bad pit strategy ended Junior’s bid for his first road course win. Junior finished a disappointing 22nd and fell 2 spots in the championship standings.
Not even Tony Stewart, the winner of 3 out of the last 4 at the Glen, could keep up with him, and he knew it. On the last restart he seemed more worried about Ambrose and Montoya, asking his crew to ask NASCAR to watch them laying back on the restart which says to me he knew he wasn’t going to catch his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. The only thing to slow down Kyle Busch was 45 minute Red flag with 8 laps to go.
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A huge wreck brought out the red flag when Mike McDowell and David Gilliland got together coming out of turn 11. The wreck took 45 minutes to clean up and involved 9 cars; the worst hit being absorbed by Bobby Labonte who, after getting out of his car, limped down pit road. Labonte was later transferred to a local hospital for evaluation. Sam Hornish took what looked like the hardest hit sliding driver side first into sand barrels barricading the pit road wall. It proved to be one of the lightest hits as the COT showed it can take lick and keep on going as Hornish went on to finish the race (32nd). Also involved were Michael Waltrip, Dave Blaney, Joe Nemechek, Max Papis and Reed Sorenson.
Jimmie Johnson had a good car, but a flat rear tire took him out of contention as he did rebound to finish a respectful 7th. Marcos Ambrose's 3rd place finish was the first top 5 for the Wood Brothers Racing in almost 3 years. Jeff Gordon battled issues all day and finished a dismal 29th. Tony Stewart moved up two places in the championship standing after back to back runner up finishes.
By Rick Maguire
Pro Racing Fans Staff Writer
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