This past weekend proved to be the storm of Kyle and not all with the last name Busch. The NASCAR Nationwide series kicked off the weekend at the high speed Texas Motorspeedway, on Friday this past weekend. Kyle Busch was the cream of the crop of the star studded Nationwide Series race, but as he stated "...we had to work hard to have the better race car..." he spent most of the race fending off the Penske Racing duo of Brad Keselowski and Sam Hornish Jr., but the pit strategies and stops played into the Joe Gibbs Racing teams favor. But its always a recipe for victory when you put two stellar things together, like Busch and JGR in the Nationwide Series. Despite having a strong car to contend for the win points leader Sam Hornish Jr. went sailing through the grass after contact with Jermey Clements and suffering heavy damage, Hornish Jr. finished 34th. Austin Dillon was the only the Nationwide Series regular to finish in the top 5.
Busch wasn't satisfied with only winning the Nationwide Series race and capturing the pole for Saturdays Cup race by setting a new track record, in traditional Kyle fashion he wanted more. The Saturday night race was packed with action especially in the closing laps, Martin Truex Jr. found himself in command in the finale 25 laps but a late race caution through a wrench in the 56 teams plan as everyone took to pit lane for fresh tires, and Busch with the help of his team seized the opportunity by knocking out a fantastic stop and getting the 18 out of pit lane first. At the restart Busch took off and never looked back leading the final 16 laps and capturing victory over the 56 of Truex Jr. who found himself a brides made yet again. The final pit stop has proven to be a down fall for the 56 team in closing laps but I feel the advantage of having the number one pit stall at the end of pit road is a reason as to why Busch got off pit lane first.
The weekend didn't end there nope the Nascar Camping World Truck Series got the call to run on Sunday at the famous Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina. Jeb Burton started on pole for the second race in a row. All eyes were on Johnny Sauter though as he tried to make history as the only driver in any of the three series to win the first three races of the season, and he proved to be strong but not strong enough. After the green flag dropped the number 30 of rising star Kyle Larson jumped out into the lead and did his best to make sure he stayed there. But as the laps ran down there was one truck that smelt blood in the water and that was the number 19 Brad Keselowski Racing Ford of Joey Logano who found himself in second with only four laps to go, but it appeared to be all Larson until the caution flew with three laps to go, after Ryan Sieg and Timothy Peters collided. The accidents were not over though, as on the backstretch under caution Ron Hornaday bumped in to the back of the 54 of Darrel Wallace Jr. and then got along side Wallace Jr. and turned him going into turn 3. Wallace Jr. made heavy contact with the wall ending his day. After the smoke settled the green flag flew on the final restart with the young Larson and hot Logano at the front, Larson took off after Logano spun his tires on the restart, but Logano had on last ditch effort left on the final lap but it was not enough as Kyle Larson went on to capture his first ever Truck Series victory in only his 5th start, and what a fitting win it was as Larson's Autism Speaks Chevy won the Autism Speaks 200.
After the race Logano stated "I expected him (Larson) to try something on the restart, and he didn't and I spun the tires". In post race Ron Hornaday stated "I didn't mean to wreck him, I feel like an idiot".
The weekend was packed full of action and tension and was filled with the name Kyle.
-Stephen Appell
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Stephen Appell
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