Fontana, Calif. – Kyle Busch became the youngest winner in NASCAR’s top series Sunday night, a feat that was almost an afterthought with most of the focus on the battle for the final spots in The Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.
At the end of the Sony HD 500, the bottom of the top 10 in the Nextel Cup point standings was shaken up, with Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray in and Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon out with only one more race before the start of the 10-man, 10- race finale.
That didn’t bother the 20- year-old Busch, the brother of reigning Cup champion Kurt Busch, as he celebrated his breakthrough victory at California Speedway.
“It’s unbelievable,” said the rookie whose previous best finishes were seconds this year at Las Vegas and Dover. “We should have been here at least five times this year, but we haven’t been able to close the deal.”
The previous youngest winner was Donald Thomas, who was four days older than Busch when he won in Atlanta in November 1951.
Driving a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Busch led 95 laps on the way to the victory in his 31st career start.
Busch was leading on lap 240 when debris brought out the 10th of 11 cautions in the race. With the race scheduled to end on lap 250, Busch faked as if he was going to pit on lap 241 and, when all the other leaders followed, he went ahead and pitted.
His crew put on only two tires and Busch was able to beat everyone else back onto the track and hold the lead to the end.
“My nerves were getting to me,” Busch said. “When I made that last pit stop (under caution), everybody followed me in and I thought, ‘Cool, we’re going to be all right.’ That stop is what got us the win.”
While Busch took control late in a race extended to 254 laps because of a caution period, the battle within a battle was raging for positions in the standings.
Only the top 10 drivers in the series points following Saturday night’s race at Richmond will be eligible to contend for the NASCAR championship in the last 10 races of the season.
Greg Biffle, already solidly in The Chase, finished second, followed by Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, series points leader Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne. Vickers is Busch’s teammate.
Kenseth, coming off his first victory of the season last week at Bristol, had another strong race, finishing seventh. He has charged from 17th in the series points following the Pocono race July 24.
Edwards solidified his spot in the top 10, remaining eighth and all but clinching a spot in The Chase, while Kenseth moved to ninth, 10 points ahead of McMurray, who is one point ahead of Newman and 30 in front of Gordon, who began the night in 10th.
Nextel Cup/glance
Keys to victory: Kyle Busch led on lap 240 when debris caused the 10th of 11 cautions in the race. With 10 laps remaining, Busch pitted on lap 241. After all the other leaders followed him, his crew put on only two tires and Busch beat the other drivers back onto the track and raced to victory.
What you might have missed: Because of the late afternoon starting time, the 43 drivers faced a blinding sun as they drove into the third turn on the 2-mile oval for the first half of the 250-lap event.
Back on track: Saturday, Chevy Rock & Roll 400, Richmond International Raceway, TNT/5 p.m.
