LOUDON, N.H. — Kyle Busch won the Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday and become the career laps-led leader in NASCAR’s second-tier series.
Busch bowed to the crowd, which saluted his sixth win of the season in the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch has led 8,118 laps in his career and earned his 36th career victory. He held off Brad Keselowski, who finished second and had his solid run derailed by a poor pit stop. Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Trevor Bayne round out the top five.
Danica Patrick finished 30th, five laps down. Patrick went into the wall only seven laps into the race. The IndyCar regular posted her best finish in four Nationwide races.
“It was a bummer to get lapped so many times,” Patrick said.
Patrick started 25th in her first NASCAR race since February and ran into trouble in her No. 7 Chevrolet almost instantly.
Morgan Shepherd got loose and sent Patrick into the wall. She radioed to her crew, “He totally took me out.”
Patrick returned to the track a lap down and never got any momentum. She later tapped Shepherd to let him know she didn’t appreciate getting caught up in the early accident.
Patrick fared no better than 31st in three starts on the Nationwide Series in February. She said a top-15 or top-20 finish would be a success.
“There’s a lot for me to learn,” she said.
Anderson earns bonus
NORWALK, Ohio — Greg Anderson won $50,000 by winning in the K&N Horsepower Challenge, a special bonus event for pro stock competitors at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
All of Friday’s qualifying leaders remained atop their respective categories as Larry Dixon (top fuel), Ashley Force Hood (funny car), Jeg Coughlin (pro stock) and Steve Johnson (pro stock motorcycle) will lead their divisions into today’s eliminations.
Red Bull rules
VALENCIA, Spain — Sebastian Vettel earned Red Bull’s eighth pole in nine Formula One races this season, posting the fastest time in qualifying for the European Grand Prix.
The Associated Press
Today’s races
NASCAR SPRINT CUP Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Site: Loudon, N.H.
TV: 11 a.m., TNT
Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway (oval, 1.058 miles)
Race distance: 318.46 miles, 301 laps
Points standings
1. Kevin Harvick 2,334
2. Jimmie Johnson 2,194
3. Kyle Busch 2,193
4. Denny Hamlin 2,183
5. Jeff Gordon 2,142
6. Kurt Busch 2,118
7. Matt Kenseth 2,092
8. Jeff Burton 2,027
9. Greg Biffle 2,011
10. Tony Stewart 1,983
11. Mark Martin 1,947
12. Carl Edwards 1,932
FORMULA ONE European Grand Prix
Site: Valencia, Spain
TV: 10 a.m., KDVR-31, taped
Track: Valencia Street Circuit (3.367 miles)
Race distance: 191.93 miles, 57 laps
NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals
Site: Norwalk, Ohio
TV: 5 p.m., ESPN2, taped
Track: Summit Motorsports Park
