But thanks to an engine problem early in the race weekend, it wasn't quite that easy for Busch to score his first win of 2009.
Regardless, the Las Vegas native also earned his first trip to victory lane on the 1.5-miler that sits just outside the catchfence of a half-mile short track that both Kyle and his older brother Kurt cut their teeth on while growing up.
"I tell you what, this is pretty cool," Busch said. "I didn't know exactly what it would mean, but coming to the checkered flag, there were knots in my stomach. It's bigger than winning the Daytona 500. I said it wasn't going to be, but it is."
OK, OK, perhaps Kyle got caught up in the moment of winning, but his drive to the front certainly wasn't easy.
Busch was relegated to the 39th-place start after being one of five drivers to suffer an engine problem related to a bad batch of lubricated parts on Toyota teams. Throughout the day, the No. 18 team used pit strategy to get the Toyota towards the front, and Busch finally took the lead on lap 229 after passing Jeff Burton.
On a late restart with three laps to go, Busch scooted away from the field to take an easy victory.
The race win meant so much to Busch and his family, that his brother Kurt -- they haven't exactly seen eye-to-eye at several points over the years -- gave his brother a big hug in victory lane.
The Richard Childress Racing duo of Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton also had reason to celebrate after making dramatic gains from their runs a week at California's Auto Club Speedway. Respectively, they finished second and third.
Michael Waltrip Racing's David Reutimann scored his career-best finish in fourth, while Bobby Labonte earned an impressive fifth-place finish in just his third outing with his new Hall of Fame racing team.
Jeff Gordon looked to be equally as strong as he was a week ago at Auto Club Speedway -- he finished second there -- before locking up the left front tire while trying to and then missing pit lane under green flag conditions. The flat-spotted tire exploded in turn 2, bringing out a caution as debris from his left-front fender scattered on the track.
The team put a large piece over the gaping hole to bring back some downforce to the nose of the car and with the help of a fuel-only last pit stop, Gordon managed a sixth-place finish.
Greg Biffle, Brian Vickers, Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top 10.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-01-2009 @ 9:39PM
kenneth said...
I saw my first NASCAR race more than 50 years ago, and have been a fan ever since. But, over the past 10 to 15 years or so, my interest has waned somewhat, and now I find myself napping during much of the races. It just does not seem to be as exciting as when Petty, Pearson, Yarborough, Allison, et al were the top dogs. Of course, I am no longer a youngster myself.
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 5:22AM
itsalnurhead7 said...
WAY TO GO KYLE,YOU ROCK! THAT WAS SOME MIGHTY FINE DRIVING! AGAIN KUDO'S TO YA.......
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 8:24AM
obamaizadope said...
hey mark martin, how'd leaving Roush work out for ya?
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 9:00AM
GrumpyOldMan said...
The winds of change are blowing through NASCAR. Kyle Busch, Reutiman, and Vickers are rising, while losers like Fat Tony are falling.
And I agree with obamaizadope...that 5 car will always be last in line at Hendricks, so enjoy riding around in the back all year Marky.
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 11:08AM
whiteley9468 said...
Nice save Jamie! Congrats Kyle. That kid gets in the lead the rest of the guys dont have a chance.
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 11:35AM
obamaizadope said...
hey fox, ditch that moronic digger thing. some of us are embarrassed enough to enjoy nascar racing, stop insulting our intelligence further..
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 1:38PM
Frank said...
AMEN to this. And GET RID of Rusty Wallace with his 'CAT & HOT ROD" man like that went out in the '70s dude
3-02-2009 @ 12:22PM
nomoretoyota said...
Just when the US auto companies are in the worst shape, you have this dork and junk Toyota slapping the United States in the face. Joe Gibbs was once a stand up guy but is now a whore for Toyota. Toyota will not be happy until GM, Ford and Chrysler are 6 feet under. NASCAR is also anti-American for letting them into the field.
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 2:25PM
Bernie said...
Hey Nomoretoyota,
you sound alot like a toyota basher from last year I remember but I think his name was ART so, it can't be you right? Anyway, The dork your talking about could win in a Studabaker or in your grand dadies first car!!! He's just plain loco good and he's not going anywhere but past your driver every week nomo! GOOD NIGHT GRACIE!!!Gotta love it...KYLE BUSCH ROCKS NASCAR!
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 3:51PM
illsell4u said...
Oh yes, too bad that sucky driver driving that sucky Toyota managed to drive past every other driver in the field. They were all driving the best cars America could put out on the track in a form of racing America invented.
Too bad those sucky rice burners manage to keep going for about 300,000 miles when the best America can turn out die around 150,000-200,000.
Frankly, I don't like the guy either but he is quite impressive. Maybe now that he is a year older and suffered some defeat in the chase last year he will have learned how to be more gracious in victory. Since we will probabloy see him in the winners circle alot again this year, I hope so.
For now though, it is good to see Jeff once again in the points lead. Hopefully he will put up some wins this year to go with the points. He will need the boost in the chase.
MBL
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 8:24PM
hafttwo said...
my chevy express has 200000 plus miles with the original motor tranny and rear diff never rebuilt.runs great so where do you come up with this b.s. and that shitty toiletta is still a foreign import
3-02-2009 @ 5:38PM
Bernie said...
Mike,
I think your right by saying Kyle Busch has taken something away from last years late season problems he had happen. He's starting to see that he can't win a season in a single race, that I believe makes him a much bigger threat to win. Kudos to Jeff for a very good start to this season as well.
Reply
3-02-2009 @ 8:18PM
hafttwo said...
kyle is a good driver too bad hes in that jap crap.
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 8:16AM
illsell4u said...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11621992/
Jap Crap? Makes you wonder what the Japanese call the American made cars.
Your Chevy with 200,000 miles on the original drive train is the exception, not the rule. Ask any transmission shop owner or used car dealer. I have always bought American made and always had the transmissions go out around 100K.
Oops, I didn't see your sign there fella. Try looking at people when you talk to them so they can see it next time. It saves a lot of time for the rest of us having to explain things.
Bill Engval
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 9:10AM
Kim said...
New year, same old gripes about Toyota. Unbelievable how uninformed some Americans are. Once again.....how many "American cars" are built in the US? Here in OH, Honda keeps plenty of Americans employed buidling 100% American made with American parts, Honda Motorcycles. There is also a Toyota Plant in Kentucky that employs many hardworking Kentuckians and Ohioans. But let's continue to degrade them and bash them so they might leave our country and say "screw you" instead of staying loyal to their employees. Yea, that will sure help Americans out. NOT!
I have said this many times....I am surrounded by ignorance everyday, but sometimes the ignorance I encounter on these boards just blows my mind!
On to the article at hand....Congratulations to Kyle Busch! He earned his win! He drove his butt off. He made the pole, had to start clear in the back due to an engine switch, and drove the hard way, all the way through the traffic and back up to the front of the pack to win the race. Now, like him or not, that's talent. Give credit where credit is due.
Kim
P.S. On a side note.....never owned a foreign made car in my life. I have always owned Chevy's, Fords, and Chryslers. After years of replacing transmissions at 80-100 thousand miles and numerous other problems....I am currently trying to purchase my first foreign manufactured Minivan. If American car companies want people to buy their products, then make a product that is on target with the Japanese ones.
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 11:29AM
kimberliedavisk said...
If your family is like ours and needs extra money due to job loss or other hard times look at this internet opportunity. I am still looking for full time work but by visiting this website I am able to make extra money for groceries or costco :-) I'm not getting "rich quick" (like many claim) but it helps bring in more money for the family while I am out of work. I can do it from home while watching my kids. Try it, it will be worth Your time.
http://www.makemoneybytakingsurveys.com
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 1:15PM
LUCKY said...
YEA,WHAT'S UP WITH THAT.THEY COULD BUILD THEM BETTER IF THEY WANT!
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 4:44PM
hafttwo said...
kim
where in the hell do you get your info from my 99 chevy express isnt the first vehicle that i have owned with the same results. i am just wondering if you have ever heard of regular maintence its amasing to me that people never read there owners manual.and i will take my chevy over a toiletta any day. btw what country are you writing from? i am from michigan U.S.A.
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 7:47PM
Kim said...
hafttwo:
As I already stated in my opinion, I am from Ohio. And yes, I have heard of routine car care maintenance and yes, I do provide my cars with routine services needed. When I buy a car, I buy it to run it until it won't run any longer.
I have had two vehicles, one a Chevy and one a Dodge that required transmission and engine repairs after virtually small mileage in my opinion. 80-100 thousand miles, cars should still be running strong if you follow regular service maintenance schedules of which I do. Contrary to what many believe, major engine repairs and transmission repairs are not "typical" maintenance issues.
While we're on the subject, you and others bash foreign made automakers and praise the Big 3 and refer to any of us that disagree that Toyota isn't the "big bad," as moronic or ill-informed when in fact it is you who is ill-informed. As with many US products, they (American cars) are actually constructed in other countries and or their parts are sent from other countries. Here in OH, the Honda plant near my home employs Americans to build their motorcycles and holds contracts with numerous other Ohio plants that provide them with quality made in the USA parts. Perhaps you are in fact the one that needs to become "informed." Your writing style and grammar speak for itself as to your intelligence level.
Kim
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 8:56PM
Bob said...
I'm from Ohio as well, and I can back up everything Kim has said and more--my brother is one of those AMERICANS earning an excellent living working in a Honda plant. They build the engines in one plant, from foundry to finish, they build numerous cars and motorcycles in two other huge plants, and they receive many of their parts from local manufacturers with exclusive contracts. That Japanese company puts food on the table for tens of thousands of AMERICANS--they're bringing their money here, while our so-called American companies keep sending their money away, so Canadians and Mexicans can have good jobs. The only reason to bash these companies (Toyota, Honda, etc.) is blatant prejudice, because no other argument stands up! Get over it, people--Toyota has every right to be in an American racing series.
Reply