FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Notching a record number of national series wins at a single track, Kyle Busch made his 16th trip to Bristol’s victory lane following Saturday’s Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 presented by Lilly Diabetes.
“I definitely like coming to Bristol – I always have,” said Busch. “The first couple of times here was a rough go around for me. Then sort of got it figured out and was just able to start running up front, started leading laps, started winning races and that’s been the biggest thing. It’s always fun to win here in Bristol for us and for anybody. Glad it was us today.”
Reminiscent of last year’s finishing order, Busch edged out Kyle Larson by 1.441 seconds en route to his sixth Nationwide series win at Bristol.
“I just tried to run hard and I know he (Larson) was running the top – he loves the top,” said Busch in his post-race remarks. “I knew he was going to be up there. I tried to perfect that a little bit earlier in the race, but it seemed like anybody who was behind me on the restart would be able to jump the two guys that were on the bottom. “
Crossing the line after Larson and Busch were Cup Series regular Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney and Matt Kenseth. Ty Dillon was the highest-finishing rookie and series regular. .
Kenseth, running the Saturday and Sunday event at Bristol for the first time since 2009, also preferred the outside line in today’s 300-lap event.
“It was crazy,” said the three –time Bristol winner. “Every 25 laps it seemed like you would catch that same group racing. It was tough to get through there. They all gave you a lot of room, but the track changes a lot during the day and then I got Kyle (Busch) for the lead early in lapped traffic and he got me back like that. Once he got the lead, it was hard to beat him unless we could have got back to the outside lane somehow.”
The race featured seven lead changes among three different drivers with seven cautions flags for 47 laps.
Action continues Sunday at the Last Great Colosseum with the 22nd running of the Food City 500. Tickets are still available for the event and may be purchased by calling (855) 580-5525 or at www.bristoltix.com.
-BMS-
Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sonoma, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary. The Company also equally-owns Motorsports Authentics, a joint venture formed with International Speedway Corporation to produce, market and sell licensed motorsports merchandise. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.speedwaymotorsports.com.
