KBM Sweeps Top Two Spots as Busch Wins Fifth Race of 2014

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In another dominating performance in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Kyle Busch emerged victorious after a battle with the rough and tough Kentucky Speedway. He led most of the event and only surrendered the lead a few times to Brad Keselowski and Darrell Wallace Jr.

“Tonight was great,” Busch said. “It’s a great opportunity to drive good equipment and good stuff, and I’m really proud that my name is on the door. I’m most proud of Eric Phillips (crew chief) and all the guys, everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports for all their hard work and dedication and everything they’ve done to build really good trucks, they’ve done a great job for me. Seeing Darrell (Wallace Jr.) come home second tonight was pretty great, especially him getting back in traffic, like we both were, and being able to methodically work his way back up to second.”

Wallace Jr. proved to be just as competitive as his boss throughout the race as he started on the front row with him and remained in the top-five for much of the night. He even stole the lead on Lap 2 and held it until the No.51 truck stormed back to the front on Lap 36.

“He (Kyle Busch) knew what he was doing,” Wallace said after the race. “He’s hard to beat and he’s so good, but I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else; Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) is so strong. The engines were it on the restart, the engines have been stout all year so a shout out to everyone at the engine shop back at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing). It’s been a lot of fun getting back into a rhythm coming off of Texas and St. Louis and then to finish here second. I try to make the most of it and it was a cool site with KBM one-two, Toyota one-two and 10th win in a row for Toyota. Huge shout out to Toyota Care and this Made in America Toyota Tundra was fast tonight.”

Following the fourth caution of the night on Lap 76 for a John Wes Townley incident, strategy shook up the field. Some drivers opted to stay on track while some hit pit road for either two or four tires. Keselowski did not put fresh tires on and he led on the ensuing restart. However, Busch would get back by with 55 laps remaining.

Keselowski seemed to be in prime position to score his first career Truck Series victory late in the race but a costly pit road penalty for removing equipment from the pit box deterred that plan. He restarted at the back of the field and recovered to finish fifth.

Despite a late restart with eight laps to go and a charge from Wallace Jr., Busch maintained the lead and pulled away by the time the checkered flag flew. However, Busch’s truck failed post-race inspection for being too low in the front and NASCAR will address this issue next week.

Ryan Blaney finished the race in third followed by Timothy Peters in fourth place and Brad Keselowski in fifth.

Johnny Sauter took home a ninth place finish and retains the points lead. Matt Crafton finished in sixth and is eight points behind in second place. Timothy Peters (-11), Ryan Blaney (-12) and Ron Hornaday Jr. (-13) round out the top five in the series points standings.

This is the No. 51 team’s fifth victory of the season. As an organization, Kyle Busch Motorsports has won nine of the last twelve Truck Series events. They will aim to add another victory to their streak in two weeks at Iowa Speedway when the trucks are back in action.