- Kyle Busch captured the checkered flag in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Texas Motor Speedway.
- Busch led the field six times for a race-high 116 laps (of 200).
- The win by Busch was the 100th Nationwide Series victory for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR).
- Busch has 70 NNS victories in 294 series starts.
- This year, Busch has seven wins driving the No. 54 Monster Energy Camry in the NNS. In addition to his win at Texas, Busch picked up wins earlier this season at Phoenix (March 1), Bristol (March 15), Dover (May 31), Richmond (Sept. 5), Dover (Sept. 27) and Kansas (Oct. 4).
- At Texas Motor Speedway, Busch has seven NNS wins and 15 top-10 results in 18 races at Texas.
Matt Kenseth (fifth) and Clint Bowyer (ninth, substituting for Elliott Sadler) also registered top-10 finishes in the race at the 1.5-mile Texas oval.
KYLE BUSCH, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
How special is it to get to victory lane today?
“Obviously, it’s a special moment for all the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and everybody in the body shop, chassis shop, engine shop — you know they’ve worked hard for a long time to get this many wins and they’ve done a great job. I’m just proud to be a part of the effort — a small part of the effort. It’s certainly a blast to drive these cars. I can’t say enough about Monster Energy and Adam Stevens (crew chief), Jason Ratcliff (JGR crew chief), Dave Rogers (JGR crew chief) — all the crew chiefs that I’ve been able to win with in the Nationwide Series at Joe Gibbs Racing. The different cars we won in — it just kind of goes to show that everything is always changing. It’s good to be back on top here in Texas and getting another win here. Everyone from Adam Stevens (crew chief) to the pit crew did a great job today. Fast stops. It’s really cool to be back in victory lane.”
How was battling with Joey Logano throughout the race?
“It was interesting there for a little bit. I wasn’t sure we were going to have the car to race with to win today. Early on, I wouldn’t say we did, but then Adam Stevens (crew chief) made some great adjustments to the car — got us out front. When we were out front, it was fun. Playing with Joey (Logano) there for a little bit today — racing hard, I mean we weren’t playing with him — he had a fast car too. Having fun racing with him. Just putting on a good show hopefully for the fans — they should enjoy that one. We were back and forth quite a few times and he was bottom — I was top. If I was bottom he was top. We were all over. So, it was fun. Can’t say enough about this Monster Energy Camry. This Toyota Camry was great today.”
What does it mean to get the 100th Nationwide Series win for JGR?
“That certainly means a lot to everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing. I’m just a small part of it — being able to drive these cars. The guys that do all the work — like Adam Stevens (crew chief), Jason Ratcliff (crew chief), Dave Rogers (crew chief), all the crew chiefs I’ve won with in the Nationwide Series at Joe Gibbs Racing. The changes we’ve gone through with the cars and the different things — the old car to this car. Trying to keep up with the times and having different competitors being our main nemesis you’d say. Just trying to go there and beat those guys. Certainly we did it here today, to get 70 (wins) for myself — that’s pretty cool. We ain’t done yet. We’ll keep going.”
Can you win your third race this weekend tomorrow?
“I better get some rest tonight cause I got to drive my butt off tomorrow for 500 miles. It ain’t going to be easy. It never is in a Cup race. I don’t know how many times I’ve won two of the three (races), but certainly we’d love to give it a shot. We’ll see how it goes. Cup car was better today. Like I said today, we got some work cut out for us. I didn’t think we were the best car today, but had some real good adjustments on pit road today by my crew chief. So, hopefully some of that stuff will carry over for tomorrow.”
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 GameStop Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 5th
ELLIOTT SADLER, No. 11 OneMain Financial Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 9th
CLINT BOWYER (substitute driver for Sadler)
What was it like for you to get in the car and finish the race?
“Well you never want to get in, especially since Elliott (Sadler) has done a lot for me in my career and been a good friend over the years. I hate to see him sick like that. He was looking pretty rough. The OneMain Toyota was really good. I had a lot of fun out there. We just got way, way too loose there those last two runs and unfortunately that’s when the pavement was open. All in all it was fun.”
Did you have any plans today that you had to forgo to run the race?
“Yeah, I was going to go buy a pair of cowboy boots down at the Stockyards. I didn’t win a cowboy hat — so I’m just kind of out of luck.”
MIKE BLISS, No. 19 Tweaker Energy Shot Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 18th
JOHN WES TOWNLEY, No. 25 Zaxby’s Toyota Camry, Athenian Motorsports
Finishing Position: 23rd
JAMES BUESCHER, No. 99 Rheem Toyota Camry, RAB Racing
Finishing Position: 24th
DAVID STARR, No. 44 Whataburger Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 25th
ERIC McCLURE, No. 14 Hefty Ultimate/Reynolds Wrap Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 26th
TANNER BERRYHILL, No. 17 New Gulf Resources Toyota Camry
Finishing Position: 27th
BLAKE KOCH, No. 10 SupportMillitary.org Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 39th
