As the field came to the checkered flag for the Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway, Kyle Busch was behind Timothy Peters and looked as if he’d come up short on the win once again. However, as he called it, he “kind of of threw a Hail Mary out there” and pulled to the outside of Peters.
Peters started to go up as well, to try and block the run that Busch had – though it wasn’t enough as the move worked as Busch was able to beat Peters by a nose at the line and score the victory.
“I don’t know if he knew or if he could feel me already out there and that’s why he pulled back down or what,” Busch commented, “But luckily he did ’cause we were pretty close to the point of where I could hook him, pull a Tony Stewart/Kyle Busch move coming to the checkered. I think that was what, ’10 or something. I don’t remember.
“Anyways, you know, you didn’t want to have to do those stupid things. I’m just glad it worked out the way it did.”
Busch added that he thought Peters would’ve drifted up quicker, and if that was the case, Busch was going to try and do the crossover for the win.
“By then I think the 98 would have been close enough to give me a help,” Busch commented. “His air would have pushed me forward sort of like an accordion deal and I might have been able to get by him on the inside. I had a couple ideas lined up, but I didn’t have to go through all of them.”
Coming into Budweiser Speedweeks, the truck race was on Busch’s bucket list of races that he really badly wanted to win. After all, Busch had finished second on the famed 2.5 mile in the truck race three times previously.
“Certainly we’ll cherish this one,” he commented. “It’s a big win for KBM, not necessarily just myself. But certainly great for Toyota, as well, too. Having Toyota Care on the truck with us, being in Victory Lane is pretty special.”
No matter the win at Daytona, it’s always a special one for the driver due to the history and prestige of the event. For Busch, his first Daytona win came in the ARCA Racing Series in 2004.
I pulled into the old Victory Lane. It was a little quaint, but comfortable. Just didn’t matter what size it was, as long as your car and yourself and everybody on your team fit in there.
“Gary DeHart was my crew chief that day,” Busch recalled. “It was the ’87 Ditech car I was running for Hendrick. We won that race. Just an amazing feeling of being 18 years old, pulling into Victory Lane here in Daytona was pretty awesome.”
Though as Busch continues to rack up wins, espically in the Nationwide and Truck Series, some fans continue to express displeasure.
“People don’t like it. I’m stealing candy from a baby,” Busch commented in response to the criticism. “Till the rules are changed or everybody else grows up and can beat me, then we’re racing, so I don’t care. I just do what I’m supposed to do. I have a Truck team for a reason. If I didn’t drive it in some races, it wouldn’t be in existence. I appreciate the support of Toyota, JGR Engines, Monster Energy.
“Eric Phillips wouldn’t be employed at KBM. He may be somewhere else, but I love having these guys that I have, doing the best we can with them. I’m going to enjoy watching Erik Jones race the truck as well when I’m not in it. Everything in life happens for a reason. Sometimes people aren’t happy with the way life treats them. That’s their problem. I’m pretty blessed and happy to be where I’m at. I appreciate the things I’ve got going for me.”
Kyle is one helluva race car driver. No doubt.