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Busch Dominant In California Truck Race
posted 02/21/09 10:43 pm
ABC 7 News - Busch Dominant In California Truck Race
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(Sports Network) - Kyle Busch began the first of his three-race weekend at Auto Club Speedway with a convincing victory in the San Bernardino County 200 Camping World Truck Series race. The No.51 Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota driver led 95 of 100 laps Saturday to win the 200-mile race at California for the second year in a row.

Busch, who started on the pole, only relinquished the lead twice when he pitted.

Brian Scott spun and smacked the wall after making contact with Mike Skinner on lap 25. During the caution, Busch was quickest off of pit road in both rounds of stops, one for fuel and the other for tires.

Chad McCumbee, however, stopped for fuel only and then captured the lead just before the race resumed on lap 31. McCumbee ran in front for three laps, but Busch passed him to reassume command.

With teams having to pit for fuel in the closing stages, Busch made his final stop with nine laps to go. Colin Braun, who remained on the track in an attempt to go the distance, inherited the top spot. But Busch moved back to the lead two laps later when he made the move around Braun. Busch held it for his 10th career victory in the series.

"This thing was just flawless," Busch said. "This win is extra special. This is Doug George's first win as a crew chief. (The team) worked awfully hard all winter on this thing. The guys just did flawless. They work so well and made this truck drive so good."

Busch had very little time to celebrate his victory, as he quickly moved on to final Sprint Cup Series practice and then the Nationwide Series race, which he will start from the outside pole.

After taking the pole for the truck race at California on Friday, Busch became the first driver to win a pole and race in NASCAR (web | news) 's top three divisions at the same track. Now he's looking to become the first competitor to win all three of NASCAR's events on the same weekend.

"I don't know," he said. "I think (Jimmie) Johnson and Carl (Edwards) are going to be tough come Sunday, but we've got another fast hot-rod for tonight."

Busch will start 10th in Sunday's Auto Club 500.

Meanwhile, Braun was running second with four laps to go, but ran out of fuel as he coasted into the pits. That allowed Todd Bodine, winner of last week's race at Daytona, to move into the runner-up position. Bodine crossed the line 9.023 seconds behind Busch.

"It's a little disappointing to have a Toyota Tundra that good finish second," said Bodine, whose team continues to run without sponsorship. "It tells you how good Kyle was. Once the tires got heated up, it got a little slick and we were just a little tight through the center of the corner. I couldn't quite hold it wide open, and Kyle started getting ahead."

Busch and Bodine also finished one-two in last year's truck race at California. Busch currently holds a five-point lead over Bodine in the championship standings.

McCumbee finished third, followed by David Starr and T.J. Bell.

Ron Hornaday, Matt Crafton, Ricky Carmichael, Timothy Peters and Max Papis completed the top-10.

Braun ended up finishing one lap behind in 20th.

The next race is scheduled for Saturday, March 7 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.



















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