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Rank Name Points
1. Jimmie Johnson 5718
2. Carl Edwards 5646
3. Greg Biffle 5641
4. Jeff Burton 5619
5. Clint Bowyer 5566
6. Kevin Harvick 5547
Rank Name Points
7. Tony Stewart 5515
8. Jeff Gordon 5486
9. Matt Kenseth 5473
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5469
11. Kyle Busch 5387
12. Denny Hamlin 5383
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Hold your horses: Busch proves Toyota still has Nationwide strength

By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Article Rating: 1.8
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Jason Smith / Getty Images for NASCAR

Kyle Busch celebrates winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kroger 200 on Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

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INDIANAPOLIS – After a NASCAR ruling that reduced Toyota’s horsepower in the Nationwide Series, all Kyle Busch did was lead 197 of 200 laps in dominating Saturday night’s Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
 
Busch posted Toyota’s 15th victory of 2008, with 14 by his Joe Gibbs Racing organization and five by the No. 18 team for which he drove Saturday.
 
Busch started second to rookie polesitter Colin Braun, but Braun elected to start from the outside lane. Busch jumped the lead in Turn 1 and was never challenged.
 
Busch’s win came four days after NASCAR made a rule change designed to limit Toyota’s horsepower. NASCAR mandated that the openings in the tapered spacer on the engine be reduced for Toyotas.
 
But Busch proved Saturday he could overcome the deficit.

"I feel like those 15 horsepower cost me the pole," Busch said. "I really want to thank all my competitors out there for the complaining they did because they gave me some traction control. That was nice.

"Tonight we had better traction control all night long. I felt like that was a good key for us by being able to get off the corners a little bit better. "
 
Braun chased Busch all night and finished second for Roush Fenway Racing in his best career finish. Mike Bliss (Phoenix Racing) spun on the 22nd lap, but rallied to finish third.
 
Scott Wimmer (Richard Childress Racing) finished fourth, with Josh Wise (Fitz Motorsports) posting his best career finish in fifth. Cale Gale (Kevin Harvick Inc.) also had his best career finish of sixth, with Landon Cassill (JR Motorsports) seventh, Joey Logano (JGR) eighth, David Ragan (Roush Fenway) ninth and Steve Wallace (Rusty Wallace Racing) 10th.
 
Carl Edwards bounced off the wall early in the race and lost at least three laps as his team made repairs, but made up two on the race track and another by getting the free pass. Restarting 24th with 27 laps to go, Edwards rallied to finish 11th.
 
Points leader Clint Bowyer finished 18th, gaining three points on Brad Keselowski, who finished 19th. Bowyer now leads by 173 points with 13 races remaining in the season.

The victory broke JGR's tie with Richard Childress Racing for most wins in the series by one organization. RCR won 13 races in 2007.

"It's just been a tremendous year for us," Busch said. " ...  Everybody in the Nationwide shop and the Cup shop as a whole and Toyota has really stepped it up this year. We've really come ready to play."

Average Rating: 1.8

Comments

10 responses to "Hold your horses: Busch proves Toyota still has Nationwide strength "
  1. 1
    Chrissie Bennett said:
    Jul 26, 2008 at 8:19 PM

    That didn't prove anything because everyone, including the toyota drivers, said that they wouldn't be able to tell the difference on the short track. I know people like worm are probably going to rip into me for saying that but the announcers AND the toyota drivers all said that on the short track they wouldn't really notice a difference.

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  2. 2
    Coco Suma said:
    Jul 26, 2008 at 9:53 PM

    No offense to Kyle Busch or his fans great job kid! But to this pathetic author of this story really did you watch the race? Carl Edwards smacked the wall because oil was leaking from his car. He was 3 laps down and passed Kyle Busch not once but twice to regain two of his laps the last with the Lucky Dog provisional. Really this so called media is so eager to point out the obvious they miss the details and the facts. So called internet journalism you need some serious work! I'm really the AP reporter said Edwards was done 4 laps, really does any of this people pay attention! Or do egos dedicated this stories?????

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  3. 3
    anonymous said:
    Jul 27, 2008 at 6:26 AM

    The issue with KB is not about how talented he is. The issue most people have with him is his arrogance. He doesn't know when to shut his mouth and stop the bashing about his competition. Accept the win with grace and appreciation that you are where you are. Stop the bowing, it's very feminine. Take a cue from past winners and champions. Have a little grace and class. The arrogance will now help you gain many fans, unless they are as arrogant as you.

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  4. 4
    Pearl Roll said:
    Jul 27, 2008 at 9:54 PM

    KB is GOOD, he knows it and you can't stand it. So "IN YOUR FACE" Way to be Kyle!!!!

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  5. 5
    Chrissie Bennett said:
    Jul 28, 2008 at 12:38 AM

    IN YOUR FACE??? Wow you must be a child because no REAL adult that I know says that. And I don't believe anyone said anything against Kyle the child Busch I think we were saying that we will wait till they are on a little longer track in the Nation Wide Series to see if there really is a difference. You need to grow up Pearl Roll.

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  6. 6
    Peter Karlovics said:
    Jul 28, 2008 at 3:43 PM

    Most people don't have a problem with Kyle Busch, or the amount of talent he displays. It is the Toyota he drives, the manufacturer of which is trying to buy up with sport. Gibbs... you made a huge mistake selling out.

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  7. 7
    robert mcleester said:
    Jul 28, 2008 at 5:42 PM

    Kyle Busch has a lot of talent behind the wheel and has won a good amount of races,it's when he gets out of the car and opens his mouth he becomes a loser.he's arrogant and disrespectful and i have heard it said he's like Dale Earnhardt? only in his wildest dreams!

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  8. 8
    FRANK LAVACCA said:
    Jul 29, 2008 at 1:56 AM

    once a punk always a punk!!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. 9
    Robert Wingert said:
    Jul 31, 2008 at 6:58 PM

    KB has no class and never will. In all the years of watching Nascar I never seen a winner act the way KB acts. He is not impressing anyone but himself.

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  10. 10
    Peter Karlovics said:
    Aug 1, 2008 at 10:17 AM

    I really dislike having Toyota involved in this sport, and I do hold it against any driver who has sold out to drive one. But, Kyle Busch simply has talent, and has come a long way on working on his attitude. People can change, I think people should give him a chance to change... now.. if I could only get him out of that Toyota.....

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