Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch clinches 2009 Nationwide Series title

By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship and won the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch (right) and crew chief Jason Ratcliff celebrate their NASCAR Nationwide Series championship and Ford 300 victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

Photo gallery: Nationwide racing at Homestead

 HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch had a season for the ages in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, clinching the 2009 championship by taking the green flag for the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Then Busch went out and took the checkered flag, too.
 
“For us to come out here and win the final race of the season and really put the icing on the cake for our year and our championship really means a lot,” Busch said. “It hasn't been done in a long time, so you know how hard it is to do, that somebody comes out here and wins the final race of the year. But that's what we set out to do.”
 
Not since Sam Ard in 1983 had a driver won the championship and the final race of the season.
 
“Back in February if you would have asked me what's the one thing you could dream for all year, it would be go to Homestead, win the race and win the championship,” crew chief Jason Ratcliff said. “I can't think of anything all season that meant as much as what happened tonight.”
 
The victory was Busch’s ninth of the season, one less than his total from last year when he tied Sam Ard for the most wins in a season.
 
But Busch set or matched other records. His 5,682 points broke Kevin Harvick’s single-season mark of 5,648 from 2006. Busch also led 2,698 laps and finished second 11 times, both series records.
 
Busch finished first or second an astounding 20 times in the 35 races this year. And his 25 top-five finishes tied Jeff Green’s 2000 record.
 
Busch ended up beating Carl Edwards by 210 points, with Brad Keselowski third, 318 points out of the lead.
 
“It wasn't a cakewalk this year,” Busch said. “It was a tough year. Carl and Brad both kept it very close. We didn't have the deal sewed up until we came down here and started the race. It shows the competition and the stress of the series that it puts on you and on the teams and everybody involved.
 
“Really it's a great accomplishment to be able to set out and get the series most points in a season. I mean, that just shows you the consistency we had, the amount of wins we had, the bonus points that we had being able to lead the most races, the most laps in some of those races.
 
“When all things fall into place and work together, it just seems like sometimes nothing can go wrong, and yet, those disappointing finishes of second place and third place, those are the days where you have to cherish and look at and say, ‘This is what's going to win us this championship,’ instead of trying too hard and wrecking out or taking a second-place finish to a 17th.”

Comments

24 responses to "Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch clinches 2009 Nationwide Series title". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    karnevil9 said:
    Nov 21, 2009 at 5:07 PM

    Kyle Busch. The Future of Nascar. Love em or hate em. You got to respect his talent.

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  2. 2
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 21, 2009 at 8:22 PM

    Alex Rodriguez hits 200 home runs for the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the International League. Rodriguez only comment was it's great playing in the minor leagues.

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  3. 3
    ksmith999 said:
    Nov 21, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    SS396CHEVELLE - You are SO WITTY. I think you might be wasting your talents and knowledge.

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  4. 4
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 21, 2009 at 8:43 PM

    #3 I will take that as a compliment.

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  5. 5
    JGRFan4Life said:
    Nov 21, 2009 at 10:05 PM

    Chevelle and his constant hate for everyone that drives a Toyota is getting old.

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  6. 6
    vermontcritter-1 said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 8:50 AM

    Kyle may act like a brat sometimes, but you can't ignore his talent. 21 wins in all three series this year is quite a feat, I'm not even sure the 3 time Cup champ could pull off that many wins with or without Chad. Love him or hate him you have to admit that he's awesome behind the wheel.

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  7. 7
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 10:05 AM

    #5 I'm sure you were a big Chevy fan when JRG won two Championships. Never mentioned Toyota in my post now did I? BTW #5 I like Joey Logano. Try a new approach.

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  8. 8
    cmcgowan said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 3:26 PM

    It is so "nice" to see a cup driver win a Naionwide championship again. Maybe I would respect Kyle more if he had won the championship before he moved up into the cup series. He has more experience then the regular Nationwide drivers and I can see why it must be so "hard" to go out and race against 30+ rookies. I do agree Kyle has talent but go out and win a cup championship and I would respect you more. To me the Nationwide champion is Brad, he would have won the last two championships if not for the cup drivers stepping down into the lower class series. I loved it last week at Phoenix when Matt passes him and Kyle got on his radio and said why, why, why did he have to pass me, maybe because he drivers a race car too!! Kyle grow up, you had the championship won you did not have to walk away without being interviewed in Phoenix.

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  9. 9
    JGRFan4Life said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 7:31 PM

    Actually, Chevelle, I never was a Chevy fan. A Gibbs fan, yes, but I didn't like Chevys, and I never will. And unlike many of you so called "purists," I can support a new manufacture in NASCAR.

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  10. 10
    carldhskm3636 said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 8:28 PM

    SS396, Take a hike with your bankrupt Motors. Jerk!

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  11. 11
    ROWDY said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 8:43 PM

    Hey ss396chevette, 2700 LAPS LED, 9 WINS, 25 TOP 5s, 30 TOP 10s. CHOKE ON IT LOSER!

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  12. 12
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 8:51 PM

    #11 How did he do in the chase? LOL I admit he is the best minor league driver in Nascar.

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  13. 13
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 8:53 PM

    #9 you are making me laugh. JGR fan and hated Chevy. Who did you root for Stewart? Had to be and you know he hit the high road and went back to where he wanted to be.

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  14. 14
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 8:54 PM

    Hey #11 4 championships in a row. Plus a 1,2 ,3 Sweep in the chase. Enjoy that all year loser.

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  15. 15
    TeresaBeachler said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    Congratulations to Rowdy and the whole JGR organization! Hopefully this will be the first of many.
    Kudos to Denny Hamlin for taking care of Mr Keselowski also. With these two guys (Kyle and Denny)
    JGR is in very good hands going forward. SS396, The only loser is you.

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  16. 16
    TeresaBeachler said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 9:08 PM

    And SS396, Your driver isn't even the 48 unless your jumping on the winners bandwagon. Everyone is sick of reading your negative posts. Go some where, like to he!!.

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  17. 17
    stone069 said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 9:21 PM

    Well, I don't like Kryle but I will say congats and good job. I will also admit I was praying all day before the race that he would blow up on the warm up laps!!!!

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  18. 18
    KahneFan9 said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 9:53 PM

    For anyone that says he doesn't belong in NW or it is the minors. Get a life. I might not like him but he did beat out plenty of Cup drivers and he is the youngest kid to ever win the NW Championship. Congrats on a well earned win.

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  19. 19
    KarenPetersen said:
    Nov 22, 2009 at 10:39 PM

    Well earned title. Good luck in Cup next year.

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  20. 20
    Motorsportsphotography said:
    Nov 23, 2009 at 8:10 AM

    Kyle was the best of the field. Bottom line. His 9 wins and 11 Top 2's show that he has more talent than any other Cup and NW driver out there. Its too bad he is only going to race in 25 NW races next year. But who knows, He could just win all 25 of them.

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  21. 21
    Kingerla837j said:
    Nov 23, 2009 at 9:06 AM

    Congrats to the 18 team. Now go win a Cup next year.

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  22. 22
    NickDizzle7 said:
    Nov 23, 2009 at 12:51 PM

    #18 Brian Vickers is the youngest Nationwide champion ever. (20 yrs old.)

    Another record Kyle will never break.

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  23. 23
    sibbi173 said:
    Nov 23, 2009 at 3:07 PM

    Right on CMCGOWAN!!!! Also I really wish Nascar would keep the divisions SEPERATE....give the new drivers a chance in Nationwide. I feel that Cup drivers winning in Nationwide is totally unfair....

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  24. 24
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 30, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    #16 You are already there. 48 is half owned by the 24, so great job at Hendrick to finish for the first time 1,2,3. Lot better the 6, 13, and 20th.

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