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