Third-place Kurt Busch in no position to complain about rain at New Hampshire
Penske Racing driver Kurt Busch finished third in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. // LaDon George, NASCAR Scene
LOUDON, N.H. – Penske Racing's Kurt Busch couldn't say too much about Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway being shortened because of rain. After all, that's how he won this race a year ago.
And he still would have needed to deal with Hendrick Motorsports' Jeff Gordon, who finished as the race's runnerup, if he was to net another victory at New Hampshire.
"It's tough for me to really feel awful about a third-place finish, because of the way we won here last year, under the same circumstances," Busch said. "Yes, we had a fast car today. That's the big picture for us. We look strong heading into this race in September. That's the best that we can take out of it.
"Yeah, 10 points, he didn't get them, I didn't get them, so I call them a wash, and we'll come back here and race in September."
But Busch did feel a little sentimental that the 19-year-old displaced his younger brother, Kyle Busch, as the youngest winner at New Hampshire.
"It's just one of those things," Busch said. "You win some, you lose some … congratulations to him. He's the youngest winner, but it takes away from Kyle, my little brother who [was] the youngest winner in NASCAR history. A little sentimental history, but hey, when you win, it's a win.
"And I've been on the other side of the fence, so I can't complain."
Still, Busch admitted he was a little surprised to find Logano in the lead at that point in the race. Stewart-Haas Racing's Ryan Newman had the lead with the rain closing in but ran out of gas and was forced to the pits. That put Logano in front on lap 263 and with rain almost at the track. Shortly after, the final caution period began as the rain poured and then Logano won when the race was ruled complete with 273 laps completed.
"I had no idea the 20 car [of Logano] was the leader," Busch said. "I found out they were throwing a yellow and the 20 was leading at the same time, so kind of a bummer."
In fact, Busch had been focused on tracking down Gordon.
"When I drove into [Turn] 3, catching him big time, the crew chief radioed in and said, '20 is the leader,'" Busch said. "It almost startled me. I forgot where the brake pedal was or the steering wheel because it was like, 'Wait a minute, I thought I was racing the 24 [of Gordon].' It came out simultaneously for me. I think we were behind on communication."
