Colin Braun wins first Truck series race at Michigan
Roush Fenway Racing's Colin Braun celebrates in victory lane after winning the Michigan 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.
// David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
BROOKLYN, Mich. – Roush Fenway Racing team owner Jack Roush expects to win when he races close to home at Michigan International Speedway.
And he always expects to win in the Camping World Truck Series.
But he might not have expected young Colin Braun would bring home the trophy for the Michigan 200 after passing Kyle Busch with 23 laps to go, giving Roush Fenway its 50th all-time victory in the series.
“It never gets old,” a beaming Roush said in victory lane. “It’s great to do it in our backyard. This is my turf.”
The 20-year-old Braun collected his first career victory in his 35th start, finally reaching victory lane after numerous close calls.
At Charlotte last month, for example, he seemed to have the truck to beat. But Busch accidentally spun him out late in the race.
This time – in the same truck that was wrecked at Charlotte – Braun never let Busch’s Billy Ballew Motorsports truck get that chance. Though Busch led a race-high 62 laps, he encountered the lapped truck of Norm Benning with 23 laps remaining and tried to pass him on the bottom lane.
But Benning drifted down the track, forcing Busch to drive further toward the apron than he wanted to and cost him the momentum. At the same time, Braun powered by on the outside lane and used his newfound clean air to pull away to a 1.8-second victory.
It was a much-needed with for Braun, who entered Michigan sitting 18th in points but moved up to 12th following his victory. He had recorded four DNFs in the eight races prior to Michigan.
“I appreciate you sticking with me!” Braun yelled to Roush on the team radio. “I love racing with you guys!"
Busch wasn’t as happy, admitting he “screwed up.”
“Just a mistake by the driver,” Busch said before jumping in a golf cart that took him to a helicopter to aid in his travels to Kentucky Speedway for a Nationwide Series race later Saturday night. “Lost the race for us, my fault. Team deserved [the win]. They did an awesome job preparing it. Fastest I’ve ever been here, most laps I’ve ever led here. It was fun while it lasted.”
Braun credited his team for repairing its damaged Charlotte truck and said it was “easy to drive.”
He added: “It was cool to beat Kyle. If I could pick anybody to finish second, it would be Kyle.”
Rookie Brian Ickler (Billy Ballew) finished third, followed by ThorSport Racing’s Matt Crafton, who extended his points lead to 39 over Kevin Harvick Inc.’s Ron Hornaday (seventh).
Mike Skinner (Randy Moss Motorsports) was fifth.
Hornaday had an eventful outing. He cut a tire early in the race and was lapped, then was collected in a wreck just a few laps later. But he got his lap back and rallied from 23rd place to stay in the points race.
Defending series champion Johnny Benson wasn’t as lucky. He was unable to secure a ride for the race after his Red Horse Racing team closed down last week. He may return to the track, but he lost nine points in the standings and is now 16th.
