Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey/Getty Images
When Kyle Busch competes in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event, he is immediately considered the favorite to win. The Lucas Oil 225 at Chicagoland Speedway was no different. For sixth time in just eight starts this season, Busch found his way to victory lane. That’s a 75% winning percentage!
What makes tonight’s win even more impressive is the fact that, it was postponed from the night before due to rain and Busch competed in the Nationwide Series race just a few short hours before the green flag. Additionally, he did not practice his No. 51 Dollar General Toyota. Erik Jones handled those duties for him. A fact which was a double whammy for Busch. Not only did he not get track time in the truck, per NASCAR rules, he had to start at the rear of the field.
Also, during the event, he confused the dash lights used by drivers to determine pit road speed with his Nationwide car, and was caught speeding on pit road. That penalty sent him to the rear of the field once again. It wasn’t a problem for Busch. He quickly worked his way through the field and back to the front. Even with all the hurdles he had to cross, he still managed to lead 66 of 150 laps.
Busch was asked if it was fun coming from the rear of the field, he responded, “It was for us in this 51 Dollar General Tundra. This doesn’t make our loss earlier (in the NNS race) any sweeter, No, we could have had two (wins) and could have been going for three tomorrow. Come up short and we’ll just have to fight and maybe get two of the three. Imagine that, I think I’ve done that probably plenty of times, two of the three. Can’t say enough about all these guys at KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) — the pit crew was great tonight. Erik Jones, appreciate him being here and piloting this thing for me while I was gone (Thursday) and I didn’t screw it up, so that’s a start.”
To say that Busch has dominated the truck series is an understatement. In the process of scoring his six wins, Busch has led a phenomenal 661 of a possible 1201 laps, a total of 55%. Again, very impressive.
Tonight’s race that saw plenty of side by side, and many times three wide racing. A product of aged pavement at the 1.5 mile speedway located in Joliet, Il. Couple the improving track conditions with the current rules package in the series, and you have some great racing.
Matt Crafton trailed Busch to the finish line for yet another second place finish, something Crafton, the defending series champion, has become famous for over the years. Due to a pit road speeding mistake by Crafton’s teammate and series points leader, Johnny Sauter, that cost him two laps, Crafton captured the points lead. Sauter made up one of the laps and finished 14th, but Crafton now leads by five points over Sauter.
Austin Dillon led 28 laps, and tried to hold off Busch in the late stages, but eventually had to settle for third behind Crafton. Tyler Reddick and Jeb Burton rounded out the top five. With Burton, Thorsport Racing took three of the top five spots.
Busch’s teammate, Darrell Wallace Jr finished the night in sixth after losing a right front tire and fighting his way back for a top ten finish.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will now head to New Hampshire Speedway for the UNOH 175 on Saturday, September 20.
