NSCS: Kyle Busch Posts Runner-Up Finish at Talladega

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Skittles Marvel Toyota, for Joe Gibbs Racing finished second in the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The last few laps were intense as they always are at restrictor plate racing.

“It was some moves that you made that were just lucky and just trying to get through some of the holes that were there and that were forming and guys bumping and banging each other, pushing all around and everything and trying to get the most out of what we had with our Skittles Camry,” Busch said. “You know, second’s not bad. I think the quota of three cars on their lids today is a little high, but its racing.”

Over the course of the 500-mile race, three different cars would get off of their wheels with both Matt Kenseth and Chris Buescher flipping over.

“Yeah, it’s just Talladega,” Busch said. “Not real sure what all was going on. You’re just trying to make the best moves you can when you get pushed or when you have the momentum and you try to carry through with those moves and do the best you can to get a good spot and get a good finish, but I thought we had a chance. But when you’re the leader and you’re out front and there’s not a lot of formation behind, it’s hard to overtake the leader.

“It was just a wild last lap – just trying to make moves when you could make moves when you get pushed from behind and carry your momentum through and get all the spots you can get, so proud of the effort for our team. Wish we could have got one spot better.” 

Busch is relieved to be leaving Dega in one piece as he hasn’t been much of a fan of the style of racing, but really didn’t have much to offer in a change moving forward.

“Yep, what are you going to do? We’re just going to keep going. That’s it. It’s been that way for 30 years, so keep digging,” Busch said.

Drivers were racing aggressively to try and get a good position not because of the thread of rain.

“No, lap 188 was the end of the race, so everybody was aggressive just trying to get to the best spot that they could for the finish,” Busch said.