Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Busch chasing history

Three victories on road courses would set record

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch starts from the pole at Watkins Glen today.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

Kyle Busch’s dream season isn’t likely to turn into a nightmare anytime soon. He will start from the pole today in the Centurion Boats at The Glen in Watkins Glen, N.Y., poised to make NASCAR history and gain a little peace of mind.

Busch has won 15 races in NASCAR’s top three series this season – seven in Sprint Cup, six in Nationwide and two in trucks – and two came on road courses. He won the Nationwide race in Mexico in April and the Cup race at Sonoma in June. No driver in NASCAR history has won three road races in one season, and only Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon have swept both Cup events in the same year.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work from everyone on the team,” said Busch, starting up front in his fourth race here because qualifying was rained out and the field was set by points. “That win at Sonoma wasn’t easy at all. Once the green flag falls, you’ve just got to stick to your strategy and hope everything works out in your favor.”

A victory by Busch also would clinch his spot in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup title, which begins after the next five races.

The top 12 drivers in the standings after 26 races will race for the Sprint Cup title and the points for every driver will be reset at 5,000. But each win counts for an extra 10 points once the Chase begins. With his seven wins, Busch has 70 bonus points, which gives him a 40-point cushion over Carl Edwards.

Of the drivers currently inside the top 12, four have not won yet and four others have only one victory. Dale Earnhardt Jr., second in points to Busch, starts on the front row for today’s 90-lap race, with Edwards and Jimmie Johnson right behind.

Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart and Hamlin round out the top 10.

Last year’s race at Watkins Glen featured eight cautions and a 28-minute red flag with less than 20 laps left caused by a wreck featuring Juan Pablo Montoya and Kevin Harvick while both were running in the top 10. They ended up in a shoving match on the track while the race was stopped, and Harvick finished 36th, three spots ahead of Montoya.

Advertising for today’s race by Watkins Glen International included headshots of Harvick and Montoya with fists cocked, smirks on their faces, and ready for a brawl.

Nationwide Series

Marcos Ambrose took advantage of a fortuitous pit stop midway through the Nationwide Zippo 200 and easily beat Kyle Busch for his first career NASCAR victory at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Ambrose, from Tasmania, was in the pits on lap 42 when the fourth caution of the 82-lap race flew. He gained the lead on lap 48 but gave it up right away to pit for fuel.

Ambrose slowly worked his way up to third with 12 laps to go as Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson battled for the lead. But the two leaders ran out of fuel with three laps remaining and Ambrose coasted to the victory in the No. 59 Ford.

Craftsman Trucks Series

Johnny Benson became the fifth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver to win three straight races, passing Erik Darnell with three laps left and pulling away in the Toyota Tundra 200 at Gladeville, Tenn.

Benson, the winner of four of the last five races, joined Mike Skinner (1996 and 2007), Ron Hornaday (1997), Greg Biffle (2000) and Todd Bodine (2005) as the only drivers to win three races in a row in the series’ 13-year history.

Darnell held on to finish second. Polesitter Bodine led the first 74 laps and finished third. Jack Sprague was fourth, followed by Hornaday.

IndyCar

Scott Dixon is looking unstoppable.

The New Zealander came from behind at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., passing Helio Castroneves on the final straightaway to win the Meijer Indy 300. It was the second win in a row and the record-tying sixth victory of the season for Dixon, trying to win his second IndyCar Series championship.

Castroneves, still trying for his first victory of the season and his first series title, tried to get it on fuel strategy. It looked as if Castroneves had it when he took the lead with six laps to go when Dixon, who had dominated most of the 200-lap race, was forced to make a fuel stop.

Dixon came out just over 6 seconds behind the Brazilian, but steadily cut into the margin, finally passing Castroneves as the leader slowed coming off the fourth turn on the 1.5-mile oval, out of fuel.