All things keep going Busch’s way

The only place Kyle Busch got stuck was in the infield grass, his tires spinning as he celebrated is seventh – and perhaps most impressive – victory of the season in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.

After Busch led most of Saturday night’s race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., two-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson went by him on the 251st lap.

The confident 23-year-old Busch was nearly ready to concede. “Race over,” he was heard saying over his radio after Johnson, his former Hendrick Motorsports teammate, went in front.

But a ninth and final yellow caution flag led to a restart with two laps remaining. And just like that, Busch had one last chance for his second consecutive victory.

Staying on Johnson’s bumper at the restart, he went high on Turn 4 and back into the lead on the next-to-lap. He then led the most important lap of the night, the 267th and final one.

“I really don’t believe how good things are going,” said Busch. “It’s just been a phenomenal year. Something just so special.”

NHRA

Racing on a 1,000-foot strip for the first time in NHRA history, Top Fuel dragster Tony Schumacher and Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson won their respective classes Sunday during the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.

Following the recent death of Scott Kalitta in a racing accident, the NHRA took an interim step, shortening the length of Top Fuel and Funny Car races from a quarter-mile to 1,000 feet. The change kicked in this weekend at Bandimere Speedway.

Hydroplanes

The 100th running of the Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup at Detroit was ruled no contest after steady winds in excess of 20 mph kept the unlimited hydroplanes on the beach for most of the day.