Kurt Busch Checkers or Wreckers

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In: NASCAR Cup Series News

Kurt Busch was poised to earn another strong result Sunday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, as the driver of the No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) ran at the front of the field for much of the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The 36-year-old driver lined up in the second position for a restart on lap 177 and was determined to make the most of his opportunity.

He immediately challenged then-leader Joey Logano, racing side by side into turn one. As the two raced through the center of the corner, the close proximity removed the air from Busch’s spoiler, causing him to lose the nose of his black-and-red Chevrolet and resulting in hard contact with the outside retaining wall as he exited turn two. Busch brought his battered machine to pit road, where the Haas Automation team did their best to make repairs in an effort to avoid being left with a DNF (did not finish). Their hard work allowed Busch to see the checkered flag, albeit far from the way he envisioned.

“I was going for the win,” Busch said. “I think we’ve finished third four times this year, and I didn’t want to make that five – I wanted the win. I knew we were in a good position as far as being locked into the Chase, so I went for it. I’m really proud of the Haas Automation guys and the job they did today. We had a car that I felt was capable of winning, and I went for it.”

Busch started 16th in the 43-car field Sunday, but he wasted little time in moving toward the front of the field. He cracked the top-10 on the third lap, and thanks to minor adjustments made during the first pit stop to help fix a tight-in, loose-off handling condition, he continued to pace himself among the top-10 drivers, only falling outside when making scheduled green-flag pit stops. Following his final scheduled stop of the day, Busch was running inside the top-five, which allowed him to make the move that could have resulted in capturing the checkered flag. Instead, he wound up credited with a 31st-place finish.

Despite the disappointing race outcome Sunday, Busch officially clinched a berth in the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He will make his eighth overall and second consecutive appearance in NASCAR’s 10-race playoff. He won the championship in the inaugural Chase in 2004, then finished 10th in 2005, seventh in 2007, fourth in 2009, 11th in 2010 and 2011, and 10th in 2013.

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