Kyle Busch Takes a Bow With Gander Truck Series Win at Charlotte

By:
On:
In: NASCAR Truck Series News
Kyle Busch and the No. 51 Cessna/Beechcraft team laid down another dominating performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the N.C. Education Lottery 200. In his fifth and final NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series start of the season, the owner-driver earned his fifth win, going five-for-five on the season. The 51 team posted the fourth and 10th-fastest times in two practices respectively on Friday morning, and then Busch qualified his Tundra in the eighth position in one round of single-vehicle qualifying.
 
After a hot and sticky day of practice and qualifying, the sun set over the famed 1.5-mile oval, and Busch wasted no time making his way to the front of the field once the green flag fell. He took the lead on lap five, from teammate Todd Gilliland, but gave it up a few laps before the end of the first stage to hit pit road for a four tire stop. Busch would go on to lead five times for 102 of 134 laps, winning the second stage and overall race to earn his 205th career NASCAR National Series win and his 56th victory in 150 Gander Trucks races.
 
Stage One Recap:
  • Qualifying for the event consisted of one round of single truck qualifying, and Busch earned the eighth starting position.
  • Under caution on lap 25, crew chief Rudy Fugle opted to bring Busch down pit road for four tires and fuel. The 51 Cessna Tundra would restart in seventh.
  • At the stage conclusion, Fugle kept Busch on the track.
Stage Two Recap:
  • Busch began the second stage in fifth and retook the lead on lap 41.
  • During the second stage, Busch reported that the handling of his Tundra was trending loose, and then would swing toward the tight side.
  • Fugle called him to pit road following the end of the stage for four more Goodyear tires and Sunoco fuel.
Stage Three Recap:
  • The 34-year-old owner-driver began the final stage at the front of the field.
  • Under caution on lap 87, Fugle called the 51 to pit road for another four tires and fuel.
  • On the restart, Busch was in ninth, but marched relentlessly through the pack, retaking the lead in just six laps.
  • After the final caution flag flew on lap 128, Busch held off a hard charging Ben Rhodes to pick up his eighth Gander Trucks win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and his 56th career Gander Trucks win, bringing his National Series win total to 205.

KBM PR

Speedway Digest Staff
Follow Me
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)
Post Views: 57