In the closing laps of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, Kyle Busch was getting nervous—very nervous.
The engine in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was running hot, and foul-smelling smoke was starting to fill the cockpit.
At a race track that has haunted him for years, Busch faced the prospect of another calamity. But this time, the engine survived, and Busch was able to cruise home in third place—his first-ever top five at his bogey track.
“Typically, anytime we get the motors hot, they start to stink, and they start to fill the cab with smoke, and that’s what was happening there from the second-to-last restart on,” said Busch, who heads to next Sunday’s race at Charlotte second in the standings behind Joey Logano, Sunday’s winner.
“I was just praying that it was going to make it the whole way and get us to the end.”
To say that Busch was elated to leave Kansas with a podium finish is a massive understatement.
“It was definitely good,” said Busch, who on Saturday won a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas for the first time since 2007. “I won today. I just didn’t get champagne and a trophy.
“To get through Kansas feels nice. It was just a solid day, solid weekend as a matter of fact, coming here with a good car, and the guys did a great job listening to my feedback and what I thought I needed in my race car. …
“I want champagne and to do donuts right now, but I think they would frown on that if you’re third.”
- NASCAR WIRE: Weekend Preview: Talladega Superspeedway - April 18, 2024
- Journey back to the top has brought Elliott and the No. 9 team closer - April 16, 2024
- Chase Elliott wins in double overtime, snaps 42-race winless streak at Texas - April 15, 2024