(Photo Credit: SaJorden Miller / The SkyBoat)
Written by Adrian Beecher
After capturing the Xfinity race on Friday night, all that was left to capture was the Cup race. He quickly moved into the 3rd position just 68 laps into the race as he tore through traffic. Then on lap 115 of the race, Busch would take his first lead of the race as he passed Kyle Larson. Just two laps later, Larson regained the lead as the two drivers battled it out. Busch would regain the lead lap 125, which was the final lap of the stage, giving him the Stage 1 victory.
After yellow flag pit stops, Busch had to find his way to the front yet again as he was back in 6th. It didn’t take long as he mowed down the completion and regained the lead on lap 167. The next 30+ laps were a battle between Busch and Erik Jones as they vied for position. Then on lap 233 Austin Dillon got spun around in turn 4 and hit the wall which then led to Jeffery Earnhardt to getting into the side of Dillon. That would end their day, and make it decision time for the leaders with just 17 laps left in stage 2. Kyle Busch would elect to pit, while Matt Kenseth chose to stay out.
After the race Kyle stated that, “We gave that stage away.”
The call would payoff in the short-term for Kenseth as he won stage two, while Kyle finished stage two back in 7th place. Then it was time for the final stage, one that saw Busch looking to get back in the lead for over 100 laps. On lap 360, it was Kyle back to the front making the pass on Erik Jones.
Busch would lead until Jones overtook the lead once again on lap 398 as the mentor battled the mentee. The last hundred laps of the race would be a battle between the two as they had the fastest two cars on the track. As Kyle looked for ways to chase down Jones, it was starting to look like the rookie Jones might be able to hold off Busch and get his first ever Cup win.
“I was driving for everything I had the last 70-80 laps.” said Busch.
Then on lap 445, Kyle finally made the pass on Jones that would seal the deal. The last 55 laps, Kyle weaved and bobbed his way through traffic, doing everything he could to hold onto the lead. Erik Jones did everything he could, but in the end, it was Kyle Busch completing the sweep and sending a message to all of those that doubted him as he said over the radio, “Take that!!”
The win is Kyle’s 40th career NASCAR Cup win and his second win of the 2017 season. In 25 career races at Bristol for Busch, he has won 6 and finished in the top ten 14 times. Busch is now 2nd in the points race, 5 points ahead of Kyle Larson and 101 points behind Erik Jones.
