NASCAR NATION – 8-25

Kyle Busch has broken several records in his young NASCAR career, but his feat this past weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway might have been his most impressive accomplishment yet.
Busch dominated the weekend events, leading a combined 515 of 950 laps in the Camping World Truck, Nationwide, and Sprint Cup Series en route to becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win all three national touring series events in the same weekend.
“I’ve been trying to do this since I got in NASCAR. Thank you, guys. What a weekend,” Busch exclaimed over his radio as he took the checkered flag to cap off the weekend with a dominating victory in the Sprint Cup Series’ Irwin Tools Night Race.
Busch had received some negative publicity after taking the victory in the Friday night Nationwide Series race after contact between his Toyota and then-leader Brad Keselowski’s Dodge sent Keselowski spinning and Busch into victory lane.
But there was no controversy Saturday night, as Busch cleanly battled the sick David Reutimann to capture his third victory of 2010, catapulting him five spots in the points standings to third with only two races remaining before the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins at New Hampshire Sept. 19.
“I love Bristol and I love winning,” said Busch in victory lane after being handed a broom to symbolize his weekend “sweep” of the events by his team. “And to do it for the first time ever in NASCAR, to sweep the weekend. Man, it’s pretty awesome.”
Reutimann was able to drive his No. 00 to a strong second-place finish after suffering from food poisoning earlier in the weekend. Reutimann was visibly tired following the race, and sat on the pit road wall for some time after climbing out of his racecar.
Jamie McMurray was third in a Chevrolet, and moved to within 100 points of the 12th and final spot in the Chase. Clint Bowyer, who finished fourth, is currently the 12th-place driver. Kasey Kahne finished fifth, the highest finishing Ford. Kurt Busch in ninth was the highest finishing Dodge.
Jimmie Johnson was the polesitter for the 500-lap event, and had led over 175 laps early, but was involved in an on-track incident with Juan Pablo Montoya on lap 262, putting him over 80 laps down. He finished 35th. Martin Truex Jr. of Ocean County started ninth but struggled to stay on the lead lap, finishing one lap down in 17th.
Nationwide Series:
As previously mentioned, Busch captured his second win of the weekend Friday night in the Nationwide Series’ Food City 250 after intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski with 31 laps to go after Keselowski made contact with the rear of Busch’s car after a failed pass attempt by Busch.
Keselowski was negated to a 14th-place finish, while Busch captured his 10th Nationwide Series victory of 2010. Busch was made with a field of boos after making a mock-crying gesture while celebrating his victory.
Jason Leffler was second, followed by Elliot Sadler in third, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in fourth, and Carl Edwards in fifth.
Camping World Truck Series: Busch began his weekend of winning Wednesday night, charging through the field after starting 35th, then holding off Aric Almirola and an empty tank of gas to win the O’Reilly 200.
Almirola was second, followed by Ron Hornaday in third, Mike Skinner in fourth, and points leader Todd Bodine in fifth.
Coming Up: The Sprint Cup Series enjoys a weekend off before the grueling Chase for the Cup nears its start, as the Nationwide Series heads north-of-the-board for the last road course action of 2010. Meanwhile, the Camping World Truck Series heads to Chicagoland Speedway.
Bruce Knoll, 18, of Eldora, can be contacted by email at bknoll jr4cmcherald@yahoo.com
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