Championship driver Busch takes top pit stall from Hamlin

HOMESTEAD, Florida — Joe Gibbs issued a team order on the eve of NASCAR’s championship that gave Kyle Busch an edge over the other three title contenders.

Busch was gifted the coveted No. 1 pit stall on Saturday when Joe Gibbs Racing made the decision to force teammate and pole winner Denny Hamlin to pass on the top spot. Busch qualified second and grabbed the favourable pit stall after Hamlin’s team yielded to Gibbs’ demand.

“It’s an advantage for them, which stinks for us,” reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. said.

Busch will take any perk he can when he races Truex, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick for the title today at Homestead Miami Speedway.

“Ultimately, it’s an upper management decision, and that’s part of it. I understand,” Hamlin said.

Busch should have an advantage because the stall in question is located at the end of pit road and gives drivers a clear exit path and cleaner shot back onto the track. The short exit distance also lessens the concern of a speeding penalty.

“It’s great to have the No. 1 pit stall for the race and I appreciate the teamwork,” Busch said.

Team owner Tony Stewart, who fields Harvick’s No. 4 Ford, lauded JGR’s call: “If we were in the same position, I would hope we’d be smart enough to do the same.”

Logano has the third stall, Truex has the seventh spot and Harvick has the 39th spot.