Kyle Busch’s ‘iconic finish’ fresh in mind

JOLIET, Ill. — When Kyle Busch looks back on last year’s dramatic finish at Chicagoland Speedway, nothing in particular stands out to him.

The native Las Vegan remembers every little detail.

Moving into the lead. Getting slowed by lapped cars at the back of the field. Winning a last-lap duel with Kyle Larson.

“It was an iconic finish, a very, I’d say, dynamic finish, that just will be known and recognized for a long time,” Busch said.

NASCAR would love to see a similar show when the Cup Series returns to the bumpy 1.5-mile oval for the Camping World 400 on Sunday. But the frantic final seconds of last year’s race have been more the exception than the norm for its top series, so much so that NASCAR overhauled its competition package in an effort to create more drama this season.

With the new rules in place and more warm weather in the forecast at a track that has room for drivers to move around, the potential is there for another memorable finish at the suburban raceway.

“I think it definitely sets up as a good track for a finish like that,” said Martin Truex Jr., a two-time winner at Chicagoland. “There is multiple grooves and the package this year has done what they wanted and expected. It has brought us all closer together. It is going to be hot and slick tomorrow. That will help us put on a good race. We will just have to see how it plays out with this package.”

Busch was in front with about 40 laps to go last year when a hardcharging Larson started making his way through the field. Larson brushed up against the wall with seven laps remaining, but he kept going and Busch had some trouble with a couple of lapped cars.

Busch and Larson then raced each other hard on the final lap. Larson bumped into the back of Busch’s car and moved into the lead. Busch then raced into the back of Larson’s car and sped ahead for the victory.

“He got into my quarter panel and put me in the wall and then after that, it was gloves off,” Busch said.

Busch will start 17th and Larson 12th behind pole-sitter Austin Dillon, who turned a top lap of 176.623 mph in Saturday qualifying.