Busch spoils Elliott’s run at Dover

DOVER, DEL.» Kyle Busch spoiled Chase Elliott’s run at his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, taking the lead with two laps left to win Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

Elliott led 138 laps and seemed poised to break through and reach Victory Lane for the first time in 70 career starts. Busch seemed to have the fresher tires on the No. 18 Toyota and reeled in Elliott down the stretch. Busch gave a ho-hum race a thrilling ending and won for the second straight week.

Busch won for the fourth time and is hot at the right time as NASCAR’s playoffs head into the second round.

“I know Chase is hungry, I know he’s been trying for a couple of years to try and get his first Cup Series win,” Busch said. “But, man, I saw that carrot hanging out there and I was going to get it. I was going to give it everything I had, and fortunately it was enough.”

Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon, Daytona 500 champion Kurt Busch and Brickyard 400 winner Kasey Kahne were eliminated as the playoff field was cut from 16 drivers to 12.

Elliott was second, followed by 11-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Larson.

Elliott, the son of Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott, got the No. 24 Chevrolet caught up in lapped traffic and allowed Busch just the opening he needed to zip past for the win.

“I’m just so disappointed in myself,” Elliott said. “Golly. I couldn’t have had it any easier. I gave it away.”