Busch forgotten and fortuitous at Fontana

FONTANA, CALIF. • Kyle Busch earned his first victory of the season on Sunday after rivals Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano wrecked on the final lap in a thrilling NASCAR finish.

Hamlin and Logano made contact while they raced side-by-side in the final lap of their first race since the drivers confronted each other last week at Bristol. Logano hit the outside wall and Hamlin hit the inside wall, with Hamlin getting attention in an ambulance and eventually getting aiflifted to a hospital because of traffic around the track.

Defending Fontana champion Tony Stewart then confronted Logano after the race and shoved the younger driver before teammates pulled them apart. Logano blocked Stewart out of a late restart, infuriating the three-time Sprint Cup series champion, who finished 22nd.

Busch took advantage of his remarkable luck to pick up Joe Gibbs Racing’s first victory at the track east of Los Angeles, the only place where the team had never won.

“They forgot about me. I knew they were going to,” Busch said. “We had a good run on the top side, and they were messing with each other so bad that they took each other down. I was just hoping I could get by before they took me with him.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second and took over the lead in the points standings despite falling from third to 22nd late in the race with a dismal pit stop. Kurt Busch came in third, with Carl Edwards fourth and Greg Biffle fifth in front of Logano. Defending series champion Brad Keselowski finished 23rd, missing the top five for the first time all season.

Hamlin got himself out of the car after the crash, but then slumped to the ground beside it before medical help arrived. NASCAR didn’t immediately have an update on his condition, although JGR President J.D. Gibbs was hopeful Hamlin was fine.