Busch notches 200th victory

Kyle Busch tied Richard Petty’s record with his 200th career victory across NASCAR’s three national series Sunday by using an impressive late surge through the field after a speeding penalty to win the Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Busch dominated the first two stages, but a pit-road speeding penalty dropped him to 18th with 73 laps to go. He carved through the field in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, then got help from a timely caution. Busch catapulted into the lead for good with 26 laps left by drafting off Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski, the eventual thirdplace finisher, and Joey Logano, the runner-up.

“Feels just like No. 1,” Busch said. “Feels just like yesterday. Dang. To win 200, whatever it means, it means a lot to me.”

♦ Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton finished 1-2 in Formula One’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.