Busch passes Larson to win rain-delayed race at Bristol
the way and scooted by.
Larson made a late charge but couldn’t catch him. BRISTOL, TENN. » Kyle Busch “When it comes down to was all smiles and Kyle Larcrunch time you gotta go,” son was all scowls. Busch said.
Busch passed Larson with Asked if Keselowski had five laps remaining at Bristol moved up on his list of favorMotor Speedway on Monday ites, Busch laughed and said, to win his second straight “That’s pushing it too far.” Cup Series race, culminat“I kind felt bad for him, ing a rain-delayed weekend maybe that much,” Busch when temperatures dipped said, pinching his thumb into the high 30s. and index finger close to
Busch celebrated by gether. “But it certainly thrusting his arms in the helped our cause. So it was air and with a traditional much appreciated, let’s go bow to the crowd on top of with that.” his No. 18 Toyota while the Larson was leading when snow began falling — a fitthe race was postponed Sunting end to a long weatherday with 296 laps remaining stalled weekend. after being delayed several
Busch said after the race times because of rain. The that he didn’t have the best race also was delayed Moncar, but “we had the best car day for about 35 minutes, but right at the end.” the cars finally got back on
The loss left Larson, who the track after the rain and led a race-high 200 laps, exsleet subsided. tremely frustrated. Larson said he wasn’t sure
“I feel like every time why his car got loose late I race here I almost get a in the race, which allowed win,” Larson said of his secBusch to get by him. ond-place finish. “I’ve been “I just really didn’t have beat by Kyle (Busch) about any grip,” Larson said. “I every time I race here, too, thought it would tighten up so that gets frustrating after for me and I could get going, a while.” but it never really did and I
It was Busch’s 45th career was just really loose. I hate Cup Series win, moving him that I didn’t win. It’s another ahead of Bill Elliott into sole one at Bristol.” possession of 16th place. As for Busch, he has an
It also was his seventh other Bristol sword to add to win at Bristol, while Larson his collection, although he’s has yet to win at the halfnot quite sure what he’s gomile track. ing to dowithall of those un
Coincidentally, Busch won usual trophies. with the aid of longtime “It’s a cool problem to nemesis Brad Keselowski, have,” he said. who wrecked with 30 laps JOHNSON’S TOP FIVE: left, bringing out the cauJimmie Johnson was pleased tion flag. with earning his first top
Larson appeared to have five finish of the season, and the car to beat on Monday, hoped to quiet some of his running well ahead of the critics. pack on long green flag runs. “We have it rolling in the But after Busch took on tires right direction,” Johnson during the yellow flag stop, said. he knew he was back in the Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was race with 22 laps to go. He fifourth and Alex Bowman nally caught Larson with five finished fifth. laps left, bumped him out of KESELOWSKI’SDAY: Ke- selowski won the first two stages and initially appeared to be the car to beat. However, the No. 2Fordstruggled on a long green flag run late in the race and fell two laps behind after radioing in that something broke in his suspension. Keselowski hit the wall with 30 laps left, bringing out the final caution.
WALLACEGETSALEAD: Darrell “Bubba” Wallace now knows that it is like to run up front in a Cup Series race. Wallace passed Busch with 126 laps remaining to lead a Cup race for the first time in his young career. It didn’t last long, though, as Busch blew by him a short time later.
WHO’S HOT: Daniel Suarez raced with a fractured thumb he suffered last week at Texas and finished in 11th place. Now that deserves a thumbs-up.
WHO’S NOT: Martin Truex Jr. continues to have a difficult time following up a tremendous championship season in 2017. He was in a wreck on Sunday and raced Mondaywithout a hood, saying his goal was to “stay out of the way” of the other drivers. He finished 30th.