BUSCH SURVIES EDWARD’S THREAT AT ORP

BY Joe  Shivak

Clermont, IN ( July 24 ) ……..Kyle Busch dominated the NASCAR Nationwide Series  Kroger 200 until the caution flag came out with just four laps remaining, setting up a duel with Carl Edwards in a green, white , checkered flag finish at O’Reilly Raceway Park.  A three lap shoot-out on the 5/8 mile oval west of Indianapolis resulted when Joe Nemechek spun off turn four and bunched the field for one final time.  Busch , on 30 lap older tires, held off Edwards in what fans was hoping would be a repeat of the previous week’s event at Gateway International Speedway in St. Louis, MO where Edwards made contact with Brad Keselowski resulting in NASCAR placing both drivers on season long probation.

               Busch maintained his front running position in the #18 Fleet Locate Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing over the #60 Fastenal Ford of Roush Racing of Edward’s.  Eric Almirola brought the #88 JR Motorsports Chevy home in third ahead of Knoxville, TN’s Trevor Bayne in the OUT Pet Care Toyota.  Bayne set on the pole with a speed of 110.117 mph. and lead the first 39 laps of the event before being passed by Busch.  Bayne would lead the race twice for a total of 56 laps and also sat on the pole for last year’s race.    Reed Sorenson rounded out the top 5 in the #32 Dollar General Stores Toyota.  Busch lead the most laps with a total of 144 out of 201.  Other lap leaders were Almirola for 1 lap and Keselowski, also at one lap.

               Busch earned $46,295 for his 8^th Nationwide Series victory of the 2010 season which finds him 4^th in the points standings.    Ron Hornady Jr, the previous night’s winner in the Camping World Series Truck race at the track, started 11^th and was running in the top 5 positions most of the night, made contact with the lapped machine of J.C. Stout with just 39 laps left in turn 3 and ended up with a 28^th place finish.  The race was slowed six times for a total of 36 laps.

               David Star aboard the #05 Wayne Day owned machine from Clarksville, TN started 14^th and was involved in a turn 1 accident and would finish 21^st.  Germantown , TN’s Kevin Swindell  driving for Baker-Curb Racing from Nashville, started 18^th, but was involved in an accident with Jason Keller in turn 1, and would finish 33^rd.  His teammate, Johnny Sauter, in the #27 ,would finish 25^th.  Former Nashville Fairgrounds track champion Jeff Green finished 40^th.