{"id":12969,"date":"2017-09-24T22:32:30","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T03:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=12969"},"modified":"2017-09-24T22:32:30","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T03:32:30","slug":"kyle-busch-wins-nascar-race-at-new-hampshire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/09\/24\/kyle-busch-wins-nascar-race-at-new-hampshire\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle Busch wins NASCAR race at New Hampshire"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

LOUDON, N.H. \u2013 Kyle Busch<\/strong> didn\u2019t need a smokescreen to win Sunday\u2019s ISM Connect 300<\/a> at New Hampshire Motor Speedway \u2013 he simply had to survive one.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Driving unscathed through a cloud of smoke on the backstretch on the final lap of the second stage, Busch, the polesitter, took control of the race at the halfway point and beat Kyle Larson to the finish line by 2.641 seconds.<\/p>\n

In winning for the third time this season, the third time at Loudon and the 41st time in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, Busch led 187 of 300 laps at the 1.058-mile track and locked up a spot in the postseason Playoff\u2019s Round of 12.<\/p>\n

But Busch had a close call when contact between Austin Dillon\u2019s Chevrolet and Kevin Harvick\u2019s Ford on Lap 150 turned Harvick sideways and lit up his tires. Kurt Busch plowed into the side of Harvick\u2019s car, followed by Jeffrey Earnhardt.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The No. 78 Toyota of race leader and first stage winner Martin Truex Jr. was collateral damage in the wreck, as was the Chevy of Dale Earnhardt Jr., but the race winner slowed dramatically and squeezed between Harvick\u2019s disabled car and the outside wall to win the second stage under caution.<\/p>\n

From that point on, Busch was in control, save for a three-lap stint late in the race when Truex took a short-lived lead with a two-tire stop under caution.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was pretty intense,\u201d Busch said of the wreck he avoided. \u201cThat was some \u2018Days of Thunder\u2019 stuff over there. You couldn\u2019t see anything. It was just a wall of smoke over there off of Turn 2. I was listening to my spotter and basically was told to stop, and I was like \u2018Sounds like a good idea.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI just checked up as much as I could. Of course, I was trying not to get run into from behind. I didn\u2019t know who was behind me \u2013 I knew (eventual third-place finisher) Matt (Kenseth) was there. But all in all, just a great day. We ran up front all day long, we executed, we did what we were supposed to do, and it\u2019s awesome to win here in the Granite State in front of these fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Busch wasn\u2019t the only driver to secure a spot in the Round of 12. Larson and fourth-place finisher Brad Keselowski also are assured of advancing on points. With Truex gaining the next round thanks to his victory in last Sunday\u2019s Playoff opener at Chicagoland Speedway, four of the 12 berths are taken.<\/p>\n

Larson finished second for the eighth time this season.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, poses in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI kind of ran around third to fifth all race long,\u201d said Larson, who led Lap 77 under caution \u2013 the only lap not led by either Busch or Truex. \u201cI felt like I wasn\u2019t great on short runs, but I was really good on long runs, which was kind of opposite of practice. I was kind of happy about that. Got a good restart there at the end, got to second, and kept my pace up with Kyle a little bit there.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he could just get pointed a little bit better than me and get the throttle down where I would spin my tires a little bit. Too loose there on the short run, but if we could have had a long run, maybe who knows? But he was fast, 78 (Truex) was fast, Matt (Kenseth) was really good, so I thought we were probably fourth best or so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Truex finished fifth after falling to 17th after the Lap 150 wreck deprived him of the stage win. Non-Playoff drivers Erik Jones, Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez grabbed the sixth through eighth spots, respectively, followed by Ryan Blaney in ninth and Joey Logano in 10th.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane with his wife Samantha and son Brexton after the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Harvick finished 36th and fell to 10th in the standings. The news was worse for Kurt Busch, who had no margin for error. Busch ended the day in 37th place, dropping to 15th in the Playoff standings, 17 points below the current cutoff for the Round of 12.<\/p>\n

Calamity also befell Kasey Kahne, who started the weekend with a new crew chief, Darian Grubb, and a ninth-place qualifying effort. But a broken rear suspension part sent Kahne to the garage for 11 laps and dropped him to 35th at the finish.<\/p>\n

Kahne heads to Dover 16th in the series standings, likely needing a victory at the monster Mile to keep his title hopes alive in his last season behind the wheel of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

For race results, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Race winner Kyle Busch – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/NHMS_MENCS_Winner_092417.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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Race winning team owner Joe Gibbs and crew chief Adam Stevens – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/NHMS_MENCS_Racewinning_team_092417.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Second place finisher Kyle Larson and third place winner Matt Kenseth – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/NHMS_MENCS_Racewinning_team_092417.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, looks on prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Tim Bradbury\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Tires for Dale Earnhardt Jr. (not pictured), driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, are seen prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Crew members push the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, driven by Martin Truex Jr. (not pictured), prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, leads the field at the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, leads the field at the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service LOUDON, N.H. \u2013 Kyle Busch didn\u2019t need a smokescreen to win Sunday\u2019s ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway \u2013 he simply had to survive one. Driving unscathed through a cloud of smoke on the backstretch on the final lap of the second stage, Busch, the polesitter, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12964,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[59,16,466],"class_list":["post-12969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-kyle-busch","tag-nascar","tag-new-hampshire-motor-speedway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/NHMS_MENCS_Celebration_092417.jpg?fit=4996%2C3456&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-3nb","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12969"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12972,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12969\/revisions\/12972"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}