{"id":13071,"date":"2017-10-01T19:54:46","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T00:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=13071"},"modified":"2017-10-01T19:54:46","modified_gmt":"2017-10-02T00:54:46","slug":"kyle-busch-steals-dover-win-away-from-chase-elliott","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/10\/01\/kyle-busch-steals-dover-win-away-from-chase-elliott\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle Busch steals Dover win away from Chase Elliott"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil at Dover International Speedway on October 1, 2017 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Chris Trotman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

DOVER, Del. \u2013 Call him the Grinch.<\/p>\n

Halloween may be the next holiday on the calendar, but Kyle Busch<\/strong> stole Christmas morning from Chase Elliott<\/strong> late on Sunday afternoon at Dover International Speedway.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil at Dover International Speedway on October 1, 2017 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Running Elliott down from more than four seconds back in the last 40 laps of the Apache Warrior 400 at the Monster Mile, Busch powered his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota around the outside of Elliott\u2019s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and cleared him off Turn 4 as the cars approached the white flag.<\/p>\n

A lap later, Busch had his second straight victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR<\/a> Cup Series Playoff, leaving a disheartened Elliott still in search of his first victory in the series and agonizing over what he might have done differently.<\/p>\n

Though Elliott was inconsolable, there were plenty of positives in his performance. The Hendrick cars showed real speed for the first time since the Playoff began two weeks earlier at Chicagoland, and Elliott moved on comfortably to the Round of 12.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil at Dover International Speedway on October 1, 2017 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Not as fortunate were Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon, Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch, who were eliminated from the Playoffs, as Ricky Stenhouse Jr., claimed the 12th and final spot in the next round by two points over Newman, thanks to a risky-but-serendipitous pit call by crew chief Brian Pattie.<\/p>\n

But it was Busch who stole the show and stole the race, running the top line as he sliced into Elliott\u2019s advantage and diced his way through traffic more adroitly than his less experienced rival.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, I saw that carrot out there, and I wanted to go and get it,\u201d said Busch, who won for the fourth time at Dover and the 42nd time in his career. \u201cI got within five lengths and I stalled out and I was like, \u2018Oh, man, I think that was it,\u2019 you know? But I got back to the top and got enough momentum back rolling. Chase was kind of plugged up with the lapped cars in front of him, so I think the lapped cars actually helped us with that one.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil at Dover International Speedway on October 1, 2017 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cBut, overall, just great day for us. Great job by the team being able to get in Victory Lane here in Dover. It\u2019s been a long time since we\u2019ve been in Victory Lane here, and it\u2019s hard to come by wins here because (11-time Dover winner) Jimmie (Johnson) takes up all the darn Monster trophies. But it\u2019s nice to have a third or fourth in my collection \u2013 I can\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson, who finished third, tried to console his teammate, but Elliott felt he let his team and organization down when he failed to beat Busch to the finish line.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought if I had a clean track, I could have run as fast as he did, but I didn\u2019t, and I should have done something different,\u201d said Elliott, still despondent when he arrived at the media center for his post-race interview. \u201cSo that\u2019s just on me, and he did a better job than I did. At the end of the day that\u2019s what it comes down to\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kyle Busch drives the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil at Dover International Speedway on October 1, 2017 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cMan, such a bummer, such a disappointment for my team. I don\u2019t really have a whole lot to add.\u201d<\/p>\n

Series leader and pole winner Martin Truex Jr. ran fourth, followed by Kyle Larson and a trio of non-Playoff drivers\u2014Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Daniel Suarez.<\/p>\n

Busch, Truex, Larson and 10th-place finisher Brad Keselowski had clinched spots in the Round of 12 before arriving at Dover. Elliott, Johnson, Jamie McMurray (ninth on Sunday), Matt Kenseth (11th), Kevin Harvick (17th), Ryan Blaney (23rd), Denny Hamlin (35th) and Stenhouse (19th) joined them on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil at Dover International Speedway on October 1, 2017 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

But it was Stenhouse who won the nail-biter. But for Pattie\u2019s decision to keep the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford on track as long as possible during a cycle of green-flag pit stops late in the first stage, Stenhouse would have been eliminated.<\/p>\n

As luck would have it, Jeffrey Earnhardt spun into the barrels protecting the entrance to pit road on Lap 86 to cause the first caution of the race one circuit before Stenhouse was scheduled to pit. The fortuitous yellow left five cars on the lead lap and gave Stenhouse the track position he needed to score seven points as the fourth-place finisher in Stage 1.<\/p>\n

That gave him the edge he needed over Newman.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe caught the caution there right at the right time with a perfect amount of laps left in the stage to get stage points and that was the turning point of the day,\u201d said Stenhouse, who battled back from disaster at Chicagoland and a lackluster run at New Hampshire. \u201cOur Fastenal Ford was definitely not close to what we needed, especially the last two runs. We were close before the last two runs and made some adjustments there and really fell off.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll in all, like I said, I feel lucky that we had all the mistakes at Chicago and really not a good car at Chicago, Loudon or Dover but we still made it in. Really, it\u2019s hats off to the guys for fighting all day, and it\u2019s nice that the round starts over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Kyle Busch –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/MENCS_DIS_KyBusch_100117.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Race winning crew chief Adam Stevens – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/MENCS_DIS_AStevents_100117.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chase Elliott – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/MENCS_DIS_ChElliott_100117.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jimmie Johnson – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/MENCS_DIS_Johnson_100117.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Honorary Pace Car Driver Hannah McFadden – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DIS_HannahMcFadden_MeidaAvailabilty_100117.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Results \u2013 Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dover International Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dover, Delaware<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, October 1, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. (2) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 400.<\/li>\n
  2. (12) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 400.<\/li>\n
  3. (17) Jimmie Johnson (P), Chevrolet, 400.<\/li>\n
  4. (1) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 400.<\/li>\n
  5. (3) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 400.<\/li>\n
  6. (19) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 400.<\/li>\n
  7. (7) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 400.<\/li>\n
  8. (5) Daniel Suarez #, Toyota, 400.<\/li>\n
  9. (26) Jamie McMurray (P), Chevrolet, 400.<\/li>\n
  10. (16) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 400.<\/li>\n
  11. (4) Matt Kenseth (P), Toyota, 400.<\/li>\n
  12. (10) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 400.<\/li>\n
  13. (8) Ryan Newman (P), Chevrolet, 399.<\/li>\n
  14. (21) Kasey Kahne (P), Chevrolet, 399.<\/li>\n
  15. (18) Joey Logano, Ford, 399.<\/li>\n
  16. (23) Austin Dillon (P), Chevrolet, 399.<\/li>\n
  17. (9) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, 399.<\/li>\n
  18. (24) Danica Patrick, Ford, 399.<\/li>\n
  19. (15) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P), Ford, 399.<\/li>\n
  20. (13) Kurt Busch (P), Ford, 398.<\/li>\n
  21. (28) David Ragan, Ford, 397.<\/li>\n
  22. (29) Ty Dillon #, Chevrolet, 397.<\/li>\n
  23. (11) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 397.<\/li>\n
  24. (20) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 396.<\/li>\n
  25. (14) Aric Almirola, Ford, 396.<\/li>\n
  26. (25) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 396.<\/li>\n
  27. (30) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 396.<\/li>\n
  28. (27) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 395.<\/li>\n
  29. (31) Landon Cassill, Ford, 394.<\/li>\n
  30. (22) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 394.<\/li>\n
  31. (40) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 393.<\/li>\n
  32. (33) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 392.<\/li>\n
  33. (34) * Brett Moffitt(i), Toyota, 391.<\/li>\n
  34. (37) Corey LaJoie #, Toyota, 389.<\/li>\n
  35. (6) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, Axle, 374.<\/li>\n
  36. (36) * BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, 372.<\/li>\n
  37. (38) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 368.<\/li>\n
  38. (32) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 348.<\/li>\n
  39. (39) * Reed Sorenson, Toyota, Engine, 162.<\/li>\n
  40. (35) * Timmy Hill(i), Chevrolet, Electrical, 39.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Average Speed of Race Winner:  129.171 mph.<\/p>\n

    Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 05 Mins, 48 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.357 Seconds.<\/p>\n

    Caution Flags:  4 for 24 laps.<\/p>\n

    Lead Changes:  15 among 6 drivers.<\/p>\n

    Lap Leaders:   M. Truex Jr. (P) 1-25; K. Larson (P) 26-60; M. Truex Jr. (P) 61-82; C. Elliott (P) 83; Kyle Busch (P) 84-89; B. Keselowski (P) 90-122; Kyle Busch (P) 123-140; K. Larson (P) 141-169; M. Truex Jr. (P) 170-173; K. Larson (P) 174-246; C. Elliott (P) 247-324; Kyle Busch (P) 325-328; J. Johnson (P) 329-333; B. Keselowski (P) 334-339; C. Elliott (P) 340-398; Kyle Busch (P) 399-400.<\/p>\n

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  C. Elliott (P) 3 times for 138 laps; K. Larson (P) 3 times for 137 laps; M. Truex Jr. (P) 3 times for 51 laps; B. Keselowski (P) 2 times for 39 laps; Kyle Busch (P) 4 times for 30 laps; J. Johnson (P) 1 time for 5 laps.<\/p>\n

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 2,18,78,17,10,42,24,4,38,11<\/p>\n

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 42,78,24,18,48,11,88,2,1,14<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service DOVER, Del. \u2013 Call him the Grinch. Halloween may be the next holiday on the calendar, but Kyle Busch stole Christmas morning from Chase Elliott late on Sunday afternoon at Dover International Speedway. Running Elliott down from more than four seconds back in the last 40 laps of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13075,"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":[222,59,16],"class_list":["post-13071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-dover-international-speedway","tag-kyle-busch","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/MENCS_DIS_VLCelebration-e1506905404549.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-3oP","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13071","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=13071"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13088,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13071\/revisions\/13088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}