{"id":38783,"date":"2022-05-15T19:21:48","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T00:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=38783"},"modified":"2022-05-15T19:21:48","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T00:21:48","slug":"kurt-busch-charges-to-dramatic-nascar-cup-win-at-kansas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2022\/05\/15\/kurt-busch-charges-to-dramatic-nascar-cup-win-at-kansas\/","title":{"rendered":"Kurt Busch charges to dramatic NASCAR Cup win at Kansas\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

KANSAS CITY, Kan. \u2013 In an event fraught with pit road mistakes and mechanical issues, Kurt Busch ran an impeccable race.<\/p>\n

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Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

In an intensely competitive run to the finish of Sunday\u2019s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, Busch nosed past leader Kyle Larson at the finish line on Lap 259 of 267 and completed the pass two corners later off Turn 2, as Larson scraped the outside wall. <\/p>\n

Seven laps later, Busch\u2019s No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota crossed the finish line 1.413 seconds ahead of Larson to win for the first time at Kansas, the first time this season and the 34th time in his career. Busch has now won NASCAR Cup races for five different car owners and with four different manufacturers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I can get one Kyle, I can get both,\u201d said an elated Busch, who passed brother Kyle Busch, the third-place finisher, 11 circuits after a restart on Lap 235.<\/p>\n

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Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

With 21 laps left Busch began his pursuit of Larson, making up ground as traffic became a factor. On Lap 259 Busch pulled even to the inside of Larson, as the drivers raced side-by-side from the backstretch to the finish line, with Busch inches ahead at the stripe.<\/p>\n

Busch widened his advantage through the first two corners of Lap 260 and cleared the No. 5 Chevrolet as Larson brushed the wall near the exit of Turn 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about teamwork,\u201d Busch said. \u201cI don\u2019t do this alone, and the way that Toyota\u2019s helped us, JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing)\u2026 My little brother has been so important, just on the family side of \u2018Hey, you\u2019ve got to get through these steps.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this is 23XI. This is our first win with the 45 car, and with Jordan Brand on the hood, I felt like I had to play like the GOAT, race like the GOAT. I had to beat the Kyles. I beat both.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Larson said his car got tight toward the end of the race but asserted that he and Busch never made contact as they raced side-by-side.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t upset with him or anything,\u201d Larson said of Busch. \u201cIt was just hard racing there for the win. I knew when he got to my inside, I was struggling in traffic a little bit and he was able to get by and from there, I just had to hold onto second.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just fought really hard today and overdrove it at moments. Just had to work hard for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Busch\u2019s win was also a milestone for fourth-place finisher Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing with NBA legend Michael Jordan. Hamlin started the race in the rear of the field and went to the back two more times under penalty before rallying to score his second top-five of season.<\/p>\n

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Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, and Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Menards\/Monster Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Bubba Wallace, who scored 23XI\u2019s first victory last year at Talladega, ran 10th despite a late penalty for an uncontrolled tire.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s huge. I\u2019m so proud of Kurt\u2014and Bubba as well,\u201d Hamlin said. \u201cBubba deserved a shot at the win as well. They were so much better than that. There were just mistakes, and we\u2019re working on that. I feel like I\u2019ve let these guys down with pit road\u2014and it\u2019s just part of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s growing pains, but, man, this is what this team is capable of, and I\u2019m so happy for Kurt. Way more joy than if I was winning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pole winner Christopher Bell finished fifth, followed by Martin Truex Jr., as Toyota claimed five of the top six positions. Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Alex Bowman ran seventh through ninth, respectively.<\/p>\n

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Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 UniFirst Chevrolet, spins after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Flat left rear tires, which had surfaced as a major issue during Saturday\u2019s practice, continued to plague drivers during the race itself.<\/p>\n

Christopher Bell lost the lead under caution after Lap 64 with a flat left rear. The same issue sent William Byron into the Turn 4 wall on Lap 113 and erased a lead of more than 1.5 seconds over Kurt Busch.<\/p>\n

Three laps later, front-row starter Tyler Reddick rode the outside wall with a left rear down. Truex slowed with a flat left rear while running fourth within one lap of the end of Stage 2. The recurring problems scrambled the field\u2014and so did a comedy of errors on pit road.<\/p>\n

Hamlin, who started in the rear of the field because of unapproved adjustments to his No. 11 Toyota, twice was flagged for equipment interference.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Crunchy Cookie Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Kyle Busch came to pit road as the leader on Lap 83 and lost nine positions after stopping his No. 18 Camry too close to the wall. After finishing second to his brother in Stage 2, he drew a pit road speeding penalty in sector 10.<\/p>\n

Larson lost track position because of two consecutive slow stops in the first half of the race. Chastain lost 13 positions on pit road during the Stage 2 break when his crew had trouble changing the left rear tire.<\/p>\n

Erik Jones\u2019 crew was unable to remove his right rear tire and had to cut the wheel off before replacing it, costing Jones seven laps before repairs were made.<\/p>\n

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Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Chase Elliott had the opposite problem. The left rear tire fell off the No. 9 Chevrolet as Elliott was running sixth on Lap 196. The car became mired in the mud near the apex of Turns 3 and 4 in a grassy strip below the apron, and the reigning series champ lost three laps.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, Kyle Busch, Hamlin, Bell, Truex and Chastain all recovered to finish in the top seven. But the one driver who ran a mistake-free race\u2014Kurt Busch\u2014came home the winner.<\/p>\n

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Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Race-winning driver Kurt Busch (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota) – <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Race-winning team co-owner Denny Hamlin and crew chief Billy Scott (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota) – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/NCSKansasHamlinScott051522.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR Cup Series Race – 3rd Annual AdventHealth 400<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kansas Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kansas City, Kansas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, May 15, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

               1. (5)  Kurt Busch, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               2. (3)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               3. (6)  Kyle Busch, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               4. (18)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               5. (1)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               6. (9)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               7. (11)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               8. (36)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               9. (8)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               10. (24)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               11. (4)  Austin Cindric #, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               12. (10)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               13. (21)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               14. (30)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               15. (23)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               16. (13)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               17. (34)  Joey Logano, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               18. (28)  Noah Gragson(i), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               19. (20)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               20. (17)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               21. (26)  Harrison Burton #, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               22. (16)  Cole Custer, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               23. (25)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               24. (12)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 266.<\/p>\n

               25. (31)  Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 266.<\/p>\n

               26. (7)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 266.<\/p>\n

               27. (35)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 265.<\/p>\n

               28. (33)  Josh Bilicki(i), Chevrolet, 265.<\/p>\n

               29. (14)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 264.<\/p>\n

               30. (2)  Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

               31. (27)  JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

               32. (22)  Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 261.<\/p>\n

               33. (19)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

               34. (29)  Cody Ware, Ford, 255.<\/p>\n

               35. (15)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, Electrical, 64.<\/p>\n

               36. (32)  BJ McLeod, Ford, Chassis, 32.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  124.476 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 13 Mins, 3 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.413 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  8 for 47 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  18 among 10 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   C. Bell 1-9;T. Reddick 10-33;K. Larson 34-36;C. Bell 37-64;R. Stenhouse Jr. 65-67;K. Busch 68-82;C. Elliott 83;R. Chastain 84-87;W. Byron 88-112;K. Busch 113-124;C. Elliott 125-133;K. Busch 134-136;R. Blaney 137;K. Busch 138-201;K. Larson 202-203;K. Busch 204-231;K. Busch 232-234;K. Larson 235-258;K. Busch 259-267.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Kurt Busch 5 times for 116 laps; Christopher Bell 2 times for 37 laps; Kyle Larson 3 times for 29 laps; William Byron 1 time for 25 laps; Tyler Reddick 1 time for 24 laps; Kyle Busch 2 times for 18 laps; Chase Elliott 2 times for 10 laps; Ross Chastain 1 time for 4 laps; Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 1 time for 3 laps; Ryan Blaney 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 18,1,9,8,24,19,23,43,12,48<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 45,18,12,2,9,5,1,11,22,23<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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

  By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service KANSAS CITY, Kan. \u2013 In an event fraught with pit road mistakes and mechanical issues, Kurt Busch ran an impeccable race. In an intensely competitive run to the finish of Sunday\u2019s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, Busch nosed past leader Kyle Larson at the finish line on Lap […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":38794,"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":[213,69,16],"class_list":["post-38783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-kansas-speedway","tag-kurt-busch","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/GettyImages-1397425984-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-a5x","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38783","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\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38783"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38801,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38783\/revisions\/38801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}