For a change Kyle Busch wasn’t dominant in a Nationwide race. Yet, he still won, thanks to a two-tire call by crew chief Jason Ratcliff.
“I thought that was a great way to win the race. I can’t thank Jason enough -- he won the race today. We stole this one -- it wasn’t ours,” Busch said.
After qualifying seventh, the youngest of the Busch brother was running third chasing Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick late in the race.
Ratcliff noticed that both rivals took four tires on their final pit stop so he called a changeup and took only two tires. That got Busch out on the track ahead of Edwards and Harvick, who finished second and third respectively, with 13-laps to go.
No one got close and although Busch slapped the wall he won at the checkered flag, in a Nationwide race, for the third-consecutive time at Auto Club Speedway. It was Busch’s third Nationwide win this year and 46th in his career.
“I got up in the marbles too high off of turn two and got my right rear in the stuff,” Busch explained about a near disaster. “I got loose and got in the fence a little bit. It was a good thing it wasn’t one more lap because that’s all we needed right there.
“Jason surprised all of us and pulled one out of the hat with two tires on pit road and did an awesome job making the call and committing to it. The guys did a good job being able to change the tires quick and get us out there. We had just enough room that was all that mattered.”
Edwards said: “We were focused on the wrong car I guess. I thought we were racing the 33 (Harvick) and my crew chief said that the 18 (Busch) was the leader and I thought he hadn’t pitted yet but he had and took two tires.
“That was the call that won the race. He was in the best position being back there watching what we were going to do and then doing the opposite. It didn’t work out the way we wanted to.”
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr, Edwards' Roush Fenway Racing teammate, took over the series points lead with a fourth place leading Jason Leffler, who finished 11th, by six points.
“I thought that was a great way to win the race. I can’t thank Jason enough -- he won the race today. We stole this one -- it wasn’t ours,” Busch said.
After qualifying seventh, the youngest of the Busch brother was running third chasing Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick late in the race.
Ratcliff noticed that both rivals took four tires on their final pit stop so he called a changeup and took only two tires. That got Busch out on the track ahead of Edwards and Harvick, who finished second and third respectively, with 13-laps to go.
No one got close and although Busch slapped the wall he won at the checkered flag, in a Nationwide race, for the third-consecutive time at Auto Club Speedway. It was Busch’s third Nationwide win this year and 46th in his career.
“I got up in the marbles too high off of turn two and got my right rear in the stuff,” Busch explained about a near disaster. “I got loose and got in the fence a little bit. It was a good thing it wasn’t one more lap because that’s all we needed right there.
“Jason surprised all of us and pulled one out of the hat with two tires on pit road and did an awesome job making the call and committing to it. The guys did a good job being able to change the tires quick and get us out there. We had just enough room that was all that mattered.”
Edwards said: “We were focused on the wrong car I guess. I thought we were racing the 33 (Harvick) and my crew chief said that the 18 (Busch) was the leader and I thought he hadn’t pitted yet but he had and took two tires.
“That was the call that won the race. He was in the best position being back there watching what we were going to do and then doing the opposite. It didn’t work out the way we wanted to.”
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr, Edwards' Roush Fenway Racing teammate, took over the series points lead with a fourth place leading Jason Leffler, who finished 11th, by six points.