Busch takes Xfinity race
Watkins Glen, N.Y. — Kyle Busch won the Xfinity race at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, recovering from a spinout and a pit road penalty for the milestone victory.
Busch topped the Penske Racing duo of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski and easily beat them on a restart with three laps to go for his 90th series win. Watkins Glen International and Pocono were the only tracks currently on the Xfinity schedule where Busch had not won. He's also won on every track in the Cup series except Charlotte.
Logano was second in his bid to win this race for the third straight time from the pole and Keselowski was third, followed by Justin Allgaier and Paul Menard.
Busch started second, quickly passed Logano for the lead and led the first 16 laps before wheel-hopping his No. 18 Toyota and spinning out on the first turn, a 90-degree right-hander that points downhill, on lap 17.
Keselowski won the opening stage under caution and gained a big advantage over Busch, who drove through too many pit stalls (four) during his first pit stop and was penalized. He restarted near the back of the 40-car field.
"I swear it was three," a frustrated Busch said over his radio.
Rookies Daniel Hemric and Cole Custer elected not to pit and were up front on the restart with Kevin Harvick right behind. Harvick tried a bold move on the first turn after the restart and spun out, taking Custer out, too. There was no other contact and both drivers quickly got back on track.
That allowed Menard, who was third on the restart, to gain the lead and he held it for the remainder of the second 20-lap stage, holding off bids by Keselowski and Logano with Busch surging back into contention. He was eighth when the third caution flew on lap 34 for oil on track from Stephen Young's smoking No. 78 Chevy.
Menard lost the lead in the final stage when he accidentally hit the master fuel switch and the car lost power going uphill through the esses. Keselowski took over the top spot, then dived into the pits with Logano on lap 49 for the final time.