September 27, 2020 | By Lee Spencer

Hometown boy makes good: Kurt Busch wins at Las Vegas

Kurt Busch claimed the win he’s wanted more than any other—Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his hometown track.

Despite winning across the road at the Vegas bullring, in 21 attempts Busch was denied at the 1.5-mile track—until Sunday night.

The 42-year-old former champion entered the first race in the Round of 12 in the cellar. Busch needed a Hail Mary, but settled for Lady Luck to win the South Point 400 and advance to the Round of 8.

“This is what kids dream of when they grow up racing,” Busch said. “You dream of winning at your hometown track. And for two decades it’s kicked my butt. And tonight, with this Monster Energy Chevy, I’m in awe.

“I knew the race would come to us. We needed to get to nightfall and one of those quirky Matt McCall (crew chief) pit sequences finally unfolded. We got lucky. You’ve got to be lucky. And you have to be lucky in any race, but we did it tonight with teamwork and pulling through and just not giving up.”

While it was bittersweet to not have the hometown fans cheer him on, Busch felt his supporters were with him in spirit.

“This is Vegas and I miss the fans,” Busch said. “I miss them so much. My dad and my mom, they were there every day at the track pushing. And Brexton, my nephew, won last night. Those thoughts were running through my head because my hometown is special.

“This Vegas place is special. So, thanks to Brendan Gaughan and South Point and everybody that makes this happen at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I couldn’t be happier.”

DiBenedetto finished second followed by Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, Chris Buescher and Kevin Harvick.

For DiBenedetto, who is still waiting to hear whether his contract has been extended to 2021, finishing second was hard to swallow.

"It’s tough to come that close, just wanted it so bad for this team," DiBenedetto said. "I love driving for the Wood Brothers. I want that number 100 (win) for them so bad and for Menards, the whole family and everything they do for us and the team, and having Duracell on the car this week, we’re keeping her charged up good. Motorcraft/Quick Lane, Ford, Roush Yates Engines, all these folks that allow me to drive a really fast hot rod.  

"Our car was the best it had been at the end, just couldn’t get control on those restarts. The 1 car, Kurt, did a great job.  We had completely different ratios for the restarts and once he gained control of the race, he played the right games on the restarts, knew what we had on our weakness there. Man, it’s tough to come that close. I just want it so bad, but I’m proud of the team. They did a great job. My pit crew did a great job tonight and really earned that one for us.”

The first stage was slowed by a competition caution on Lap 26. Hamlin, who took the lead from Kyle Busch on the restart, stayed the course to the green and white checkered for the Stage 1 win. When the race returned to green on Lap 87, Joey Logano was battling Kyle Busch for the as Hamlin dive-bombed his teammate. Busch and Logano made contact as Hamlin went low for the lead. Logano received damage and was forced to pit on Lap 90. He fell a lap down but recovered to 14th.

Kurt Busch and the Gibbs cars started the round of green-flag pit stops on Lap 118. Kurt overshot his pit stall and had to back up for service. Kyle Busch's pit crew had an issue with an air gun and he lost ground in the field. Chase Elliott, who led the first 27 laps—and added 27 circuits to his total before pitting—cycled back to the lead on Lap 145 and held on for the Stage 2 win.

The second-half turned into a battle between Hamlin and Bowman. Austin Dillon, who had an average finish of sixth in Round 1 and finished the first two stages in the top 10, had a safety violation on Lap 190 and dropped to 27th. His night went from bad to worse when Dillon experienced a power steering issue and lost nine laps on pit road. He finished 32nd.

An ill-timed caution flew on Lap 235 just after Bowman and Hamlin pitted. Kurt Busch, who had yet to come in for service, assumed the lead under caution after DiBenedetto had given up the point to pit. Since the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford remained on the lead lap when the yellow came out, DiBenedetto cycled back to the lead.

But his advantage was short-lived as Busch executed a masterful restart on Lap 243 and never looked back. As traditionally has been the case for Busch, the victory wasn’t a gimme. His ascent to Victory Lane was slowed by the sixth caution—when John Hunter Nemechek blew a tire on Lap 250 and again on Lap 261 after Christopher Bell had a tire issue on the frontstretch and William Byron plowed into him.

With a different gear ratio, Busch held off DiBenedetto on both restarts. Despite late-race challenges by Hamlin and Bowman, both who had an earlier opportunity to pit for new tires, Busch held serve for his 32nd-career Cup win.

“Yeah, the No. 11 (Hamlin) had a ton of speed,” Busch said. “I was wide-open. And you just have to manipulate the draft. I pulled out some old drag racing skills on the restarts. I knew that was our strong suit. We just put ourselves in position and we held off.

“Chip Ganassi was up in the suite somewhere and I could feel him breathing over my neck, I want to win. And we did it.”

Busch remains ninth in the point standings, but the victory vaults him back into contention with next week’s race Talladega Superspeedway to determine the Round of 8. For Busch, the win could not come at a more opportune time.

“That’s part of the system,” Busch said. “It’s an incredible feeling to not have; well, it’s sinking in. No Talladega worries. No Roval worries.

“But we’re still going there to get points. We’re still going there to add up what we need to do to win this championship. So, thanks to Chevrolet. Thank you guys, and Jim Campbell, and everybody at the Ganassi shop. This Monster Energy Chevy was fast.”

Kevin Harvick retained the Cup points lead by three over Hamlin.