|
 |
|
|
|
|
Phoenix: Kyle Busch NASCAR Nationwide Race Preview
Kyle Busch is closing in on his first NASCAR championship.
Busch is set to roll his No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry into Phoenix International Raceway for what could be a title-clinching day. The Las Vegas native has amassed 61 career NASCAR wins in his relatively young career, but a title - in one of NASCAR's premier divisions, no less - would be a first for the 24-year-old.
With a finish of 15th or better, Busch can clinch the Nationwide Series championship this weekend. He can also clinch with a finish of 34th or better in each of the last two races (Phoenix and Homestead).
|
|
|
Busch holds a 272-point lead following this past weekend's win in Nationwide Series competition at Texas Motor Speedway, which served as the second part of a two-win weekend in the Lone Star State.
The win - Busch's fourth-straight at Texas Motor Speedway - came in dominating fashion on Saturday as he led the field six times for 179 laps (out of 200). In those four wins at Texas, Busch led a total of 657 laps (out of 800).
Turning his attention to this Saturday's race, Busch hopes that a solid performance at the mile-long track in Phoenix will deliver not only a first NASCAR title, but a third Nationwide Series win at the facility. His last win came in 2008, piloting his No. 18 Camry to victory from the pole position.
Busch is looking to become the second NOS Energy Drink racer in as many weeks to win a major motorsports championship. Last week, Chris Forsberg captured the Formula Drift title in his NOS 370ZX.
KYLE'S QUOTES ON THE POSSIBILITY OF WINNING THE TITLE
"We have a great team in place on the Nationwide side that is chomping at the bit to win this championship. It's probably a long time coming for Joe Gibbs Racing and they're giving me a very fast NOS Energy Drink Camry to make sure we seal the deal this weekend.
"I feel like with the win last weekend (at Texas) that we've slipped back into our groove again and we can win these races. I'm still really proud of last weekend's performance. Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) always brings good cars to Phoenix, so there's no reason to think we can't make it two wins in-a-row. I'm hoping we can put the finishing touches on a great and consistent season on the Nationwide side."
Kyle Busch has scored two wins in NASCAR Nationwide Series competition at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) in November 2007 and April 2008. In the back-to-back scores, Busch led a combined total of 265 laps (out of 405). Busch has led a total of 457 laps in Nationwide Series races at PIR in eight career starts. In six out of those eight races (75 percent), Busch secured a top-ten finish.
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
| |
|
