Kyle Busch might drive for Joe Gibbs Racing, but on Saturday night he put a stop to JGR's string of wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series by scoring a victory in the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 behind the wheel of the No. 32 Toyota for Braun Racing.
Busch held off his JGR teammate Denny Hamlin om a green-white-checkered finish, which was cut short on the final lap when Mike Wallace hit the wall. The victory was Busch’s fourth of the season and the 15th of his career.
"I said before the race that hopefully we could bring this Dollar General Toyota home in first, and the Joe Gibbs Toyota could be second," Busch said. And fortunately, tonight it worked out that way."
Along with Hamlin, Brad Keselowski was in the hunt for the win and the two traded paint under a caution flag with three laps-to-go. After a fierce battle for position in the race, Keselowski used his No. 88 Chevrolet to bump Hamlin’s No. 20 Toyota under the yellow. Hamlin then retaliated by turning up into Keselowski’s car, which knocked in the left-front fender.
Hamlin complained that Keselowski had repeatedly failed to give him racing room in the event.
“We race hard and that’s what racing is, and that’s why fans come and watch it,” said Keselowski, who scored a career-best finish in third. “He (Hamlin) doesn’t like it when guys race him hard. Well, that’s the sport. That’s what I do. He didn’t think that was cool, so he decided to take my left-front fender off.”
Hamlin was quick to point fingers after the race at Keselowski’s inexperience.
“I think it’s him racing in the Nationwide Series and not have any Cup experience, learning how to let guys go at times,” Hamlin said. “There were many times during the race when I had him clear except for maybe two inches. Instead he hangs in my right-rear quarter and then goes in the corner right in my door.
“That pisses drivers off. We just don’t roll with that.”
The conflict during the race continued after the checkered flag when a fight on pit road erupted between the two teams.
“That don’t impress me by bringing the whole crew over here,” Hamlin said. “Bring the driver over here and let us talk about it.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who owns Keselowski's car, finished fourth in the No. 83 Chevrolet and was able to see everything unfold in front of him.
"Brad bumped him in the back just a little bit under caution and Denny knocked the fender off his car," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I'm not happy about that."
But as a team owner, Earnhardt Jr. was happy to Keselowski up front and in contention for the win.
"When he passed me for the lead I was like 'That's a weird feeling,'" Earnhardt Jr. said. "I was really excited about that."
Pole-Sitter Brian Vickers rounded out the top five in the second Braun Racing Toyota.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series now heads to Dover International Speedway on May 31 for the Heluva Good! 200.
