Kyle Busch's push to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has continued with his third win in four races with victory in the 5-hour Energy 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Busch, who missed the first 11 races of the season after leg injuries during the XFINITY race at Daytona back in February, has been the man of the sport since his return.
NASCAR has given Busch dispensation to make the chase by finishing the first 26 races in the top 30, after his win at Loudon he is now 33rd and 58 points away from 30th with seven races until the cut-off for the Chase.
His victory in New Hampshire was by no means easy after he went a lap down when he thought he had a puncture. It turned out to be oil on the track.
Busch then put his head down and passed leaders Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski just before a caution on Lap 250 of 301 to get back on the lead lap. He joined the cue and then when everyone pitted, he stayed on track. Despite Keselowski charging over the final laps, he took the win.
“This is such an awesome win, such an awesome comeback,” said Busch.
“Man, it's so much fun to win these races. This Camry was awesome today. This is a crazy sport, and you never know how this is going to turn out.”
Brad Keselowski was second after leading 100 laps, followed by Kevin Harvick, who led 59. Busch led 95 laps to win under caution as Alex Bowman hit the wall on the final lap. Bowman earlier had a fire after suffering a puncture.
VIDEO: Kyle Busch wins at New Hampshire
RESULTS: 5-hour Energy 301 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway
POS. | CAR # | DRIVER | MANUFACTURER | STARTING POS. | LAPS | LAPS LED | FINAL STATUS | POINTS | BONUS POINTS |
1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 4 | 301 | 96 | Running | 47 | 4 |
2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Ford | 10 | 301 | 100 | Running | 44 | 2 |
3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | 12 | 301 | 59 | Running | 42 | 1 |
4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Ford | 2 | 301 | 12 | Running | 41 | 1 |
5 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Chevrolet | 19 | 301 | 0 | Running | 39 | 0 |
6 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Toyota | 8 | 301 | 0 | Running | 38 | 0 |
7 | 19 | Carl Edwards | Toyota | 1 | 301 | 19 | Running | 38 | 1 |
8 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Chevrolet | 24 | 301 | 0 | Running | 36 | 0 |
9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | 23 | 301 | 2 | Running | 36 | 1 |
10 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Chevrolet | 6 | 301 | 0 | Running | 34 | 0 |
11 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Chevrolet | 26 | 301 | 0 | Running | 33 | 0 |
12 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr | Chevrolet | 15 | 301 | 0 | Running | 32 | 0 |
13 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | Chevrolet | 22 | 301 | 13 | Running | 32 | 1 |
14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 5 | 301 | 0 | Running | 30 | 0 |
15 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 29 | 301 | 0 | Running | 29 | 0 |
16 | 13 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | 21 | 301 | 0 | Running | 28 | 0 |
17 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | Ford | 32 | 301 | 0 | Running | 27 | 0 |
18 | 55 | David Ragan | Toyota | 3 | 301 | 0 | Running | 26 | 0 |
19 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevrolet | 9 | 301 | 0 | Running | 25 | 0 |
20 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | 25 | 301 | 0 | Running | 24 | 0 |
21 | 38 | David Gilliland | Ford | 37 | 301 | 0 | Running | 23 | 0 |
22 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 7 | 300 | 0 | Running | 22 | 0 |
23 | 21 | Ryan Blaney | Ford | 16 | 300 | 0 | Running | 0 | 0 |
24 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Chevrolet | 20 | 300 | 0 | Running | 20 | 0 |
25 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | 28 | 300 | 0 | Running | 19 | 0 |
26 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevrolet | 11 | 300 | 0 | Running | 18 | 0 |
27 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 14 | 299 | 0 | Running | 17 | 0 |
28 | 35 | Cole Whitt | Ford | 33 | 299 | 0 | Running | 16 | 0 |
29 | 9 | Sam Hornish Jr | Ford | 27 | 299 | 0 | Running | 15 | 0 |
30 | 40 | Landon Cassill | Chevrolet | 13 | 299 | 0 | Running | 0 | 0 |
31 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet | 17 | 299 | 0 | Running | 13 | 0 |
32 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | 31 | 299 | 0 | Running | 12 | 0 |
33 | 34 | Brett Moffitt | Ford | 34 | 297 | 0 | Running | 11 | 0 |
34 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Toyota | 18 | 297 | 0 | Running | 10 | 0 |
35 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto | Toyota | 35 | 296 | 0 | Running | 9 | 0 |
36 | 46 | Michael Annett | Chevrolet | 38 | 296 | 0 | Running | 8 | 0 |
37 | 32 | Eddie MacDonald | Ford | 41 | 295 | 0 | Running | 7 | 0 |
38 | 98 | Timmy Hill | Ford | 43 | 292 | 0 | Running | 0 | 0 |
39 | 33 | Derek White | Chevrolet | 42 | 290 | 0 | Running | 0 | 0 |
40 | 51 | Justin Allgaier | Chevrolet | 30 | 284 | 0 | Running | 4 | 0 |
41 | 26 | Jeb Burton | Toyota | 36 | 239 | 0 | Running | 3 | 0 |
42 | 7 | Alex Bowman | Chevrolet | 40 | 230 | 0 | Running | 2 | 0 |
43 | 23 | J.J. Yeley | Toyota | 39 | 202 | 0 | Rear Gear | 0 | 0 |
STANDINGS
POS | DRIVER | POINTS | BEHIND | STARTS | WINS | TOP 5 | TOP 10 | DNF |
1 | Kevin Harvick | 734 | Leader | 19 | 2 | 13 | 17 | 0 |
2 | Joey Logano | 665 | -69 | 19 | 1 | 11 | 14 | 0 |
3 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | 655 | -79 | 19 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 1 |
4 | Jimmie Johnson | 646 | -88 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 0 |
5 | Martin Truex Jr | 628 | -106 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 2 |
6 | Brad Keselowski | 603 | -131 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
7 | Matt Kenseth | 578 | -156 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
8 | Kurt Busch | 576 | -158 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
9 | Jamie McMurray | 574 | -160 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
10 | Jeff Gordon | 573 | -161 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 1 |
11 | Denny Hamlin | 552 | -182 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
12 | Kasey Kahne | 538 | -196 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
13 | Ryan Newman | 530 | -204 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
14 | Paul Menard | 528 | -206 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
15 | Aric Almirola | 502 | -232 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
16 | Clint Bowyer | 500 | -234 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
17 | Carl Edwards | 487 | -247 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
18 | Greg Biffle | 437 | -297 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
19 | Austin Dillon | 434 | -300 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
20 | Casey Mears | 427 | -307 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
21 | Kyle Larson | 417 | -317 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
22 | Danica Patrick | 416 | -318 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
23 | AJ Allmendinger | 402 | -332 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
24 | David Ragan | 388 | -346 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
25 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 371 | -363 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
26 | Tony Stewart | 366 | -368 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
27 | Trevor Bayne | 362 | -372 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
28 | Sam Hornish Jr | 358 | -376 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
29 | Justin Allgaier | 310 | -424 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
30 | David Gilliland | 305 | -429 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
31 | Cole Whitt | 303 | -431 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
32 | Brett Moffitt | 256 | -478 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
33 | Kyle Busch | 247 | -487 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
34 | Alex Bowman | 244 | -490 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
35 | Michael Annett | 216 | -518 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
36 | Matt DiBenedetto | 193 | -541 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
37 | Josh Wise | 186 | -548 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
38 | Michael McDowell | 111 | -623 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
39 | Jeb Burton | 111 | -623 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
40 | Alex Kennedy | 71 | -663 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
41 | Bobby Labonte | 39 | -695 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
42 | Brian Vickers | 32 | -702 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
43 | Reed Sorenson | 31 | -703 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
44 | Michael Waltrip | 26 | -708 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
45 | Mike Wallace | 8 | -726 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
46 | Eddie MacDonald | 7 | -727 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
47 | Will Kimmel III | 6 | -728 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
48 | Ron Hornaday Jr | 2 | -732 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
49 | Ryan Blaney | 0 | -734 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
50 | Landon Cassill | 0 | -734 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
51 | Brian Scott | 0 | -734 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
52 | Ty Dillon | 0 | -734 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
53 | J.J. Yeley | 0 | -734 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
54 | Regan Smith | 0 | -734 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
55 | Chase Elliott | 0 | -734 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
56 | Matt Crafton | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
57 | Johnny Sauter | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
58 | Chris Buescher | 0 | -734 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
59 | Boris Said | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
60 | Brendan Gaughan | 0 | -734 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
61 | Justin Marks | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
62 | Mike Bliss | 0 | -734 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
63 | Joe Nemechek | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
64 | Travis Kvapil | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
65 | Joey Gase | 0 | -734 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
66 | Timmy Hill | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
67 | Derek White | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
68 | Jeff Green | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
69 | Erik Jones | 0 | -734 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
70 | Tanner Berryhill | 0 | -734 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |