Busch Survives Wild Finish to Win at Martinsville

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Kyle Busch won the First Data 500 from Martinsville Speedway on Sunday afternoon to punch his ticket to the Championship finale at Homestead in three weeks.

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Throughout the final run, multiple lead drivers got together to set up for an exciting finish.  Busch was able to take the lead on the final restart, and he was able to hold off Martin Truex Jr. in the final corner as the rest of the field wrecked behind them.

Busch said his team gave him a good car for the weekend and that they were able to work on it throughout the race.

“Our guys did an awesome job preparing this car,” Busch said.  “We weren’t the best all day, but we put ourselves in the right spots there at the end with all the chaos ensuing.  None of it was our fault; we just came out on the right end of the stick.”

With the victory, Busch became the first driver to clinch a spot in the Championship round of the Playoffs at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  Busch said he’s excited to not worry about points for the next two weeks.

“We can go out there and race for wins; let everyone else worry,” Busch said.  “Not give everyone else a chance to breathe and keep their heads on their shoulders going into that week at Homestead.”

In the closing laps, Denny Hamlin spun Chase Elliott racing for the lead.  The two got together on the cool-down lap and talked about their run-in.

Hamlin said the move wasn’t intentional, but that he was trying to get to Homestead to race for a championship.

“Trying to get a race win, but everybody wrecked everyone at the end; it was complete…chaos,” Hamlin said.  “He didn’t make the corner because I had his back end jacked up; I got in there too hot and I got in the back of him.”

Elliott said he wasn’t pleased with Hamlin’s explanation for the way he raced at the end.

“He said someone was pushing him, and it wasn’t two car lengths between him and the other guy,” Elliott said.  “It’s definitely 100 percent unnecessary and uncalled for.”

“My mom always said if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say nothing at all.  He’s not even worth my time.”

Unofficial results:

1. Kyle Busch

2. Martin Truex Jr.

3. Clint Bowyer

4. Brad Keselowski

5. Kevin Harvick

6. Trevor Bayne

7. Denny Hamlin

8. Ryan Blaney

9. Matt Kenseth

10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

11. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

12. Jimmie Johnson

13. Austin Dillon

14. Ryan Newman

15. Daniel Suarez

16. Kasey Kahne

17. Danica Patrick

18. Aric Almirola

19. Michael McDowell

20. Paul Menard

21. Chris Buescher

22. Kurt Busch

23. Landon Cassill

24. Joey Logano

25. Cole Whitt

26. Erik Jones

27. Chase Elliott

28. David Ragan

29. Jamie McMurray

30. Ty Dillon

31. Gray Gaulding

32. Reed Sorenson

33. Corey LaJoie

34. Hermie Sadler

35. Kyle Weatherman

36. Carl Long

37. Kyle Larson

38. Jeffrey Earnhardt

39. Matt DiBenedetto

40. AJ Allmendinger

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