Sunday, July 1, 2018

Busch Beats Larson in Thrilling Finish at Chicago

Originally written for CLNS Media.


Kyle Busch held off Kyle Larson to win the Overton’s 400 from Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Busch led 59 laps on Sunday, but he had to hold off Larson over the final run.  With Larson closing in the final laps, Busch had to change his racing line to try to hold up Larson’s momentum.

On the final lap, Larson dove below Busch and both drivers made contact.  In the final corner, Busch bumped Larson and sent him spinning, while Busch was able to drive to victory.

Busch said it was just hard racing between two fast cars.

“Larson tried to pull a slide and didn’t quite complete it,” Busch said.  “He slid up into me and used me, and then I kind of used him as a little bit of a brake getting into Turn 3 and I was able to come back for the victory.”

“When you start banging doors on each other, that’s what it turns the race into and it’s fair game after that.”

Busch struggled with his handling early in the race, but he said the car came to him when he got into clean air while leading.

“This thing was horrible today,” Busch said.  “We just never gave up…just kept working on it and making the most of it.”

“Got it to where we needed it at the end.”

Larson slid through Turns 3 and 4, but was able to save the car to finish second.  Larson said he wasn’t upset with Busch following their contact.

“I’m not upset…I tried to get to his door and I opened the door for him to retaliate into 3,” Larson said.  “I thought it was free game; I got into him first.”

Unofficial results:
1. Kyle Busch
2. Kyle Larson
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Martin Truex Jr.
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Erik Jones
7. Denny Hamlin
8. Joey Logano
9. Brad Keselowski
10. Alex Bowman
11. Daniel Suarez
12. Jamie McMurray
13. Paul Menard
14. Jimmie Johnson
15. Ryan Newman
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
17. Kurt Busch
18. Ryan Blaney
19. Chase Elliott
20. William Byron
21. Michael McDowell
22. Chris Buescher
23. Darrell Wallace Jr.
24. AJ Allmendinger
25. Aric Almirola
26. Trevor Bayne
27. Kasey Kahne
28. Ty Dillon
29. Matt DiBenedetto
30. Ross Chastain
31. Gray Gaulding
32. Reed Sorenson
33. Kyle Weatherman
34. Corey LaJoie
35. BJ McLeod
36. Landon Cassill
37. Austin Dillon
38. David Ragan
39. Timmy Hill

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

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