The best swan song for the all-time win leader in the NASCAR Xfinity Series would be a victory in his final start.
That’s just what Kyle Busch did on Saturday, as he recorded his 102nd career series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
It gives Busch his fifth win of the season in five starts. The Las Vegas, Nevada native said after he won 100 series victories, he would retire. He will leave the Xfinity Series as a winner in what’s expected to be his last start.
“Never say never,” said Busch. “But yeah, this is it,”
It was far from easy, however. Busch trailed his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Daniel Hemric, over much of the final segment of the race. With six laps to go, on a tight restart, Busch made contact with the back bumper of Hemric’s Toyota, sending Hemric up the track and into the car of A.J. Allmendinger. Hemric’s car then slammed the outside wall in turn one, ending his bid for his first career series win.
That sent the race into overtime. On the final restart, Busch had to battle with Jeb Busch for the point, coming away with the lead before driving away to the victory.
“I meant to push him,” Busch said. “I wanted to hit him. I just wanted to hit him more forward and straight. But I turned him sideways a little bit. I was just trying to help a teammate. That’s why I restarted behind him.
“It was a great day for the 54 car, but the 18 (Hemric) was better and deserved this win. So I’m sorry to Daniel and those guys. I hate it that all that transpired. That’s why this win is a little more somber than some because you don’t take solace in a win like that.”
For Hemric, who has recorded nine second place finishes but has yet to make his first trip to victory lane in NXS competition, it was another near miss.
“(I’m feeling) what could have been, I guess,” Hemric said. “As soon as he touched me, it just steered me off the left rear and right into the fence and that was it. I tried to hang on to the Poppy Bank Toyota Supra, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
For most of the day, it was the Kyle Busch show up front, as the veteran swept the first two segments of the race, only losing the lead during pit stop sequences.
That ended when Gray Gaulding spun on the backstretch on lap 96, sending the lead pack top pit road while a handful of drivers stayed out.
Justin Allgaier assumed the lead for the lap 102 restart, while Hemric and Busch charged on fresher tires from behind.
Three laps later, Hemric drove around Allgaier for the lead. Busch would follow to second don lap 108.
With Hemric running in clean air, Busch found the going tougher in his bid to move back to the point. Hemric would pace the field until the next caution flew on lap 119 when contact between two Georgia natives, Brandon Jones and Ryan Sieg, sent Jones into the outside wall.
The leaders again hit pit road, with Hemric edging Busch in the race back onto the track, while a few cars chose to stay out.
When the green flag flew again, it took less than a lap for Hemric and Busch to power back out in front of the pack.
Again in clean air, Hemric held the measure over Busch, with Busch changing his line around the racetrack in an attempt to find a way to close on the leader.
With 17 laps to go, a spin off turn 2 by Carson Ware brought out another caution. Having used up their fresh tires, Hemric, Busch and Allmendinger came to pit road for older tires, banking on the tires being colder giving them a chance against those who would restart with fresh tires.
On the restart, Hemric powered around Kyle Weatherman, who had not pitted, to take the lead going into turn one. But the caution flew again when Weatherman had an issue and was sent spinning after contact from Brandon Brown and Harrison Burton.
That set up another restart, this time with Hemric on the point in his quest for his first series victory.
But on that restart, Busch attempted to give his teammate a shove from behind, instead knocking Hemric’s car up the track and into Allmendinger, when in turn sent Hemric into the outside wall.
That sent the race into overtime, setting up the final restart.
“He (Hemric) probably was going to have us beat, you know,” said Busch. “Whoever got ahead off of turn 2 on a restart was probably going to circle back around and take the checkered.’’
Jeb Burton finished in second, with Noah Gragson in third, Justin Haley in fourth and Ty Dillon in fifth.
Brett Moffitt, Justin Allgaier, Jeremy Clements, Sam Mayer, and Austin Cindric rounded out the top 10.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Credit Karma Money 250 – July 10, 2021
1. (1) Kyle Busch(i), Toyota, 164.
2. (11) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 164.
3. (9) Noah Gragson, Chevrolet, 164.
4. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 164.
5. (30) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 164.
6. (20) Brett Moffitt, Chevrolet, 164.
7. (8) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 164.
8. (19) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 164.
9. (22) Sam Mayer #, Chevrolet, 164.
10. (4) Austin Cindric, Ford, 164.
11. (6) Austin Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 164.
12. (16) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 164.
13. (3) A.J. Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 164.
14. (32) Ryan Vargas #, Chevrolet, 164.
15. (17) Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, 164.
16. (14) Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, 164.
17. (27) Jade Buford #, Chevrolet, 164.
18. (18) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 164.
19. (10) Riley Herbst, Ford, 164.
20. (36) Colby Howard, Chevrolet, 164.
21. (15) Myatt Snider, Chevrolet, 164.
22. (37) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 164.
23. (28) Josh Berry #, Chevrolet, 164.
24. (5) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 164.
25. (33) Joe Graf, Jr., Chevrolet, 164.
26. (24) Matt Mills, Chevrolet, 164.
27. (29) Ronnie Bassett, Jr., Chevrolet, 164.
28. (31) Jesse Little, Toyota, 164.
29. (23) Mason Massey, Toyota, 164.
30. (2) Daniel Hemric, Toyota, 164.
31. (12) Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, Accident, 163.
32. (38) Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, Accident, 162.
33. (25) Santino Ferrucci, Toyota, 162.
34. (39) Bayley Currey(i), Chevrolet, 162.
35. (40) Gray Gaulding, Chevrolet, 160.
36. (26) Carson Ware, Chevrolet, Accident, 139.
37. (34) C.J. McLaughlin(i), Ford, 139.
38. (21) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 128.
39. (13) Brandon Jones, Toyota, Accident, 118.
40. (35) David Starr, Toyota, Accident, 50.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 109.032 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 18 Mins, 59 Secs. Margin of Victory: .550 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 10 for 43 laps.
Lead Changes: 16 among 9 drivers.
Lap Leaders: K. Busch(i) 1-43;H. Burton 44-46;N. Gragson 47-48;K. Busch(i) 49-65;A. Allmendinger 66;K. Busch(i) 67-97;N. Gragson 98-100;J. Allgaier 101-104;D. Hemric 105-120;T. Dillon 121-124;D. Hemric 125-148;K. Weatherman 149-151;D. Hemric 152-156;A. Allmendinger 157;K. Busch(i) 158-161;J. Burton 162;K. Busch(i) 163-164.
Leaders Summary: (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led) Kyle Busch(i) 5 times for 97 laps; Daniel Hemric 3 times for 45 laps; Noah Gragson 2 times for 5 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 4 laps; Ty Dillon 1 time for 4 laps; Kyle Weatherman 1 time for 3 laps; Harrison Burton 1 time for 3 laps; AJ Allmendinger 2 times for 2 laps; Jeb Burton 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 54,16,20,18,9,02,36,11,19,1
Stage #2 Top Ten: 54,16,9,7,18,20,02,23,11,1
Playoff Standings: 1. Austin Cindric – 748 (4 Wins) (Points Leader); 2. A.J. Allmendinger – 674 (2 Wins); 3. Justin Allgaier – 607 (2 Wins); 4. Jeb Burton – 559 (1 Win); 5. Myatt Snider – 396 (1 Win); 6. Daniel Hemric – 636; 7. Harrison Burton – 572; 8. Justin Haley – 537; 9. Noah Gragson – 519; 10. Brandon Jones – 488; 11. Michael Annett – 450; 12. Jeremy Clements – 445.
