Certainly, Kyle Busch might have channeled his George Costanza Twix pose at Texas. (Photo: Sean Folsom/The Podium Finish)
As long as Kyle Busch desires victories, not even a hot and humid Saturday afternoon slowed him down at Texas.
In spite of starting 14th due to metric qualifying, Kyle Busch seemed prime for his 10th NASCAR XFINITY Series victory at Texas. Moreover, the 36-year-old Las Vegas native sought his 99th career series win on Saturday afternoon.
Indeed, Busch showcased the strength of his No. 54 Twix Toyota Supra as he quickly worked his way into the top 10. Certainly, Busch, making his second XFINITY start of the year, wasted no time in stage 1 as he placed third while Austin Cindric and Daniel Hemric placed 1-2.
Although Hemric led the opening portions of stage 2, Busch, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, proved unbeatable. In fact, Busch parlayed his dominant run with a stage 2 win over Hemric, Cindric, Harrison Burton and Noah Gragson.
In the end, six on track incidents slowed the pace of stage 3. Undoubtedly, Busch put on a masterclass with Texas dominance despite hardy challenges from Justin Allgaier.
Critically, Allgaier put up a challenge for Busch in the final 55 laps. On a restart on lap 116, Allgaier willed his No. 7 Dollar Shave Club Chevy Camaro into the lead.
Ultimately, a lap 139 restart essentially wrapped things up with Busch getting a hardy push from Cindric, returning to the lead. This time, Busch made like Fleetwood Mac by going his own way for another Texas victory.
Of course, Kyle Busch enjoyed the powers of Twix’s cookie crunch. (Photo: Sean Folsom/The Podium Finish)
“For myself here today. … I wasn’t going to say it was easy sailing,” Busch observed. “But there, at one point, I was building a lead and I was like, ‘Oh well, alright, this is going to be pretty easy.’ And then, there at the end, (Justin) Allgaier got there and got to the front. And then it was a race.
“He was kind of hard to hold off there for a few times. Luckily, we got a couple of cautions there where I was able to regroup, rethink and do something to try to get by him. We were so equal that I felt like if either of us was out front, barring something happening with lapped traffic, that that was going to be who goes on to win.”
Most importantly, Busch, who tends to heat up during grueling races, observed his keys to success.
“Just normal training,” Busch said. “I hate heat training. Some of the guys like Hemric and Harrison (Burton), the Toyota guys, we do have a heat room and they train in the heat room. And I’ve never been in that thing. I absolutely cannot bear it. So, just normal workouts, getting in better physical health and having the ability to withstand some of those hotter races.
“And this cool shirt device, I just started wearing it kind of a little bit last year. And a little bit more this year. It’s been super helpful on the hot ones and being able just to keep you a little cooler in the car.”
Moreover, on a day where his Truck racer, John Hunter Nemechek, won, Busch observed the significance of a victorious Saturday afternoon.
Like driver, like champion. (Photo: Sean Folsom/The Podium Finish)
“It’s awesome,” Busch observed. “It’s really good. I feel like KBM is on the right path and track to be obviously be a force to be reckoned with. John Hunter is, week in and week out, running up front and doing good things. Winning stages, leading laps and winning races. So, that’s awesome. I’m excited for him, Eric (Philips, crew chief) and everybody at KBM to showcase what we’ve got.”
Likewise, Busch seeks his third XFINITY win of the year next Saturday afternoon (June 19) at Nashville Superspeedway at 3:30 pm. ET. Altogether, the Tennessee Lottery 250 marks this series’ first Nashville race since 2011.
Top 10 finishing order at Texas
Busch-Allgaier-Cindric-Hemric-Brandon Jones/Allmendinger-Gragson-Moffitt-Haley-Annett
