Kurt Busch Scores First Career Road Racing Win
The 2011 Toyota / Save Mart 350 was ruled today by Kurt Busch. Kurt brought great pit strategy and a very fast car to Infineon Raceway to claim the victory in convincing fashion. This was his first win of 2011 and the first road course victory of Kurt's career.
Qualifying
Toyota and Chevrolet drivers swept the top five in qualifying. Joey Logano was quickest in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Jamie McMurray was second quickest for Chevrolet.
Paul Menard started third with last week's winner Denny Hamlin rolling off fourth. Ryan Newman rounded out the top five.
Drop Of The Green
Joey Logano got a good start and lead the early going. Jamie McMurray, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman were all in single-file line behind him as the drivers were showing some patience during the early laps.
Denny Hamlin made his way to the front and took over the lead on lap six. Hamlin then set sail and put a big gap between himself and the rest of the field.
Kurt Busch was on the move early. Busch climbed up from his eleventh place starting spot to the lead in just thirteen laps.
Storylines
This race took on a distinct Formula One look. F1 teams frequently set their strategy based on the number of pit stops they want to make. Pit Strategy was the focus early in this race. As the field headed to pit road for their first round of pit stops on the usual three-stop pit strategy Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski stayed out an extra ten laps in an attempt to complete the race on only two stops.
It's a gamble as a caution at the wrong time late in the race can throw your strategy out the window but this is a great gamble. NASCAR road racing is such a unique animal. Leave it to Roger Penske and his organization to bring strategy in from Formula One in an attempt to claim the victory.
Chasing The Checkers
With 40 laps to go Kurt Busch was out front with Tony Stewart and Martin Truex Jr. in line behind him. What had been a dominant lead was just a few carlengths as the drivers closed in on the final round of stops.
Kurt Busch made his final stop with 38 to go and that started a steady stream of drivers making their final stops. No one wanted to get out of sequence with the leaders.
Tony Stewart's shot at the win came to an end off the front bumper of Brian Vickers as Vickers' payback brought out the final caution.
Kurt Busch lead the field to the green for the final restart with 19 laps to go. Busch got a great jump on the green and held a five carlength lead before they got to turn three.
Kurt had the fastest car and the best pit strategy. He picked the up his first victory of 2011 and the first road course win of his career in convincing fashion.
Top Ten
The Points
Once again Carl Edwards finished in front of his closest competitors in the points to extend his point lead. Kevin Harvick was also in the top ten but still lost a little ground to Edwards.
Jeff Gordon cracked the top ten in points bumping Denny Hamlin back into the wild-card scramble.
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings:
Qualifying
Toyota and Chevrolet drivers swept the top five in qualifying. Joey Logano was quickest in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Jamie McMurray was second quickest for Chevrolet.
Paul Menard started third with last week's winner Denny Hamlin rolling off fourth. Ryan Newman rounded out the top five.
Drop Of The Green
Joey Logano got a good start and lead the early going. Jamie McMurray, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman were all in single-file line behind him as the drivers were showing some patience during the early laps.
Denny Hamlin made his way to the front and took over the lead on lap six. Hamlin then set sail and put a big gap between himself and the rest of the field.
Kurt Busch was on the move early. Busch climbed up from his eleventh place starting spot to the lead in just thirteen laps.
Storylines
This race took on a distinct Formula One look. F1 teams frequently set their strategy based on the number of pit stops they want to make. Pit Strategy was the focus early in this race. As the field headed to pit road for their first round of pit stops on the usual three-stop pit strategy Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski stayed out an extra ten laps in an attempt to complete the race on only two stops.
It's a gamble as a caution at the wrong time late in the race can throw your strategy out the window but this is a great gamble. NASCAR road racing is such a unique animal. Leave it to Roger Penske and his organization to bring strategy in from Formula One in an attempt to claim the victory.
Chasing The Checkers
With 40 laps to go Kurt Busch was out front with Tony Stewart and Martin Truex Jr. in line behind him. What had been a dominant lead was just a few carlengths as the drivers closed in on the final round of stops.
Kurt Busch made his final stop with 38 to go and that started a steady stream of drivers making their final stops. No one wanted to get out of sequence with the leaders.
Tony Stewart's shot at the win came to an end off the front bumper of Brian Vickers as Vickers' payback brought out the final caution.
Kurt Busch lead the field to the green for the final restart with 19 laps to go. Busch got a great jump on the green and held a five carlength lead before they got to turn three.
Kurt had the fastest car and the best pit strategy. He picked the up his first victory of 2011 and the first road course win of his career in convincing fashion.
Top Ten
- Kurt Busch
- Jeff Gordon
- Carl Edwards
- Clint Bowyer
- Marcos Ambrose
- Joey Logano
- Jimmie Johnson
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kevin Harvick
- Brad Keselowski
The Points
Once again Carl Edwards finished in front of his closest competitors in the points to extend his point lead. Kevin Harvick was also in the top ten but still lost a little ground to Edwards.
Jeff Gordon cracked the top ten in points bumping Denny Hamlin back into the wild-card scramble.
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings:
- Carl Edwards
- Kevin Harvick -25
- Jimmie Johnson -33
- Kurt Busch -34
- Kyle Busch -37
- Matt Kenseth -52
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -65
- Clint Bowyer -77
- Jeff Gordon -93
- Ryan Newman -98
