Kyle Busch was Kurt Busch’s ride home after the race; He left and Kurt had to find a new ride home
A flat tire from Bubba Wallace setup a green-white-checkered at Kentucky Speedway. Two laps to go, a shootout finish in the Quaker State 400.
Kyle Busch restarted on the inside front row after taking fuel only on the previous stop. Kurt Busch restarted 4th after taking four tires on the previous stop, his teammate lined up behind him on the outside. Kurt Busch lagged back on the start. That gave no help to Joey Logano on the outside front row.
Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson locked bumpers heading into turn one. They had a run on Logano and moved to lane three. Kyle Busch tried to move up and block which left to bottom lane open for Erik Jones. Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Erik Jones were three wide for the lead off turn two.
Jones had to lift into turn three. Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch were left to battle for the race win coming to the white flag. They traded side drafts and made light contact heading into turn one for the final time.
Kurt Busch had a tire rub after the contact but they remained side by side down the back stretch. Kyle Busch nosed ahead on the bottom into turn three for the final time.
But, his exit speed was sacrificed as a result. Kurt Busch took the high side momentum and pulled even off turn four. Kyle Busch used every inch of the race track and tagged his brother in the left rear off the final corner.
Kyle Busch got sideways and his brother opened a gap coming to the line. Kurt Busch would take the win in a thrilling battle in the NASCAR Cup Series race!
Kyle Busch on the race with his brother Kurt Busch
“It came out to being a good finish. Thank gosh for a green-whiter-checkered, those always seem to save the day,” Kyle Busch told Claire B Lang after the race.
“It’s unfortunate we were on the short end of the stick there. Didn’t know they had four tires, so that makes sense.”
“I got him cleared, just by a little bit, getting into turn three. I think I could have slid up in front of him. But, I think if I did, I would have knocked the wall down on the exit. It was just going to be carrying too much speed for how bad my front tires were and how tight I was.”
“We didn’t make the right adjustments. We just got way too tight. That’s what lost us the race with the No. 22. The No. 22 got us, we were going to lose anyway. I least I salvaged the same place that we were going to finish anyways.”
“No hard feelings. That was fine, it was good. He’s got to find his own ride home, because I’m not waiting for him.”
“He’s going to spend 2 hours in victory lane. I’m getting the fuck outta here,” Kyle Busch concluded.
Kurt Busch on the race with Kyle Busch
“It’s amazing to have that restart. To have our teammate, Kyle Larson behind me,” Kurt Busch said after the win.
“The spotter said, ‘Your teammates going to go with ya.’ He did. He did a phenomenal job. So, that I didn’t have to look in the mirror. All I had to do was play offense.”
“And what a battle. What a battle with my little brother, to race him side by side. To try to play the chess game and 180 mph with the sidedraft. We were wide open through turns 1-2 and trying to go wide open through 3-4.”
“It was a matter of me staying as close as I could to his right rear. Because he was on my left rear down the straight away. I had to be on his right rear through the corners.”
“As we drove into turn three on the last lap, I just starred straight at his door. I never lifted until I heard him lift.”
“Wait a minute, I still gotta miss the wall. And he gave me just enough room. As a true racer would. Or as my little brother would. But, I’m proud of the way we finished this race and put on one hell of a show.”
“It was one of those old school type races. Where it’s two guys duking it out. We just happened to be brothers. I can’t wait to go watch the video,tell people about it and show the sport of NASCAR.”
Kentucky Speedway
Final Laps Video
July 13, 2019
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Kurt Busch | Kyle Busch | Kentucky Speedway | NASCAR
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