NASCAR
Kyle Busch Wins 100th Race for KBM in Pocono Buzzer-Beater
LONG POND, Pa. – The Truck Series’ all-time winningest driver and team hit a milestone at Pocono. In his fifth and final start for 2023, Kyle Busch delivered a sendoff thriller. On the last lap, Busch snookered Corey Heim in turn two for his second checkered flag of the year. Pocono also marks the 100th Truck Series victory for Kyle Busch Motorsports, only padding their record. Busch was far from his usual dominant self though, truly having to earn this Tricky Triangle triumph.
Both opening Stages would be won by defending champion Zane Smith. The No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford is in a dogfight for the regular season championship, and executed a max-points attempt through the opening half.
The only incident between both Stages happened to a Playoff bubble driver–Tanner Gray. While running 15th, the No. 15 Toyota spun out of turn one and made hard contact with the inside wall. Needing a strong points day, Gray would leave Pocono in last place.
On pit road late in Stage 2, Corey Heim’s 11 leapfrogged Kyle Busch for the lead. As Stage 3 began, Heim appeared to have the 51’s number, being able to hold him off. A few late restarts even kept Busch in tow, but not close enough to capitalize.
A big wreck out of turn one set up a five-lap sprint to the checkers, with Busch lining up against Heim again.
Heim slowly began to drive away, until hitting the tunnel turn on the last lap. The No. 11 Toyota stumbled ever-so-slightly, allowing Busch a run to the inside. The 51 cleared the 11 by corner exit and drove off to career win number 64. Rowdy now has three Truck Series victories at Pocono and gave his team the all-important triple-digit win total.
“It’s pretty cool, you know we’ve been around for a long time,” Busch said. “Not as long as others obviously, they’ve withstood a little bit longer, but it’s been fun. Just a great ride obviously. This Silverado today was really really fast, just mired in traffic.”
“Couldn’t find a way to make a clean move so I had to make a little bit of a racey one, a dicey one there at the end getting into (turn) two. Heim ran a great race, but you know we needed this 100th win to get it over with.”
“This Zariz Transport Silverado was just too fast to hold us out of victory lane. Really proud of the guys at KBM, everyone at Rowdy Manufacturing, appreciate them too. It’s a monumental day, it’s a century mark of being able to win 100 Truck races. Granted we’re a small team and just one that performs in the Truck Series. We’ve ventured away once upon a time and it didn’t quite work. But we found a home here in the Trucks.”
“Excited to have Craftsman back on board, we appreciate their support of the Trucks over the years. Always cool to score a victory, another nice one here at Pocono.”
Behind Busch and Heim, the Pocono Trucks top-10 were: Taylor Gray, Christopher Bell, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, Christian Eckes, Dean Thompson, Ben Rhodes and Matt DiBenedetto. Second is enough for Heim to retain the points lead, while fifth locks up a Playoff spot for Majeski.
The final three Truck Series postseason berths will be decided next week at Richmond Raceway. The Worldwide Express 250 is the Truckers’ 2023 regular season finale. The short track green flag will fly Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Three tickets remain up for grabs in the title fight. Many drivers are willing to do whatever it takes to end Saturday night standing tall in victory lane.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Kyle Busch Motorsports via Twitter
