Team NOS Member Kyle Busch was prepped and ready for the CarQuest Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Race on Saturday May 24th. Equipping Busch with a brand new race car, nicknamed “Golden Child” at the Braun Racing shop, the team’s night would not go without adversity. However, Busch and the Dollar General team refused to be denied. As all in the No. 32 pit held their breath, Busch held off a last lap challenge by Denny Hamlin to bring home the win.
As the sun dipped below the grandstands at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Busch took the green flag and headed for the front. The big excitement started on a caution on lap 123, which gave Busch the opportunity to bring his car to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Unfortunately, a problem with the jack resulted in a slow stop for the Dollar General team and not only cost Busch the lead but put him back in the 19th position for the restart. Busch would not be denied as his frustration only seemed to fuel his determination. Taking over one position after another, he soon found himself back inside the top 10.
Running ninth when a caution fell on lap 159, it was decision time for the Dollar General team. With 40 laps to go Todd Lohse, Bush’s Crew Chief, knew that they were almost four laps short on fuel but that with a couple more caution periods and an effort by Busch to conserve they could make it. After much deliberating, the team came to a unanimous decision – Go for it!! As all of the leaders hit pit road, Busch took over the lead for the restart with 35 to go.
The rest was history as they say; the race went under caution twice more, relieving the team’s concern for fuel as Busch continued to dominate. One last caution with two laps to go set the field up for a green-white-checker finish and what would be an exciting, nail-biting ending. In the end, Team NOS Member Kyle Busch held off a determined challenge by Denny Hamlin, to take the checkered flag and give Braun Racing and sponsor, Dollar General, their first win of the 2008 season.
“The Dollar General Camry was awesome tonight,” said Busch. “We really had to work on it there in the beginning of the race but Todd Lohse and the guys made a lot of adjustments on it and we got it going in the end. We were a little worried about the fuel situation at the end of the race but whatever they’re putting in this thing, whether it’s NOS Energy Drink or Sunoco, it certainly had enough in it to make it. I was concerned a little bit, but every caution we had there I was fortunate because I could shut the motor off and make a whole lap around under caution without the motor running. That gained us about two laps right there every time the caution came out. Then I just rode around in fourth gear chugging along behind the pace truck. Fortunately for us, we were able to make it with some burnouts.”
Congratulations to Team NOS Member Kyle Busch for his 9th NASCAR victory this year! Stay tuned to www.drinkNOS.com for all your NOS News and Team NOS updates.
