Busch Wins Opening Two Stages, but Relegated to 22nd-Place Finish after Late-Race Issues

Date: June 6, 2020

Event: Vet Tix Camping World 200 (Race 4 of 23)

Series: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. (1.5-mile quad-oval)

Format: Three Stages; 30 laps/30 laps/76 laps

Start/Finish: 6th/22nd (Running, completed 135 of 136 laps)

Winner: Grant Enfinger of Thorsport Racing (Ford) 

Kyle Busch won the opening two stages of Saturday’s Vet Tix Camping World 200 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but the series’ winningest driver saw his bid for another victory come to an end after being issued a pair of pit road speeding penalties and suffering a flat tire under green-flag conditions late in the race. Busch was able to come from three laps down to just one lap down over the final 30 laps but ran short on time and would cross the stripe in the 22^nd position.  

Stage One Recap:

• Busch started from the sixth position via a random draw in tiers based on 2020 owner’s points. It didn’t take long for “Rowdy” to work his way to the front, taking the lead from teammate Christian Eckes on lap 12.  
• After a one-truck accident slowed the field, Busch chose the undesirable outside lane on the ensuing restart and after getting a poor launch fell back to the fifth position.
• The No. 51 Cessna Tundra would march forward again moving back into the lead on lap 23 and remaining out front when the field crossed the stripe on lap 30 to complete Stage One.

Stage Two Recap:

• Before hitting pit road Busch relayed to crew chief Danny Stockman that he needed more rear security in his Toyota. The over-the-wall crew administered a four-tire and fuel stop and returned their driver to the track scored in the third position when Stage Two went green on lap 37.
• Busch had regained the lead just before the fourth caution of the day occurred on lap 53. The field would go back green with three laps remaining and Busch would cruise to another Stage win, his fourth in the Truck Series in 2020.

Final Stage Recap:

• With teams on varying pit strategies, the No. 51 Cessna Toyota was scored in the 18^th position after pitting for four fresh tires and fuel between stages.
• Within 10 laps, he had maneuvered his way up to the runner-up position and on lap 85 put himself at the front of the field for the firth time of the race.
• Before hitting pit road under green-flag conditions the owner-driver relayed that he needed an adjustment that would make his Tundra tighter for the closing stages on the race.
• Shortly after returning to the track, officials announced that Busch was being issued a pit road speeding penalty. While trying to get to pit road to serve his penalty, another competitor spun in front of him, and Busch brushed the outside wall as he tried to maneuver to the outside of the spinning vehicle.
• When a caution flag wasn’t thrown for the accident, Busch made his way down pit road one lap later to serve his pass-through penalty. While serving his penalty, he was deemed to be speeding again and had to do another pass-through penalty.
• Shortly after returning to the track the earlier contact with the wall ultimately led to a flat tire and he had to make another trip down pit road for fresh tires.
• When all the issues were said and done, the No. 51 team was scored in the 29^th position three laps down.  Busch was able to pass leader Austin Hill to get one of his laps back. Then, when a late-race caution occurred with four laps remaining, all the trucks on the lead lap pitted, which allowed the team to get another lap back via the wave around.
• Busch would be scored in the 23^rd position for NASCAR overtime, but gained one more spot over the final two laps to finish 22nd.

Vet Tix Camping World 200 Recap:

• Grant Enfinger picked up his fourth career NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series victory and second of 2020. Austin Hill crossed the stripe 0.215 seconds behind Enfinger in the runner-up position. KBM driver Christian Eckes came home third, Todd Gilliland was fourth and Zane Smith rounded out the top-five finishers.
• The race featured six cautions for a total of 28 laps. There were 14 lead changes among seven drivers, including Busch who led five times for 37 laps.

How Busch’s KBM Teammates Fared:

• Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 3rd
• Raphael Lessard, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished 19th  

Gander Trucks Championship Standings:  The No. 51 team remains atop the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series standings. After four races, the No. 51 team leads the No. 16 team by 15 tallies.

Next Race:  Busch will be back behind the wheel of the No. 51 Cessna Tundra when the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series resumes action June 13 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway. Live coverage of the race begins Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.