Date: March 2, 2018
Event: Stratosphere 200 (Race 3 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Location: Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval)
Format: Three Segments; 30 laps/30 laps/74 laps
Start/Finish: 1st / 1st (running, completed 134 of 134 laps)
Kyle Busch had not run a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at his hometown track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway since 2001, but he made up for lost time Friday night. Busch won the pole, led 55 laps and claimed his 50th win in the Truck Series, which is one shy of the series’ record. However, the win was his first NCWTS victory at his home track. He has now won on every active track on the 2018 schedule.
Stage One Recap:
- Starting from the pole for the second-consecutive week, Busch led the first 15 laps until he came to pit road under caution on lap 16 for four tires.
- He returned to the track 16th on the restart, but did not stay there for long. When Stage One ended on lap 30, he was third. He pitted again for adjustments to help free up the Cessna Tundra.
Stage Two Recap:
- Busch started Stage Two second and took the lead within a lap, but had to fight for it. Several times he ran three wide for the lead.
- The Cessna Tundra was very tight and Busch finished Stage Two in third. He pitted on lap 63 for another adjustment to start the final stage.
Stage Three Recap:
- Busch was in seventh to begin the final stage on lap 68. Within five laps he regained the lead.
- He surrendered the lead to Brett Moffitt after some trash off the track covered the grille opening of his Tundra. By getting behind another truck, he was able to use the dirty air to push the trash off his truck.
- Teams cycled through the pits for green-flag stops and by the time a caution came on lap 120, Busch had regained the lead. He held off a late-race challenge by Moffitt to win the race with a 0.437-second margin of victory.
Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 51 Cessna Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
What does it mean to win this race at your home track?
“It means a lot. We’ve had some great runs in the races we’ve had at KBM. We’ve raced and won all across the country, but I’ve just never been able to get back to Las Vegas to run a race. This one’s pretty cool to be able to win in my hometown and finish my list of Truck Series facilities where I’ve raced and won. I couldn’t be prouder to do it with this Cessna Beechcraft Toyota Tundra – just a phenomenal race truck. Everybody at Kyle Busch Motorsports and the guys at Rowdy Manufacturing have done such a great job for us. Being able to get Incredible Bank with us in victory lane too and Interstate Batteries – of course Toyota and TRD. I was glad we were able to score the victory for our team.”
Stratosphere 200 Recap:
- Busch won the race, followed by Johnny Sauter, Brett Moffitt, Grant Enfinger and Stewart Friesen rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured five cautions for a total of 25 laps. There were 14 lead changes among seven drivers. Busch led six times for 55 laps and KBM’s Noah Gragson led once for 12 laps.
How Davis’ KBM Teammates Fared:
Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 12th
Spencer Davis, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished 13th
NCWTS Owner Championship Standings:
With the win, the No. 51 team moved up to second in the Truck Series Owner’s Championship Standings, 32 points out of first.
Next Race:
Harrison Burton will be behind the wheel of the No. 51 DEX Imaging Tundra when the Truck Series returns to action in three weeks on March 24 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Live coverage of the race begins at 2 p.m. ET on FS1.
