DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Starting at the tail end of the field was never in Kyle Busch’s plans but a late race accident in the Bluegreen Vacation Duels forced him to a backup car for the Great American Race in Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Starting last in 40th, the Las Vegas, Nev. native would spend the opening stage maneuvering his way through the field and inside the top-five until Martin Truex Jr. shut him out of the lead draft and it left a freefall back through the field.
Over the final laps of Stage 1, the handling deteriorated with Busch informing crew chief Randall Burnett, “I can’t suck up. I’m a terrible push. I just can’t get up there.”
At the end of Stage 1, Busch pitted for fuel, tires and adjustments and found himself restarting ninth for Stage 2.
In fuel conservation mode Busch appeared to be more confident in the handling of his race and continued to slowly but cleverly move forward into sixth.
He pitted with a host of other Chevrolet teams on Lap 108. His hard work to remain in the top-10 though would go out the window after the Las Vegas, Nev. native was tagged for speeding pit road in the last section.
Returning to the race, Busch ran 31st and was one lap in the arrears.
A multi-car accident on Lap 119 would give Busch the opportunity to catch back up the field and for the team to make more adjustments. With six laps to go in Stage 2, Busch put himself in good position to earn the free pass at the end of the stage.
His dedication worked and Busch put himself back on the lead lap for the third and final stage.
Busch restarted 28th and would one again have to work his way back up the field to be in contention for the win.
By Lap 197, Busch had worked his way to the race lead with nothing out the windshield and his first Daytona 500 triumph in his sights, then Daniel Suarez spun and triggered the caution to set up for a green-white-checkered finish.
To no avail though they would have to line the field up again for NASCAR overtime and that would position him and his teammate Austin Dillon side by side on the front row.
“I have nothing left in the bag,” Busch told his team. “That’s all I have. It’s the best chance to make sure RCR gets a win.”
Going back to green it wouldn’t take long for the field to get bunched up and before the white flag could be displayed another wreck developed and it collected teammate Austin Dillon, took place and they would have to rerack the field for a second and final NASCAR overtime.
“I was hoping to have a teammate restart where I could get down on the bottom and then when I got down on the bottom and get all locked up and the 24 (Byron) and the 8 (Busch) and the 3 (Dillon) would all work together and push and go .
“Looked like it was kinda working but we got too much separation off of two and I tried to back up to get to them and when they hit me it got me really squirrely and Austin (Dillon) checked up and then it the accordion happens and everyone gets running over everybody.”
Starting fourth in the final restart of the Daytona 500, the field would take the green and once the white flag was displayed the chaos began.
A last lap wreck triggered by the cars of Aric Almirola and Travis Pastrana getting together would collect the car of Busch and relegated him to a 19th place finish.
“I think this is the first time I lead lap 200,” explained Busch. “I wish it was 1998 rules. It’s just part of the course. Just used to it.
“I come down here every year just to find out when and where I’m gonna crash and what lap I come out of the (infield) care center.”
Next up for Busch and Richard Childress Racing team is the Pala Casino 400 on February 26, 2023 at 3:30pm ET at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway.
Follow Grace Krenrich on Twitter @grace3140 or email [email protected]
