WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Kyle Busch had a race-winning car for Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen but said his Joe Gibbs Racing team failed to execute after being forced to pit again just after the opening of their fuel window during Stage 3 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
Likely for Busch, the miscue came under caution at Lap 57 instead of green flag conditions after Matt DiBenedetto stopped on the track near the bus stop.
Busch restarted 31st on Lap 59 but methodically worked his way forward as a man on a mission passing cars left and right throughout Watkins Glen’s 2.45-mile course. Less than 10 laps later, Busch found himself back inside the top-10 and passed for ninth on Lap 67.
Over the final 23 laps of the race, Busch used a fast car to muscle his way inside the top-five but ran out of laps to hunt down leader Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. for his seventh Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season.
He settled for third.
“Sounds familiar,” said Busch. “Every year we come here, we have a fast car and fail to execute, whether that’s just called bad luck or whatever. Last year we had a lug nut get stuck in the caliper, this year we had fueling problems. It never ceases to amaze me. Nothing surprises me anymore.”
After the race, crew chief Adam Stevens said either a part broke or the fuel can didn’t engage properly with the gas tank.
While Busch didn’t win, he settled for his 16th top-five finish of the season in impressive fashion.
Chatter throughout the final stage informed drivers and spotters that Busch was on a tear maneuvering from the back of the field to the front – and to be on the lookout.
His rise back towards the top took a lot of work – but Busch said he was determined to still end the day on a positive – even if he was disappointed with the miscue.
“I mean, yeah, it’s hard work,” added Busch. “It was a heck of a lot harder than it should have been. But that was the predicament we were put in, and we had to go work. I certainly gave Joe his money’s worth today, maybe even a couple more races.
“You know, overall just we had a fast race car. I can’t say enough about our guys, our shop, everybody at TRD engines, everything that gave us that opportunity. We just failed to capitalize, so it’s a disappointing day, no question.”
The Las Vegas, Nev. native heads to Michigan International Speedway next weekend looking to improve on his fourth-place finish at the 2.0-mile oval in June.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01
