Busch celebrated his NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in the Alsco 300 with a burnout Friday night, one night after going up in smoke after getting spun out in the Camping World Truck Series.
Busch benefited from a stunning miscue from then-race leader Erik Jones late in the race. Busch then held off Austin Dillon – who rode his bumper through a good portion of the race – in a three-lap shootout.
Jones passed Busch coming out of Turn 4 with 25 laps to go. During a caution moments later, Jones shut off his engine and coasted on the track. Competitors passed him before he could get back up to speed. NASCAR penalized Jones two spots for failing to maintain the speed of the pace car.
“When he had the problem getting his car re-fired, it kind of handed us the race,” Busch said.
The race restarted with 21 laps to go. Busch chose the high line and Austin Dillon started low. Series points leader Daniel Suarez – also Busch’s teammate with Gibbs Racing – made it three-wide going into Turn 1. Busch emerged with the lead.
Busch beat Dillon by .455 seconds for his series-extending record 81st victory. The Xfinity victory was his fifth in nine races this season.
Dillon finished second, Suarez third, Jones fourth and Darrell Wallace Jr. fifth.
Beavercreek native and Liberty Twp. resident Gary Keller fielded a car for rookie Ryan Preece, who finished 15th.
Busch, who started on the pole, led 185 of the 201 laps. There were 11 lead changes among six drivers.
Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski started 10th and finished in the same position.
Busch, who competes in the Quaker State 400 Sprint Cup race on Saturday, also competed in the truck race Thursday night. His race ended 57 laps in when Spencer Gallagher sent Busch spinning into the outside wall.
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