Kyle Busch went from being hit & spun out in the first few laps of the NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway to capturing his 3rd win of 2019 in the Food City 500.
It was on lap three of the race that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got into the back of Kyle Busch’s car spinning him out and leaving the #18 Toyota with some significant damage. That would turn out to be the first of 11 caution periods in the race. Two of those were for the end of the first two stages of the race. Ty Dillon was able to claim the win in stage one. Joey Logano was the first car across the line at the end of stage two.
Kyle did not give up after that very early race incident and neither did his team. The pit crew repaired the car and adjusted it throughout the race to give their driver a chance. Late in the race Kyle was able to get to the front of the field. He swapped the lead of the race with a couple of other drivers after that a few times.
However, he was able to get to the front and hold the lead for the final 18 laps of the race to take home his 8th career Bristol trophy. Kurt Busch claimed the second place finish marking only the second time the two brothers have finished one-two in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. Joey Logano crossed the line third with Ryan Blaney in fourth. Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five. See the complete race results for the Food City 500 here.
With the win Kyle Busch increases his lead at the top of the point standings. Denny Hamlin holds steady in second place. Joey Logano moves up a spot to third place while Kevin Harvick slips back a spot to fourth. Brad Keselowski moves up to round out the top five in the points. See the complete Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.
The teams and drivers will head to racing Saturday night under the lights this week in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway April 13th.
By: Buck Stevens
