Kyle Busch made NASCAR history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 2016 Brickyard 400 as he dominated the race and won it in a green-white-checkered finish.
Kyle started the race weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by earning the pole for the Xfinity Series race and winning it Staurday (7/23). Next he scored the pole for NASCAR’s top division for Sunday’s (7/24) Sprint Cup race officially called the Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at The Brickyard. Most fans would still simply call it the 23rd running of the Brickyard 400.
Tony Stewart would lead the field on a ceremonial first lap as the Indiana native races in the Brickyard 400 for the final time as a full-time Sprint Cup driver in his farewell season behind the wheel. Of note also was the fact that Jeff Gordon was behind the wheel of the #88 coming out of retirement as a fill-in driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for this race and next weekend’s NASCAR race. The legendary NASCAR racers would share a special moment after the race as they drove around the 2.5-mile track side-by-side to salute the fans in what will be their final Brickyard 400 as competitors together on the historic track.
When the green flag waived to officially start the race Kyle quickly served notice that if anybody else was going to win the race that driver would have to beat his #18 Toyota to achieve their goal. Kyle was one of only three drivers to lead the race. To simply say he led the most laps in the race would be a massive understatement as he was the first car in the running order for a staggering 149 laps in a race that was scheduled for 160 total laps.
The yellow flag waived eight times during the race including one very late race that would put the race in NASCAR’s version of overtime followed by the final caution on that restart for a double attempt at a green-white-checkered finish. That second overtime restart would work out with Kyle rocketing out to a safe lead to drive around the track to take the checkered flag on lap 170 and score his second consecutive Brickyard 400 win. The win makes NASCAR history as Kyle becomes the only driver to ever win both poles and both races during the same NASCAR race weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Matt Kenseth took home a second place finish with Jimmie Johnson grabbing the third place finish. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson finished in fourth and fifth places respectively. See the complete race results for the 2016 Brickyard 400 here.
The top three place in the point standings remain the same with Kevin Harvick at the top followed by Brad Keselowski in second and Kurt Busch holding steady in third. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch both move up a spot each in fourth and fifth places respectively. See the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings here.
The Brickyard 400 win gives Kyle four for the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season to tie him that win category with Brad Keselowski on the Chase Grid. See the NASCAR Chase Grid here.
The drivers will head to the “Tricky Triangle” next for the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway Sunday, July 31st.
By: Buck Stevens
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Chevy Summer Sell Down Chevrolet, takes the green flag at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, and Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Stanley Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, races the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Red Vest Chevrolet, leads Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Chevy Summer Sell Down Chevrolet, leads Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, celebrates winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, poses with the winner’s decal in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jeff Curry/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, kisses the bricks with his wife, Samantha, and son, Brexton, after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, and Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Chevy Summer Sell Down Chevrolet, take a cooldown lap together after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
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- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 24: (L-R) Jeff Gordon, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, hugs Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Chevy Summer Sell Down Chevrolet, after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images)
