Kyle Busch dominated the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Friday night for his fifth Xfinity Series win of 2016 and the 81st of his career.
Busch lost the lead to his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones with 26 laps to go, but under the ensuing caution, Jones was moved to third for failing to maintain his position. Back in the lead, Busch held off a charging Daniel Suarez before the final caution flew with five laps to go. Busch then held off Austin Dillon in overtime.
“This is a great effort for this team, everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, the chassis shop, the body shop, JGR engines, everything was really, really good about this racecar ever since we unloaded,” Busch told NBCSN in victory lane.
“NOS Energy drink Camry had really good speed and (crew chief) Chris Gayle and the guys did an awesome job. Each and every week this 18 car is always the best, always the one to beat. I think that’s a true testament to everyone at Toyota, everyone at TRD, and this Xfinity Series program.”
MORE: Stats and results of the Alsco 300
MORE: Daniel Suarez extends point lead at Kentucky
The win was the first Xfinity victory for Busch since Texas in April and he went unchallenged through much of the event after starting on the pole. It was the seventh overall win for the No. 18 team, which was victorious with Denny Hamlin and Sam Hornish Jr. earlier this year, and the 10th for the Joe Gibbs Racing organization.
Daniel Suarez finished third, Erik Jones finished fourth, and Darrell Wallace Jr. finished fifth.
HOW BUSCH WON: On a restart with two laps to go, Busch held off a charging Austin Dillon who got to the inside of the No. 18 in Turn 3 but couldn’t complete the move.
WHO ELSE HAD A GOOD RACE: Ty Dillon recovered from a qualifying crash and a late speeding penalty for a seventh-place finish. … Brennan Poole used the late cautions to jump inside the top 10 and finished ninth.
WHO HAD A BAD RACE: Justin Allgaier went from running inside the top 10 to finishing 31st after breaking a drive plate. … Allgaier’s JR Motorsports teammate, Cole Custer, finished 32nd after colliding with Alex Guenette on pit road early in the event.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I fell back 20 feet from the pace car, no different than if you’re saving fuel and they put me to third place. I guess I gave it away.” — Erik Jones.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Xfinity Series will be back in action on Saturday, July 16 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the Lakes Region 200.