AVONDALE, Arizona — The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returned to action for their second race of the 2011 season with Kyle Busch of Las Vegas, NV, driver and owner of the #18 Dollar General Toyota, racing a very dominant run to victory in the 7th Annual Lucas Oil 150, leading the last 107 laps to score his win on the Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ.
This is Busch's twenty-fifth win, scored out of the eighty-seven NCWTS races he has competed in.
With this only the second weekend of NASCAR racing for Busch, this is his first win of this season and his second top ten finish, thus far.
"Our car didn't seem dominant in the beginning. Bowyer (Clint) had the car at the beginning until the first caution flag went out, (with forty-three laps scored). Our guys put their minds together and made adjustments during that caution. Getting out of the pits first gave us the lead and the car was good. It was a good day and a good night. We also qualified good, so you can't ask for more than that. Our guys (Busch's team) are really dedicated and they do a good job for us. The inside line at this track has been better for me. It definitely worked for me as I drove tonight. We (our team) went to work after Homestead and put together this new truck. It was really fast right out of the trailer. We are really happy with the job our guys did." said Busch.
Clint Bowyer of Emporia, KS, driving the #2 Tide/Kroger Chevrolet, clocked in a 26.876 second, 133.949 mph lap for fast time in qualifying to earn the pole start. When the green flag flew out to start the Lucas Oil 150, Bowyer grabbed the lead and led the first forty-three laps. Bowyer had total control of the lead in these opening laps, having a flawless run, when Chase Mattioli, driving the #10 Ford had a tire go down to bring out the first caution of the race.
Pit stops were greatly appreciated at this point, especially by Busch, who now had the lead. Bowyer drove a really good race but just didn't seem to have anything to chase Busch down with. Bowyer held off the rest of the field to score in second at the flag.
"I had a shot at winning. I was messing up on the restarts. I'm use to driving with more power. He's (Kyle Busch) the guy to beat in this series. It was just like it was, last fall racing here. It is what it is." said Bowyer
Third place went to veteran driver, Ron Hornaday of Palmdale, CA. Hornaday drives the #33 Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, Chevrolet. Hornaday raced from a fourth place start and chased down Austin Dillon who had started in second but quickly dropped to third and by the thirty-eighth lap, Hornaday had third, which he would keep as he made his way to the checkered.
Hornaday, who has won many races at PIR, said, "This is my favorite track." During this post race interview, Hornaday was also asked about PIR's plans to repave and reconfigure this mile speedway, and said. "I don't like changes. I love this track. We'll just have to come back and see how it is, when we race this fall"
Cole Whitt, racing the #60 Red Bull Chevrolet Truck in his "Rookie" season with the trucks, scored a sixth place finish, to be the highest finishing Rookie. There are ten rookie drivers competing in this series.
Johnny Sauter, racing the #13 Safe Auto/Curb Records Chevrolet Truck, started the race in eighth and scored behind Hornaday for fourth.
Austin Dillon, was the second fastest qualifier having posted a 26.927 second, 133.695 mph lap, to earn his front row start. Dillon drove a good race but had to settle with fifth at the line.
The average speed of this race, is calculated by the miles ran and the time it took to get there. In this case, it was a long run, having eight caution flags fly for thirty-eight laps under yellow. Multiple reasons, brought on these cautions, contact, tires, motors, etc. but fortunately there were not any reported injuries by any of the drivers. The average speed was 89.330 mph and there were only sixteen drivers on the lead lap as the checkered flag was waved.
With Whitt finishing in sixth, it was Matt Crafton (CA) earning seventh, followed by Justin Johnson (NV), Joey Coulter (FL), Jason White (VA), Brad Sweet (CA), Timothy Peters (NC), Nelson Piquet, Jr. (BRAZ),
Todd Bodine (NY), Max Papis (ITAL), Clay Rogers (NC), Brendan Gaughan (NV), Justin Marks (CA), Jeffrey Earnhardt (NC), Johanna Long (FL), Ryan Sieg (CA), Shane Sieg (CA), Craig Goess (NJ), Mike Skinner (CA), Miguel Paludo (BRAZ), Dusty Davis (NV), Norm Benning (PA), Greg Pursley (CA), David Mayhew (CA), Justin Lofton (CA), Ricky Carmichael (FL), Parker Kligerman (CT), Chase Mattioli (PA), David Starr (TX), B J. McLeod (FL) and Travis Kvapil (WI).
Three drivers advance ten or more positions to represent the hard chargers of this race and they were, Brad Sweet, (CA), Jeffrey Earnhardt (NC) and Mike Skinner (CA).
