Busch Wins Russ Friedman 400

Kyle Busch took the lead from Jeff Gordon with about 30 laps to go, and drove away from the field to win the Crown Royal presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway. The victory is his third victory of the Sprint Cup season.

Top 5: Busch, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman, and Mark Martin.

Sam Hornish Jr, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, and Juan Pablo Montoya rounded out the top 10.

Notables: Kurt Busch (12th), Matt Kenseth (13th), Denny Hamlin (14th), Greg Biffle (17th), Clint Bowyer (18th), Carl Edwards (26th), Dale Earnhardt Jr (27th), David Reutimann (28th), Kasey Kahne (29th), Kevin Harvick (34th), and Jimmie Johnson (36th).

Give a call to Sam Hornish Jr. He ran well all night, inside the top 10, and pulled home a sixth-place finish.

Johnson Muscles His Way To Victory In Goodys Pain Relief 500

Jimmie Johnson bumped Denny Hamlin out of the way in the closing laps of the Goodys Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway and held on to win.

Hamlin was very diplomatic about the incident, saying he was “honored” being on the racetrack with Johnson, and the other leaders. He said that it was just short track racing, and that he would have done the same thing.

Top 5: Johnson, Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Clint Bowyer.

Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr, AJ Allmendinger, and Jamie McMurray rounded out the top 10.

Notables: Kevin Harvick (12th), Juan Pablo Montoya (13th), Jeff Burton (15th), Bobby Labonte (16th), Kurt Busch (18th), Kasey Kahne (19th), Matt Kenseth (23rd), Kyle Busch (24th), Carl Edwards (26th), Greg Biffle (28th), and Brian Vickers (33rd). 

Give a call to Michael Waltrip Racing. Michael Waltrip (13th), Marcos Ambrose (14th), and David Reutimann (20th) all finished in the top 20. Reutimann ran well and stayed on the lead lap for most of the race. A late-race incident with David Stremme led to a Reutimann spin, which put him a lap down.

Also, Stewart Haas Racing deserves a call for finishing with both cars in the top 6. Stewart finished third, while Newman finished sixth.

Kyle Busch did not like the handle of his car, and he got frustrated early. He drove into the corner a little too hard a spun. He collected Scott Speed in the crash. Busch lost two laps and never recovered. Speed finished 76 laps down in 39th.

Other Busch Brother Wins Kobalt Tools 500

Kurt Busch had a dominant car all day and held off a late charge from Jeff Gordon to win the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Top 10: Busch, Gordon, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick,  Brian Vickers, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, and Martin Truex Jr.

Notables: Dale Earnhardt Jr (11th), Matt Kenseth (12th), Denny Hamlin (13th), Jeff Burton (14th), Kyle Busch (18th), Michael Waltrip (25th), Juan Pablo Montoya (27th), Mark Martin (31st), David Reutimann (32nd), and Greg Biffle (34th).

Martin Wins Pole For Kobalt Tools 500

Mark Martin won the pole for Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway with a speed of 187.045, one tenth of a second faster that Kurt Busch who had the second fastest time.

Top 5: Martin, Busch, Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Greg Biffle.

Rounding out the top 10 starters are Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Joe Nemechek, Kyle Busch, and Kevin Harvick, respectively.

Notables: Tony Stewart (11th), Ryan Newman (12th), Jeff Burton (15th), Jeff Gordon (16th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (20th), Carl Edwards (29th), and Matt Kenseth (30th). 

Did Not Qualify: Todd Bodine, Scott Riggs, Jeremy Mayfield, and Geoff Bodine.

J. Gordon, Ky. Busch Win Gatorade Duels

Jeff Gordon held off driver/owner Tony Stewart to win the first Gatorade Duel. The victory means Gordon will start Sunday’s Daytona 500 third.

Kyle Busch held off a hard-charging Mark Martin to win the second Duel, meaning he will start the 500 fourth.

AJ Allmendinger and Jeremy Mayfield earned the two transfer spots available in the first race. Scott Riggs and Regan Smith raced their way into the show, earning the last two transfer spots.

Top 10 Starters: Martin Truex Jr, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin.

Did Not Qualify: Joe Nemechek, Boris Said, Brad Keselowski, Kirk Shelmerdine, Mike Wallace, Tony Raines, Mike Garvey, Derricke Cope, Mike Skinner, Kelly Bires, Carl Long, Geoff Bodine, and Norm Benning.