Kyle Busch put on an impressive performance in the Lucas Oil 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday night, racing from the back to the front two times but still managing to lead a race-high 66 laps of the 150 that made up the race on his way to the win, his fourth victory in his fifth series start at Chicagoland and in the sixth Truck Series race hosted by the track.
“It was a great race for us tonight, and this Tundra was awesome,” Busch said. “This Dollar General Tundra — what can I say, man? It was fast.”
The race was originally scheduled to be a Friday night show, but rain delayed racing until Saturday night.
Matt Crafton finished second and took the championship points lead away from ThorSport teammate Johnny Sauter.
“We finished second to the damn 51 again,” Crafton said. “All in all, it was a good race.”
Sauter started on the pole as a result of having the fastest truck in practice, with qualifying rained out on Friday, but he wound up in the back after a pit road speeding penalty in the final 50 laps. Sauter headed into Chicagoland with a seven point lead over Crafton. After Chicagoland, roles were reversed, with Crafton having a five point leaed over Sauter.
Austin Dillon finished third, Tyler Reddick was fourth and Jeb Burton was fifth.
Busch started 32nd, last in the field after having Erik Jones practice his truck, but he moved into the top-10 by lap 11 and climbed into the top-five by lap 25. By that time, Dillon had taken the lead from Sauter. Busch was third by the time the yellow flag waved for a competition caution on lap 30. He maintained that position after pit stops, while Reddick restarted up front by taking only two tires. Reddick remained near the front for the remainder of the race.
Busch was sent to the back, again, because of a pit road speeding penalty during the lap 30 caution. Ryan Blaney and Crafton each led laps before Busch took the lead for the first time on lap 53.
“Early on, I was patient with it,” Busch said. “I knew we had a good truck. I just paced myself early.”
Darrell ran second and then took the lead just before lap 60, but he was only up front for a short time, with most of his laps led running under caution, before Busch retook the lead on a restart that followed a lap 61 caution. Busch then pulled away to a lead of about six seconds by the time the field began cycling through green-flag pit stops with just under 50 laps to go.
The yellow flag, the third and final one of the race, waved during the cycle of stops. Dillon came out with the lead after pit stops were completed and the race back underway, with Busch in second and Crafton third.
Busch took the lead for good on lap 134, and Crafton also got by Dillon to take second soon after.
Wallace finished sixth, Ben Kennedy was seventh, the No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet of Joey Coulter eighth, Joe Nemechek ninth, and Bryan Silas rounded out the top-10.
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