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Kyle Busch dominant in Nationwide win at TMS

10:48 PM CDT on Saturday, April 5, 2008

By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News
ccarlton@dallasnews.com

FORT WORTH – No one doubted Kyle Busch's ability to move to the front, even starting far back in the field for Saturday's O'Reilly 300.

The big question was what would happen once he gained first place. For once this season, the bad luck and misfortune that plagued Busch went elsewhere.

The result: Busch's first Nationwide Series victory in 2008, a commanding performance Saturday that gives him wins in all three of NASCAR's top series this season. He already had first-place finishes in the Sprint Cup and the Craftsman Truck Series.

The average speed of 151.707 mph was the quickest ever for the series at Texas Motor Speedway. Attendance was estimated at 97,000.

Despite leading 32.4 percent of the laps in the Nationwide Series entering Texas, Busch ranked just 11th in points.

"Nobody deserves to win more than this team right here," said Busch's crew chief, Jason Ratcliff.

Even Busch, whose supreme confidence has been both an attribute and a liability, was uncharacteristically humble, thanking his fans.

"It's hard enough for me to gain them," Busch said. "Hopefully, we don't lose them."

Jeff Burton finished second, and Clint Bowyer was third, good enough to expand his Nationwide points lead to 57 over Carl Edwards.

Neither could challenge Busch.

On a late caution, Burton debated with his crew about pitting for fresh tires as opposed to remaining on the track. He stayed out and then saw Busch immediately pull away on the restart.

"I don't think it would have helped us get by him," said Burton, who called Busch's car "wicked fast."

Busch led 126 of 200 laps en route to his first win at Texas Motor Speedway. He had posted six top-five finishes in different series at TMS, without a victory.

"I never won here, and I proved that," Busch said. "I don't know where Victory Lane is. I got lost getting here."

The trip was unexpected. Even after Busch took the lead, he radioed Ratcliff and tried to cushion what he saw as the inevitable disappointment.

"This is too good to be true," Busch recalled telling Ratcliff. "This is one of those days. I can feel it."

Nothing blew up, broke or went flat.

Busch had started 31st after rain cancelled Thursday's qualifying.

While pole sitter Kevin Harvick (broken axle) and Tony Stewart (tire vibration) ran into problems, Busch was making a mad dash through the field. He took the lead on Lap 57.

"I get nervous when Kyle starts from the back," team owner J.D. Gibbs said, "because it's going to be an entertaining ride to the front."

BUSCH'S STRUGGLES
Before Saturday's victory in the O'Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch had led 345 laps in the six 2008 Nationwide Series races, but had not won any of the races. A breakdown:
Track Laps led Finish
Daytona 47 2
Fontana 2 2
Las Vegas 18 31
Atlanta 153 24
Bristol 0 42
Nashville* 125 16

*-started on pole

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