Despite struggling with myriad handling issues, Kurt Busch drove the No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) to a hard-fought ninth-place finish in the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
Photo: stewarthaasracing.com
“All through practice we fought loose conditions, all through the race we fought tight conditions,” Busch said. “We changed a ton of stuff to try to find the balance. We will keep trying to zero in on it. I was ready for the restarts, and that is what helped us. The Monster Energy/Haas Automation pit crew had a good stop on the last stop, and then I had a good restart and is what gave us a top-10.”
The race started nearly two hours late under the green and yellow flags as NASCAR worked to dry the track following afternoon rain showers. After five caution laps to start the race, NASCAR lifted the yellow and the field was able to begin contesting positions. From his start in 21st, Busch slowly advanced forward and raced just outside the top-10 for much of the 334-lap race.
Busch struggled with an ill-handling racecar for much of those laps, despite crew chief Tony Gibson’s numerous adjustments made over the course of the race. Gibson called for wedge and air pressure changes to try to resolve Busch’s handling woes that saw his Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet extremely tight at both ends of the racetrack – but nothing seemed to work.
With about 40 laps to go, Busch was somehow able to avoid a 12-car incident that unfolded just in front of him. The carnage and ensuing caution period gave Busch the chance to come to pit road for one final round of adjustments. Quick work by his crew and a combination of changes to his racecar gave Busch the opportunity to gain spots over the closing laps and collect a ninth-place finish.
Busch’s teammate Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet SS for SHR, finished 10th. It was his 263rd career top-10, his 15th at Texas and his sixth this season.
Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet SS for SHR, finished 21st.
Brian Vickers, interim driver of the No. 14 TaxAct Military Files Free Chevrolet SS for SHR as he subs for the injured Tony Stewart, finished 37th after being collected in an accident on lap 290.
Kyle Busch won the Duck Commander 500 for his 36th career Sprint Cup win, his second in a row, and his second win and sixth top-10 finish of the season. It was also his 11th top-10 finish and second career win at Texas.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 3.904 seconds behind Busch in the runner-up spot, while Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson and rookie Chase Elliott rounded out the top-five. Martin Truex Jr., Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Harvick comprised the remainder of the top-10.
There were seven caution periods for 41 laps, with four drivers failing to finish the 334-lap race.
With round seven of 36 complete, Harvick leads SHR in the championship point standings. He is third with 252 points, seven behind new leader Kyle Busch. Kurt Busch is seventh with 208 points, 51 out of first. Patrick is 24th with 117 points, 142 out of first. Vickers is 31st with 86 points, 173 out of first.
The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the Food City 500 on Sunday, April 17, at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. The race starts at 1 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FOX.
