Kyle Busch wins Enjoy Illinois 300 in overtime after delays and difficulties
Just when you thought this race wasn’t going to end, Kyle Busch was able to put it away and earn another win. This was not the prettiest NASCAR race ever. It was not the easiest going race ever. But it sure was a race. When that checkered flag drops though, all of that goes out of the window. Any driver will tell you it was a great afternoon and a nice Sunday drive as long as they have the win.
This race had delays and exploding brake rotors and a lot more drama than many expected heading into the Enjoy Illinois 300. Kyle Busch started on the pole and was a contender all afternoon and evening. At one point, the broadcast area lost all power and the broadcast went to commercial.
To put it simply, the fans and the drivers had to earn this one. It was a long and hot day at the track and a long and frustrating day for the folks watching at home, too. None of that mattered for Rowdy as he went on to fight through all of the nonsense and come out with a checkered flag. From the pole to the finish line.
This is Kyle Busch’s third win of the season to go along with Fontana and Talladega. The change to Richard Childress Racing has been nothing but good for Busch this season. For this win, the RCR team had to do without their stats and data as the internet went out on pit road during the race.
An old-school race with handwritten notes, won by a driver seen by many as the old-school guy in the garage. A fitting end to the weekend after how strong Busch was from qualifying to the race.
Kyle Busch avoids mistakes on late restarts
In the last 40 laps, there were five restarts in this race. The Enjoy Illinois 300 was under a weather delay due to lightning to start. Then there were issues with the in-car cameras due to the extreme heat on the track. It felt like the longest 300-mile race ever with all the delays and red flags.
Brake rotors were exploding all over the place. Busch and his team have to be relieved after their brakes held up through all the late restarts.
Knowing how restarts and overtime finishes usually go for the leaders in these kinds of races, it was nice to see Kyle Busch stick it out. The fans are really warming up to him now. He got a big ovation as he took the checkered flag and bowed in front of the St. Louis crowd.
With this win, Busch moves up to tie William Byron for most wins on the season. He has also won two more races already this year than he did a year ago. Even with hard-charging Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, Rowdy was able to take off on his restarts and hold them off five times.
Could Kyle Busch be headed toward his third Cup Series championship?