Kyle Busch: Wins Toyota Owners 400

Carl Edwards got around teammate Kyle Busch on the final lap to win, but this race is notable for having five drivers lead at least 40 laps: Edwards and Busch, as well as Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, and Kurt Busch.

The final stage looked like it would answer one of our original questions for the Toyota Owners 400: Would Truex be able to break through with a short track win?

Next up for the streaking Busch is a track where the race often goes not to the swiftest, but the luckiest – Talladega Superspeedway. When asked if he had done it before he responded, “Maybe once, but probably not”. You know what? I was wondering if I’d come out alive. “I think that we have to keep that in mind”. “I saw a lot of yellow (his auto color) at the front”.

Joey Logano is someone I like who isn’t quite in the short favorites mix.

Last week in Bristol we got our first taste of short track racing over on the East Coast.

Busch, who has long served as NASCAR’s heel, was personable and downright amusing in a podcast with Dale Earnhardt Jr., burying the hatchet over a feud that started 10 years ago in Richmond.

The race should change significantly after the 100-lap caution as the first stage was run mostly in sunshine which is no longer evident.

The race was a two-driver show up front for most of the day, as Denny Hamlin (189) and Martin Truex Jr. His teammate Denny Hamlin has a win here in 2016 and five consecutive top-6 finishes. But trouble with a jack on a pit stop with 30 laps left dropped him back and ultimately to a 14th-place finish.

He’s had four top-six finishes but also four showings less characteristically out of the top 10, including a 34th-place finish at Texas two weeks ago after being involved in a crash.

Joe Gibbs, it seems, hadn’t seen Busch climb into the crowd to acknowledge what appeared to be friendly fan. Chase Elliott 3. Joey Logano 4.

(10) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 402. Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 402 8. Matt DiBenedetto 28. Brad Keselowski 29.

While Harvick and Busch may be tied for the series wins lead, Busch has the edge when it comes to points in the playoffs.

(9) William Byron #, Chevrolet, 402. Erik Jones, Toyota, 402 14. Martin Truex Jr. 15. Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 402 16. Aric Almirola, Ford, 402 18.

(11) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 402. Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 402 20.

(22) * Daniel Hemric (i), Chevrolet, 399. Ryan Blaney 23. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 24. Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet, 401 26. Chris Buescher 27. AJ Allmendinger 28.

(34) Gray Gaulding, Toyota, 393. Cole Whitt 36. Landon Cassill 37. David Ragan, Ford, 399 34.

(38) Harrison Rhodes, Chevrolet, 386.

He’s ranked eighth in the Monster Energy Series standings, but is among the top three drivers in Richmond proficiency.

Late race cautions gave the No. 22 crew some chances to work on the vehicle, as well as restarts to give Logano chances to make moves.

Kyle Busch arrives to Richmond riding a hot streak.