Twice is Nice for Ballew in Busch in Bristol

Topics:  Kyle Busch, O'Reilly 200

Sandra Vorse
Billy Ballew Motorsports
August 21, 2009

The second time around is just as nice according to Billy Ballew Motorsports and Kyle “Rowdy” Busch after their second consecutive victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway in the fall race.

Busch picked up another dominating win, repeating the performance from 2008, piloting the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort /Graceway Pharmaceuticals Toyota Tundra in the O’Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

Busch took the lead early on lap 32 holding it until lap 36 when the first of five caution flag periods in the race occurred.

The Billy Ballew Motorsports teams’ strategy was to pit once during the 200 lap race on the .533-mile high banked oval track in Bristol, Virginia. Crew chief, Richie Wauters brought Busch down pit road on lap 37 where the team was flawless; taking tires, fuel and making track bar adjustments to the Toyota Tundra.

Busch returned to the track in the eighth place position for the restart on lap 41. He worked his way to the front picking up the second place position on lap 97. Busch battled with No. 23 Camping World Truck for numerous laps, running three and four wide on the “World’s Fastest Short Track.”

“I got up to the lead and then pitted,” Busch said. “We had to pass a couple more guys that didn’t pit – the 17 (Timothy Peters), the 16 (Brian Scott) and the 23 (Jason White) – he was a battle and that was fun. Jason White, he’s a close friend of Denny’s (Hamlin) and a friend of mine and he was having a moment there so it was a battle for sure. He was tough and he had a good truck.”

Busch was eventually able to pass the competitor on lap 124 where he held the lead for the remaining 76-laps posting, his 12th career win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Billy Ballew Motorsports.

“It was a good night for us,” Kyle Busch said. “I’m really proud of the whole Miccosukee Toyota team, they did a great job. It’s hard to come out here every week and race with minimal guys, but we try to do it and we do the best we can. Real proud of all the guys that we had today – I worked them to death in practice. I didn’t really think we had a great truck. It was close; it was about the same as what we had last year – just a few minor differences so we just tried to improve on that a little bit. Throughout the race there in the first little bit, we started coming forward – we started using the top and kind of snookered guys. We were the first ones up there and the first ones to make it work. I love Billy (Ballew, owner) to death and all these guys. Doug (George, 15 crew chief) and all the guys on the 15 (Aric Almirola) truck this weekend, all the guys that were with me earlier this year on the 51. It’s just amazing – the guys at the shop do a great job working on these things and building them and making them what we need them to be. Unfortunately, the 15 (Almirola) didn’t have the night they were looking for, but we certainly did and we’re proud of that.”

Busch ended his 17-race streak of not winning a race in one of the three Top-Tier NASCAR Touring Series Wednesday night with the NASCAR Camping World victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“I think the win does help because it just sets the tone for the weekend,” Busch said. “It kind of gives myself a little momentum rolling back into this deal. I’ve been frustrated lately thinking it’s been me that haven’t been able to win races and when you can get a vehicle that’s capable of winning and you win with it – it shows that you still have it and you can still do it. I had a late model race after Indy that I won – I had a good car. I had a late model race just this past week that I was running up front and we broke and then tonight we won.”

Busch’s victory marked the sixth consecutive season in which crew chief Richie Wauters has at least one victory. He matches the series record previously shared by Dennis Connor (1996-2001) and Mike Hillman Jr. (2004-09).

Busch will return to the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Tundra at Chicagoland Speedway, Friday, August 28, 2009.

Sandra Vorse
Media Relations
Billy Ballew Motorsports
704.264.9548
SandraVorse@aol.com