Kyle Busch Spanks Truck Field at New Hampshire

Kyle Busch, driving the No. 18 Toyota/Traxxas Toyota, spanked the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with a dominant win in the 16^th annual running of the F. W. Webb 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

[media-credit id=62 align=”alignright” width=”230″][/media-credit]This was Busch’s 30^th career win in 99 Truck races and he now ranks second on the all-time series wins list. Busch also achieved another record, leading 165 laps, the most ever in a 175 lap Truck race at New Hampshire.

This was Busch’s 104^th national series win. And with that domination, Busch also scored a perfect driving rating of 150.

“We just had a great truck,” Busch said in the understatement of the race. “We worked hard and I want to say ‘hi’ to my wife who is working at home in Charlotte.”

“It was fun for us but probably not for others.”

Busch not only dominated the field but he also started from the pole, his 12^th in 99 the Truck Series competition. Rowdy Busch was so dominant that only six trucks finished on the lead lap.

“These guys on this Kyle Busch Motorsports team did a great job,” Busch said. “We unloaded a little bit off but we just had to get the feel where I liked it.”

“I felt really good with it,” Busch continued. “To be able to qualify first and set sail on our own agenda really meant a lot.”

Eric Phillips, Busch’s crew chief, agreed wholeheartedly with his driver.

“Like Kyle said, we were off a little bit so we tried something different,” Phillips said. “We made steady progress through both practices and then the truck was pretty good the rest of the weekend.”

Busch acknowledged that he has had other dominating performances, such as leading every lap at Phoenix in the Nationwide race earlier in the year.

“I never thought of that actually,” Busch said. “I think I led 190 or 192 laps of a Nationwide race here too one time.”

“So, that’s cool,” Busch said. “Certainly Phoenix and Loudon, when I can hit it right, I can hit it right. I’m really, really good.”

Young Austin Dillon, in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, ran second for most of the race to Busch. And that is exactly where he finished.

This was Dillon’s second top-10 finish in three races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He also now leads the point standings by just two over James Buescher.

“We were in there every lap,” Dillon said. “We even got to lead a lap which was good for our points deal.”

“Championship has been on our mind all year,” Dillon said. “I feel like we’ve had a great truck to beat each and every week.”

“We’re finally stringing some finishes together.”

Kevin Harvick, behind the wheel of the No.2 JEGS Chevrolet, came in third. Although his fifth top-10 finish in six races at New Hampshire, Harvick was frustrated with the racing.

“It was like a parade,” Harvick said. “It was a terrible race with everybody following each other around.”

“I got stuck behind the 88 there and lost half a track,” Harvick lamented. “It was just really hard to pass.” Track position was king.”

Ron Hornaday, Jr., driving the No. 33 Cooked Perfect Meatballs Chevrolet, finished fourth and Johnny Sauter, in the No. 13 SafeAuto/Carrier Chevrolet, rounded out the top five.

Miguel Paludo, behind the wheel of the No. 7 Stemco Duroline Toyota, was the top-finishing Sunoco rookie. Paludo started from the 15^th position and ended the race in the 10^th spot.

“It was a good day for us,” Paludo said. “The two tires in the end was a better call for us. I’m proud of our guys and I’m proud to be in the top ten in a race like this.”

Joey Coulter, driving the No. 22 RCR Graphics Center Chevrolet , was probably the most frustrated driver on the ‘Magic Mile.’ Coulter qualified third, was moving his way up through the pack, and even led a lap in the race.

Unfortunately, Coulter was penalized twice for being too fast on pit road and finished his race in the 11^th position.

Matt Crafton, James Buescher, Todd Bodine, Timothy Peters and rookie Miguel Paludo rounded out the top ten finishers, sixth through tenth respectively, in the F. W. Webb 175.