Kurt Busch wins in Las Vegas

If Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott won the first two segments, it was indeed Kurt Busch who won this Sunday during the South Point 400 in Las Vegas. After 21 failures, the 42-year-old driver finally won his hometown race.

« It's what every kid like me dreams of when they grow up, winning a race at home. For two decades this victory has eluded me and tonight it is finally mine. I am amazed », savored the main person concerned on arrival.

And to achieve this local triumph, Kurt Busch's race, like that of the rest, was not easy. If the first two segments escaped him, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver took advantage of the adventures of this meeting in Vegas to go first under the checkered flag.

The yellow flag that came 80 laps from the finish changed everything. Austin Dillon was relegated to the back of the pack after a penalty before retiring (broken power steering). A fierce fight then begins between the leader Denny Hamlin and his runner-up Alex Bowman but after their refueling they find themselves one lap from the lead before a new yellow flag thwarts their plans.

The only driver competing in these playoffs not to have made his pit stop, Kurt Busch wins the jackpot. Second on the restart behind Matt DiBenedetto, the driver of the Chip Ganassi Racing team manages to take the reins of his race before new events occur (John Hunter Nemechek and William Byron making mistakes).

The two interventions of the safety car in the last 18 laps and the daring bet to go to the end of the South Point 400 without changing tires will have smiled on Kurt Busch. He finally managed to win at home in Las Vegas on his 22nd attempt. Matt DiBenedetto and Denny Hamlin completed the podium.

Thanks to this success, Kurt Busch secures his ticket for the third round of the playoffs Nascar Cup Series. Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola and Austin Dillon are on unfavorable waivers. They play for survival at Talladega next weekend.