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Busch stormed into contention for his second Cup championship, holding off fellow Chase drivers Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards to win Sunday at Dover International Speedway in Delaware, tightening the leaderboard in a playoff that hasn’t had any driver emerge as a clear-cut favorite.
Busch’s No. 22 Dodge seemed only to get stronger over the 400-mile race, and he beat Johnson, his long-time antagonist, on the final restart to take the checkered flag for the second time this season. The win pushed Busch up from ninth in the points standings, just nine points out of first.
Only 19 points separate the top nine drivers with seven races remaining.
Edwards and Kevin Harvick share the points lead in the Chase standings entering round 4 of the Chase at Kansas Speedway. Harvick is seeded first because of a tiebreaker.
Busch, the 2004 champion, won his 24th career race and for the first time at Dover.
“To win a Sprint Cup race in the Chase, this is what it’s all about,” Busch said.
Johnson leads active drivers with six career victories at Dover and traditionally has dominated Chase races. Sure enough, after a tough start to the Chase, the defending five-time champion led the majority of laps and proved that the No. 48 is far from finished.
“Are we out of this?” said Johnson, rubbing his chin with a smile.
Not by a long shot.
Johnson’s reign as champion was considered by some to be on the ropes after he finished 10th and 18th in the first two Chase races. But his strong result on one of his favorite tracks moved him only 13 points behind the leaders and feeling confident. He has five straight top 10s, including one win.
Johnson, who led 157 laps, finished second, Edwards was third, and Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne was fourth.
Vancouver, Wash., native Greg Biffle finished 27th.
FRANCHITTI IN LEAD
Ed Carpenter edged Dario Franchitti at the Kentucky Speedway finish line to pick up his first career IndyCar Series victory, but Franchitti moved into the series points lead after Will Power had an awful day in Sparta, Ky.
Franchitti started the day trailing Power by 12 points in the standings. He goes to the Oct. 16 season finale with an 18-point lead over Power. Scott Dixon is a distant third.
Carpenter and Franchitti staged a wheel-to-wheel battle for the final 22 laps, and Carpenter had just enough at the finish line to give Sarah Fisher Racing its first victory.
Power made contact on pit road during the first round of stops, and it caused damage to Power’s car. He never recovered from it and finished 19th in the 29-car field.
NHRA POSTPONED
Rain forced NHRA officials to postpone the final eliminations in the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa., until today (6 p.m., ESPN2).
Funny Car pilot Johnny Gray made it through the two opening rounds along with Robert Hight, Jeff Arend and Bob Tasca III.
In Top Fuel, Del Worsham, Larry Dixon, Spencer Massey and David Grubnic were still in contention.
NASCAR SPRINT CUP CHASE STANDINGS
Through three of 10 races:
Pl. DriverPoints
t1. Kevin Harvick2,122
t1. Carl Edwards2,122
t3. Tony Stewart2,113
t3. Kurt Busch2,113
5. Jimmie Johnson2,109
t6. Brad Keselowski2,108
t6. Matt Kenseth2,108
8. Kyle Busch2,107
9. Jeff Gordon2,103
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr.2,088
11. Ryan Newman2,081
12. Denny Hamlin2,054
