Busch returns to Victory Lane

Win at hometown raceway becomes even sweeter

By David Poole | The Charlotte Observer • Published March 02, 2009

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LAS VEGAS – It wasn't something Kyle Busch had planned. But after winning Sunday's Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, in his hometown at a track he watched rise up out of the dust, it seemed like the thing to do.

"I decided to kiss the ground that this place was built on," Busch said after smoking his tires, nearly blowing his engine and then climbing out of his No. 18 Toyota to collect the checkered flag and celebrate with fans.

He kneeled on the track and gave the pavement a kiss in the style of the winner's traditional brick-kissing ritual at Indianapolis. For Busch, who cut his racing teeth at the short track adjacent to this 1.5-mile stock-car palace, a win in Las Vegas was like a win for others at places like Indy or Daytona.

"I didn't know exactly what it would mean," Busch said after passing Clint Bowyer for the lead on Lap 269 of 285 and holding on for his 13th Cup win — at 13 tracks. "But coming to the checkered flag there were knots in my stomach. The last 25 of 30 laps, I was as nervous as I could be.

"It's as big as the Daytona 500. I said it wouldn't be, but it is."

Busch remembers when this track was "nothing but a dirt lot." He sat in the grandstands and watched his older brother, Kurt, compete in NASCAR competition at the track .

On Sunday, after a race that featured a track-record 14 cautions, Kurt Busch came to Victory Lane and shared the joy with his brother and their mom Gaye, whose face was wet with tears.

"I don't know if it has set in or not that I've won here," Busch said minutes later. "But it feels pretty good. It's awesome, man. This is just the feeling of a lifetime."

It was an uphill battle for Busch, who had the fastest lap during Friday's qualifying but had to start at the rear of the field because he blew an engine during that day's practice.

As Busch began to fight his way forward, Matt Kenseth's bid to become the first driver to win the season's first three races didn't last a lap. Kenseth knew at the start he had a problem. He came to pit road under caution after Brad Keselowski's Lap 2 spin, but just after the green flag waved on Lap 5 his No. 17 Ford began smoking as the engine let go.

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