NASCAR at Madison: Kyle Busch’s third win of the season in the Cup series; Grant Dernierger wins in Truck (+ video)

The NASCAR Cup Truck and Mechanic Series were taking place this weekend at the Worldwide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. This Sunday, NASCAR’s all-star series delivered its scheduled 240-lap event (it actually ran 243 because overtime was required) and Kyle Busch won. This is Busch’s third win of the season, driving the No.8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.

This 15th race in 2023 has been suspended three times. The first time after only 7 laps were covered, due to the risk of thunderstorms about ten miles from the track. The stop, which is useless but covered by insurance in the US, lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Afterwards, the event was tight, mainly dominated by Busch (the pole position writer and winner of the first segment), Ryan Blaney (winner of the second segment) and then Kyle Larson. A few tire punctures leading to contact with the wall for the drivers however resulted in 4 changes between laps 10 and 190.

The second red flag was raised 42 laps from the end, when officials cleared the track of water from Noah Gragson’s car after the victim of a mechanical problem hit the wall too hard on the outside. The driver of the No.42 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet was not injured in the accident.

At the restart, two rounds took place on the green before the 8th was neglected, this time after Austin Cindric sent Christopher Bell against the wall. Then, 12 laps from the end, the third red flag was shown, this confidence to repair, with a few hammers, the protective wall damaged by the crashed car of Austin Dillon, Busch’s teammate.

Once the restart was given, the 11th and final yellow flag slowed the drivers down and forced extra time. On each restart, Kyle Busch proved to be the best with the final time, with Larson and Denny Hamlin (Toyota/Joe Gibbs Racing) for 2nd place, Busch leading the way. He wins by 0.517 seconds ahead of Hamilin. Joey Logano (Ford/Team Penske) is 3rd, ahead of Larson and Martin Truex Jr (Toyota/Joe Gibbs Racing). Blaney, Daniel Suarez, William Byron, Michael McDowell and Kevin Harvick round out the Top 10.

Ross Chastain, who came to Madison as the championship leader, finished 22nd. Corey LaJoie, replacing Chase Elliott (suspended for one race) in the No. 9 Chevrolet/Hendrick Motorsports, finished 21st.

The race lasted 3 hours, 29 minutes and 49 seconds but if we include the three red flags, almost 6 hours passed between the start and the end of this event which had 10 lead changes. For full rank, Click here.

The Cup Series begins next week at the Sonoma, California road course.

On Saturday, the Technician Truck Series was in action at this Madison oval. Taking advantage of a crash between Ty Majeski and Zane Smith on lap 155, Grant Finallyger (Chevrolet/GMS Racing) earned his second win of the season, his first at the track and ninth of his career in the NASCAR truck series. . Finishing in extra time two laps over the scheduled distance of 160 laps, the event saw Finallyger resist pressure from Christian Eckes to cross the finish line 0.256 seconds ahead. Grant Finallyger also collected a $50,000 bonus for winning the second round of the Triple Truck Challenge.

On old tires, Zane Smith held a 1.5 second advantage when Lawless Alan spun on lap 150 and forced a 10th race exclusion. On the restart on Lap 155, pole-sitter Majeski took second with the leader but lost control in Turn 2, slamming his car into the wall and dragging Smith into his mess.

The only Canadian registered, Ontarian Stewart Friesen had a fantastic race, finishing 3rd in his Toyota. He is ahead of Carson Hocevar, Chase Purdy, Matt DiBenedetto, Ben Rhodes, Nicholas Sanchez, Jesse Love and Jake Garcia. For full rank, Click here.

CUP RACE OVERVIEW VIDEO; TRUCK RACING BELOW…