Event: SpeedFest 200
Series: CRA Super Series
Location: Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Ga. (3/8-mile D-shaped oval)
Start / Finish: 3rd/1st (Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Winner: Kyle Busch of Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) (Toyota)
The 2012 CRA Super Series SpeedFest 200 may have started at a new venue, but for Kyle Busch and his No. 51 KBM Camry the race ended in a familiar location – Victory Lane. Busch, who won back-to-back SpeedFests in 2009 and 2010 when the event was held at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Ga., led 86 of the final 100 laps of Sunday’s race at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Ga. en route to his third career SpeedFest title.
Busch, who started the 200-lap race from the third spot, attempted to take the lead for the first time on lap 2, but race leader and 2011 CRA South Champion Bubba Pollard was able to close the door. The No. 51 KBM Camry settled into the second spot and would remain in the top four for the first 100 laps.
On lap 96, the Las Vegas native escaped near disaster as he battled Erik Jones for the runner-up position. Jones blew a motor just ahead of Busch as the field entered Turn 3, and the oil pouring from his car sent the No. 51 Camry fishtailing off the edge of the track. Busch was able to correct his course and returned to the race track scored in the second position, as the race reached the halfway mark under caution.
During the 10-minute break, KBM crew chief Chris Gabehart called for a two-tire stop which enabled his driver to remain near the front of the field for the start of the final 100 laps. Chase Elliott, the 16-year old son of Bill Elliott, was running fifth at the break, but his crew decided to forgo putting fresh tires on allowing their driver to lead the field to green for the final 100 laps.
Busch made quick work of Elliott and assumed the lead for the first time on lap 102. The No. 51 Camry remained out front until a restart on lap 149. Pollard’s strong push on the outside line allowed him to regain the lead on lap 150, but it was short-lived as Busch retook the top spot one lap later.
Pollard once again worked his way past the No. 51 Camry with another strong restart on lap 171 and checked out to a three-car length lead as the race headed into the final 25 laps. Busch, whose Camry proved to be faster on the long runs throughout the race, chased down the Georgia native and retook the lead on lap 184. As the race proceeded caution free for the final 15 laps, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star slowly stretched his lead and crossed the finish line 1.843 seconds ahead of the 2011 CRA South Champion.
Pollard finished second, followed by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular David Ragan in third. Casey Smith and T.J. Reaid rounded out the top-five finishers.
The race featured 13 cautions for 86 laps. Seven of the 30 cars were unable to finish the race.
The next event for Busch and KBM will be the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. KBM’s driver-owner will be behind the wheel of the No. 54 Monster Energy Camry in the team’s much-anticipated Nationwide Series debut.
- Kyle Busch Motorsports Press Release