NCWTS Recap: Busch Smokes Field In Fontana

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

FONTANA, Calif. (February 21, 2009) -- It wasn't even close.

With a No. 51 Toyota truck that absolutely dominated the competition Saturday at Auto Club Speedway, polesitter Kyle Busch streaked to a 9.023-second victory over Todd Bodine, last week's winner at Daytona, in the San Bernardino County 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

In claiming his 10th win in the series and his second in two starts at the 2-mile California track, Busch led three times for 95 of the 100 laps and led all but two of the 92 green-flag circuits.

After a gas-and-go under green on Lap 91 -- thanks to new pit rules that prohibit truck series teams from taking both fuel and tires on the same stop -- Busch quickly overtook Colin Braun, who tried to stretch his fuel mileage but ran out of gas and rolled onto pit road with three laps remaining. Braun finished 20th.

Chad McCumbee came home third, followed by David Starr and T.J. Bell. Ron Hornaday Jr., Matt Crafton, Ricky Carmichael, Timothy Peters and Max Papis completed the top 10 in the series' second event of the season.

"This thing was just flawless," Busch said of his No. 51 Toyota, which was serviced through a cooperative effort with James Finch's Nationwide Series crew. "The guys did flawless. They worked so well and made this truck drive so well. . .

"It's really a lot fun to come out here and win two years in a row, and hopefully we can do some more."

Busch is the only driver doing triple duty at Auto Club Speedway. He also was scheduled to compete in Saturday evening's NASCAR Nationwide Series race, as well as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday.

Though still unsponsored, Bodine had an excellent truck, too, but his No. 30 Toyota was no match for Busch's ride.

"It's a little disappointing to have a Tundra that's that good and finish second," Bodine said. "That tells you how good Kyle was. Once the tires got heated up -- got a little slick -- we were just a little tight through the center of the corner. I couldn't quite hold it wide open."

Notes: Busch's win was also Doug George's first as a crew chief… Gabi Dicarlo finished 19th in her truck series debut... Busch leads Bodine by five points in the series standings after two races. Crafton is third, 77 points behind Busch.