Busch’s Toyota outduels Johnson’s Chevy in Chicago

Kyle Busch celebrates yet again after a Sprint Cup race

Diane Schenk/AutoRacing1

The best driver in NASCAR has done it again. Kyle Busch looked like he was beaten by Jimmie Johnson when Johnson passed Busch with about 15 laps to go and began to pull away. But a late race caution bunched up the field and with two laps to go on the final restart Kyle Busch motored his Toyota around the outside of Johnson's Chevy in Turn 2 and then held off Johnson at the finish to win the NASCAR Sprint cup LifeLock.com 400 by 2 car lengths.

At 8:30 PM on a typical Saturday I am usually sitting at the asphalt 3/8 mile track in Morris, Illinois waiting for the sun to set so the USAC Midget races could begin under the lights. In years past I have watched Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman to mention a few drive on Friday nights In Morris.

But wait; it is 8:30 PM on a Saturday night and I am sitting at Chicagoland Speedway watching Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman to mention a few, but it's not a Midget race, this is a NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

This is a sight to see, this NASCAR Sprint Cup racing under the lights. But what about the USAC Midget races in Morris? Once a year when NASCAR comes to town the Midgets just have to race on without me.

The race had a familiarity to it as far as the leader went as Kyle Busch paced the first 35 laps. In fact he would go on to lead the most laps of the race.

122 laps to go and there were 8 leaders but Kyle Busch currently has the lead, at least the field is tighter after the yellow for debris. Lapped traffic has created difficulties for Tony Stewart by guess who? His so-called teammate Denny Hamlin.

Tony Stewart looked like a real contender in this race as he was catching his other Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota teammate Kyle Busch with 97 laps to go. They were separated by about 12 car lengths but that gap was shrinking.

The 5th yellow came out for debris and Busch continued to lead after a pit stop followed by Tony Stewart.

Lap 203 of 267 and a Ford driven by Carl Edwards had taken the lead but a flat tire put him in the pits under green.

So much for Carl Edwards, he had a broken splitter right in the middle on the front of his car. Unfortunately the yellow flag was flown after Carl pitted. The yellow was for debris which may be what Carl hit breaking his splitter.

With 30 laps remaining another yellow flew for debris on the track. Kyle Busch still the leader seemed to have the car that nobody is going to catch tonight.

David Gilliland blew an engine with 9 laps to go and Jimmie Johnson led Kyle Busch in what looked like a shoot-out for the win.

Kyle Busch won his 7th Sprint Cup Race of the year. By the way, you will find me at the USAC races in Morris, Illinois next Saturday night.

Fast Facts

Race Winner: Kyle Busch
Age: 23
Team: No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs
Crew Chief: Steve Addington

Kyle Busch won the LifeLock.com 400, his 11th victory in 133 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his sixth victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2008

This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in four races at Chicagoland Speedway

Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in seven races at Chicago. It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2008

Kevin Harvick (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in eight races at Chicago

Patrick Carpentier (30th) was the highest finishing rookie

Kyle Busch leads the point standings by 262 points over Dale Earnhardt Jr.

This is the first weekend sweep since Busch won the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Atlanta in March of this year. It is the first NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend sweep since Busch won both at Phoenix last November

The Busch brothers have won four consecutive races. Kyle (three) and Kurt (one). The last time that four brothers won four straight was by Tim (three) and Fonty (one) Flock between Sept. 11 and Oct. 6, 1956. Twice before that four consecutive races had been won by brothers: all three Flock brothers Tim (two), Bob (one) and Fonty (one) combined for four straight wins between July 20 and Sept. 1, 1952, while Herb (three) and Donald (one) Thomas combined to win the final four races of that season.

Results

* Denotes Rookie