Another Nationwide win for Kyle Busch
A series of late-race caution flags on the mile oval hampered Edwards, who appeared to have a faster car at the end and remained winless in 2008 in the series formerly known as Busch.
Busch, who got his first Nationwide victory of the season last week in Texas, dominated, leading 133 of the 202 laps. But Edwards wrested the lead from Busch on lap 159 and steadily pulled away, building a lead of more than 3 seconds before debris brought out the sixth of nine cautions on lap 178.
The leaders pitted a lap later and Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota barely beat Edwards’ Roush Fenway Racing Ford onto the track and held the lead, although Edwards did nose ahead momentarily on lap 197 before the final caution came out on lap 199 when Jeff Burton hit the wall.
That necessitated one more restart and Busch was able to hold off Edwards by about two car-lengths for his 13th Nationwide win and second in a row at Phoenix.
‘He had a great, great car and it was just a great night for us,’ Busch said. ‘Luckily, we kept getting those cautions and we kept getting a little two-lap jump on him. He had a better car on longer runs. We got good restarts and it was good he gave me a lot of room to race him.’
REWARDING GORDON: Jeff Gordon is a hero to a lot of people, and it has to do with more than just being a racing star.
The four-time Cup champion was honored Friday by the Make-A-Wish Foundation for making more than 200 wishes come true for children with life-threatening conditions since he became involved with the organization in 1995.
The latest to have his wish to meet Gordon fulfilled is a 15-year-old named Joshua, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who was at the Phoenix track Friday and will watch the race from a suite.
‘I can’t believe I met Jeff Gordon,’ he said, looking at the driver sitting next to him and flashing a smile. ‘He’s such an awesome race car driver.’
While he has fulfilled many wishes, Gordon said that the number doesn’t matter. He works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant kids’ heartfelt wishes nearly every weekend during the race season because of the profound effect these kids have on his life.
‘It’s humbling to know that these kids choose to spend time with me,’ Gordon said. ‘They face tremendous challenges every day because of their conditions, and the strength and determination they show is really inspiring to me. It’s just heartwarming to see their smiles and know they are enjoying themselves at a difficult time in their lives.’
OH BROTHER: Two-time reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson played several different roles Thursday night.
After qualifying for last night’s race in his No. 48 Chevrolet, Johnson drove the pace car and wife Chandra said, ‘Gentlemen, start your engines,’ before NASCAR’s Camping World West Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 at the Phoenix track.
Johnson also was a very involved observer, watching younger brother Jarit drive in the race.
Asked how good his brother is, Johnson said, ‘We’re going to find out.
‘He’s been running at Hickory (N.C.) in the late model stock division there. He won seven or eight races last year, which is great. He had a chance to run a couple (NASCAR) truck events a few years back and ran an ARCA race and it didn’t really work out too well for him. It may have been a little early in his driving career to get those chances on those big tracks.’
Jarit Johnson, three years younger than the 32-year-old Cup star, started 30th and finished a very respectable 14th in his first start in the developmental stock car series while driving a Chevrolet for longtime team owner Dick Midgley.