Busch takes the lead … then loses it
Kyle Busch leads the entire first segment of the All-Star Race, but is forced out of the race at halftime.
Kyle Busch (No. 18) took the lead from the get-go and never looked back. But at the end of the second segment, his car is out for the race.
A devastating blow to Busch, who lead 38 laps and has been on a winning streak—after winning Darlington last week and taking the pole on Thursday night.
He lead the entire first segment of the Sprint All-Star Race. Greg Biffle (No. 16) stayed on his heels on second place, while Kurt Busch (No. 2), Ryan Newman (No. 12) and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (No. 88) filled in third, fourth and fifth spots.
But in the second segment, Busch dropped to sixth position, as Carl Edwards (No. 99) takes a long lead, ahead of Dale Jr. in second.
Busch couldn’t hold his lead as Edwards challenged him early in the second segment. Matt Kenseth (No. 17), Newman and Biffle rounded out the top five.
Could this be a karmic turn for Busch, who has drawn the ire of many fans for wrecking Dale Jr. at Richmond? When Busch finished his run through the spin-out competition earlier this evening, the grandstand booed him. And the crowd cheered as Busch’s Toyota was pushed back to the garage.
There have only been two leaders the whole race (Busch and Edwards), and each have jumped out way ahead of the field.
H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, predicted that Edwards would win the All-Star Race. He has been right 10 out the last 17 races.
Jeff Gordon (No. 24) has had a very disappointing run in the first half. His car has been running loose throughout and finished the second segment in 15th place.
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48) also has been running rough. He came in ninth place in the second segment.
But Hendrick teammate Dale Jr. is holding his own in second place going into the third segment.
