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SPORTS Monday 3 June 2019

Kyle Busch

Continued from Page 18

So, Kyle. Why so glum?
“Am I a positive person,”
Busch asked. “It’s rare.”
Busch’s enthusiasm was
tempered by another race
where NASCAR’s rules
package put passing at a
minimum and made it labo-
rious to watch 400 miles of
racing. Never one to back
down from his opinion,
Busch has put the pack-
age on blast all season and
dodged a fine from NAS-
CAR earlier this month for
an expletive-riddled rant
about the new rules.
“Stop asking me package
questions! I’m done an-
swering them,” he snapped
at Pocono. “Next.”
NASCAR’s current rules
package was designed to
increase side-by-side rac-
ing and manufacture com- Kyle Busch celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 2, 2019, in
petition. Busch made one Long Pond, Pa.
competitive pass for the Associated Press
lead when he zipped past among many drivers who memory of J.D Gibbs, Joe’s Truck Series and Xfinity Se- to me. I anticipate us trying
Clint Bowyer on lap 75 and have groused about the son who died earlier this ries race, making it the busi- this for a couple of years
never really looked back as racing this season. year following a long battle est 48 hours in motorsports. and see where it ends up.”
he closed on his first win in “There’s days that I get ulti- with a degenerative neu- The Cup races will likely Pocono said it will not raise
nearly two months. Busch mately frustrated because rological disease. JGR has be shorter than the usual ticket prices for next sea-
took off on the final re- I don’t feel like my true tal- been the class of NASCAR 400-milers run at the 2 1/2- son, and kids 12 and under
start with nine laps left and ents can show on the race with a series-best nine wins mile track. can still attend a race for
cruised to the finish line for track because I’m too lim- and Gibbs was elected this Pocono CEO Nick Igdalsky free.
his 13th top-10 finish in 14 ited by the air of everything month to the NASCAR Hall said it was his “full intention NASCAR recently an-
races this season. that’s kind of going around of Fame. to lobby for the 400s.” The nounced the $2 billion
When NASCAR haters point me,” Busch said. “I can’t But a rules package that track will hold two oval Cup purchase of International
fingers and say racing is just do anything. As a race car overshadowed the finish races and Igdalsky said the Speedway Corp., an ag-
cars going in circles, Sun- driver, when you can’t do stained one more celebra- track has “no intention” of gressive move to gain con-
day at Pocono can be Ex- anything, and you can’t tory day at JGR. switching one of the races trol of key racetracks. The
hibit A. showcase what your abili- “It’s not that it’s hard to to its road course configu- family-owned raceway is
Even Fox broadcaster Mike ties are and how good you pass, it’s impossible,” Ham- ration. Igdalsky said NAS- not for sale.
Joy threw up his hands as should be, then there’s cer- lin said. CAR was still trying to figure “Open for bids? Hell no,”
Busch took the checkered tainly some tense moments Here’s what else happened out the qualifying proce- Igdalsky said. “I always like
flag: “I don’t want to say and high frustrations.” at Pocono. dures. “It’s an opportunity hearing the numbers, but I
they made it look easy, but And that’s from the winner. COME CLOSE to do something pretty cre- can’t see any number that
they certainly didn’t give us “Yeah, so?” Busch retorted. Brad Keselowski was sec- ative,” Igdalsky said. anybody would dangle in
a lot to talk about.” It was still another wildly suc- ond, Chase Elliott fourth Igdalsky said Pocono was front of us that would make
Busch, who topped 200 cessful day for Joe Gibbs and Bowyer fifth. approached by NASCAR us interested. We love be-
career wins across all three Racing: Busch won, Erik LET’S RACE TWO! over the Daytona 500 ing a part of it. We’re here
national series earlier this Jones was third and Denny Pocono is to set host a Cup weekend about the idea to continue a legacy.”
season, is certainly the rare Hamlin was sixth. Martin Series doubleheader week- of running a twinbill. UP NEXT
talent who can make most Truex Jr. had a fast car and end next season. The track “I feel this initiative is im- The series heads to Michi-
wins look easy in any sea- looked like a contender traditionally has two NAS- portant enough where it gan International Speed-
son or under any package. until engine woes knocked CAR weekends but surren- would last for more than way where Clint Bowyer is
But Busch has been espe- him out of the race. Hamlin dered one to try the double one year,” he said. “Get- the defending race winner.
cially prickly and stood out opened the season with a June 27 and 28, 2020. The ting a one-year shot at this Hamlin promised a better
as the most vocal critical win in the Daytona 500 in weekend will also include a just doesn’t seem realistic race at Michigan.q