Busch Makes Cup History
Kyle Busch got his second Car of Tomorrow race win Sunday in Atlanta and in the process made NASCAR history. With his victory in the 2008 Kobalt Tools 500 Busch became the first Sprint Cup Series driver to win…
a points paying Cup Series race in a Toyota and the youngest Sprint Cup driver to ever win a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Busch easily piloted his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry to victory Sunday capping off an impressive weekend and securing his place in NASCAR and Toyota history. It only took Kyle Busch four races into his inaugural season in a Toyota Camry to seal the deal for his team and NASCAR’s newest manufacturer.
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The only people who may be happier than Kyle Busch and the Toyota brass are NASCAR bettors. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bodog had listed Kyle Busch at 8/1 odds to win for the 2008 Kobalt Tools 500. Bettors who backed Busch saw an $800 payout for every $100 wagered.
Kyle Busch has been a favorite pick of bettors in the three previous races of 2008 according to Bodog oddsmakers. With today’s victory he will no doubt continue to receive a large portion of the betting action moving forward.
For much of the race it looked like Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards was going to get his third Sprint Cup Series victory in a row. Edwards was either the leader or in the top 5 for the majority of Sunday’s race. But with around 50 laps to go Edwards car began smoking heavily and right before NASCAR was going to black flag Edwards for that smoke his car expired on entry to the pits.
It was a disappointing week for Edwards after he went from first to seventh in the Sprint Cup points standings due to a 100 point penalty stemming from a missing oil box cover in post race inspection after his Las Vegas win last weekend. Bodog oddsmakers had made Edwards the favorite to win Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at 5/1.
Edwards early departure re-opened the door for Kyle Busch and there was no looking back from there for the young driver. Busch put an exclamation point on this weekends racing in Hotlanta. If not for some bad luck in Saturday’s Nationwide series race Kyle Busch had a real good chance of sweeping the weekend. Busch will no doubt be happy to leave Atlanta with 2 out of 3 wins under his belt as he heads to Tennessee with a firm grip on the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Points lead.
Next weekend the Sprint Cup Series heads to the first short track of the 2008 season when they visit Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500. Bodog oddsmakers will no doubt be looking to make Kyle Busch one of the favorites to win the 2008 Food City 500. Busch won the first Car of Tomorrow race ever last year at Bristol in the 2007 Food City 500.
Congrats to Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing on their history making performance.
