Kyle Busch Wins, Cobb Takes A Stand!

Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

After his historic sweep of the Bristol races last fall, Kyle Busch did it again, winning the Nationwide Series Scotts EZ Seed 300. Busch also set his name in the history books after becoming the first driver to lead 10,000 career laps in the NNS. Busch dominated the race, leading 268 of the 300 total laps.

Not all the action happened on the track. Moments before the race, Jennifer Jo Cobb pulled out of running the #79 for 2nd Chance Motorsports. Reportedly, Cobb was asked by team owner Rick Russell to start and park. Cobb refused to do so and was also informed that she would no longer be driving at California the following week.

Cobb released a statement saying, "There were rumblings all week about us start and parking this race. I have a commitment to my sponsors, my fans, NASCAR that I won't start and park. I'm very serious about my career and my performance, and I've worked hard to prove it to everyone. The conversation was never had with me until 10 minutes before the race that I was to start and park."

Cobb also continued by saying, "I had already bought tires for the race, so you can imagine that this was a blow to my principles and my finances to get this news. As the owner of 2nd Chance, he has the right to ask NASCAR to black flag me and said he would do that if I didn't comply. There were also rumors that he was going to surprise me and take me out of the car at California. We have a five race agreement that says I am racing for him, which is why I decided to collect Nationwide Series points and not Camping World Truck Series points."

In a story reported by Dustin Long, Driver refuses to start race after ordered to start and park, the response from 2nd Chance Motorsports and Rick Russell states that Cobb and her crew knew since Friday that the plans were to be conservative. Russell said, "Five minutes before the race, she took her crew and left."

There is now also discussion about the agreement between Cobb and 2nd Chance Motorsports. When Russell was asked about this, he said, "the agreement (also) was she brought motors to the team, she brought tires to the team and she brought half the crew. She did not bring a motor to this event. She did not have a motor for this event. The motor that is in the car is the motor that I purchased in Vegas. We ran my motor in Vegas, which the contract was already breached and came up here without her motor, which was breached again. So the contract was worthless. I gave her til today to make restitution to me for using my motor and we would carry on and she said no. When the deal is you bring me a motor, you bring me a motor. If you don’t bring me a motor, you’ve breached the contract."

This is just the beginning of the story; as the week plays out more will develop. As for now, the #79 team has replaced Cobb with Tim Andrews. Cobb's plans are yet to be determined.

As for the racing, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. started on pole and maintained the lead until lap 28. Competition caution was on lap 25, due to the tire issues (Tire wear issue at Bristol forces change). Kyle Busch got the lead on lap 32 and from there ... that was all she wrote.

Here is the complete finishing order for today's race:

1. Kyle Busch
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. Elliott Sadler
5. Joey Logano
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Carl Edwards
8. Jason Leffler
9. Brad Keselowski
10. Aric Almirola
11. Steven Wallace
12. Brian Scott
13. James Buescher
14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
15. Justin Allgaier
16. Jeremy Clemements
17. Kenny Wallace
18. Josh Wise
19. Trevor Bayne
20. Ryan Truex
21. Joe Nemechek
22. Scott Wimmer
23. Derrike Cope
24. Michael Annett
25. Eric McClure
26. Mike Bliss
27. Shelby Howard
28. Carl Long
29. Timmy Hill
30. Blake Koch
31. Morgan Shepherd
32. Mike Wallace
33. Danica Patrick
34. Reed Sorenson
35. Willie Allen
36. Tim Schendel
37. Robert Richardson Jr.
38. Jeff Green
39. J.J. Yeley
40. Brett Rowe
41. Chris Lawson
42. Brad Teague
43. Kelly Bires