NSCS: Kurt Busch claims his first win of 2011 at Infineon Raceway

Joey Logano leads the field into the turns of Infineon
Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images for NASCAR

Ending the weekend in wine country, Infineon Raceway played host to the Sprint Cup series today. The twists and turns of the track provide a challenge for drivers and crews alike.


Today, one team stood out among the rest as the dominant within the race, the No. 22 Pennzoil Dodge of Kurt Busch. Busch has started the race in 11th but took the lead by lap 13. From then on out – the race was his. Leading for a total of 76 of the 110 laps and during four different periods, it was Busch’s race to lose.


Busch lead the race from the final caution at lap 88 until the checkered flag flew, ending with a 4 second lead over Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards.

Kurt Busch captures the checkered flag for his first win on 2011
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

Race highlights:

• Joey Logano starts on pole, his first at a road course (He has been getting coaching from Max Papis to prepare for this)
• Lap 6 – Denny Hamlin passes teammate Logano for the lead
• Lap 13- Kurt Busch passes Hamlin for the lead
• Lap 34 – Casey Mears stalls at the entrance of pit road caution was brought out
• Lap 39 – Multi car incident in turn 11 involved were 1,14,24,29,39,83,88 brining out caution number 2
• Lap 48 – Debris caution
• Lap 51- Clint Bowyer takes the lead from Busch but only for a lap
• Lap 60 – Denny Hamlin goes to the garage with a broken track bar
• Lap 61 – Bobby Labonte spins in turn 1 for the 4th caution
• Lap 63- Kenseth and Allmendinger spin – no caution
• Lap 88 – Kurt Busch takes the lead and the final caution flies for an accident with Stewart and Vickers (intentional, up for debate)

Race results:

1. Kurt Busch
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Carl Edwards
4. Clint Bowyer
5. Marcos Ambrose
6. Joey Logano
7. Jimmie Johnson
8. Martin Truex Jr.
9. Kevin Harvick
10. Brad Keselowski
11. Kyle Busch
12. David Gilliland
13. AJ Allmendinger
14. Matt Kenseth
15. Jamie McMurray
16. Paul Menard
17. Regan Smith
18. Robby Gordon
19. Mark Martin
20. Kasey Kahne
21. Jeff Burton
22. Juan Pablo Montoya
23. Greg Biffle
24. David Reutimann
25. Ryan Newman
26. Andy Pilgrim
27. Andy Cook
28. Boris Said
29. David Ragan
30. Michael McDowell
31. Dave Blaney
32. Bobby Labonte
33. Brian Simo
34. Casey Mears
35. Andy Lally
36. Brian Vickers
37. Denny Hamlin
38. Bobby Labonte
39. Tony Stewart
40. Joe Nemechek
41. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
42. Mike Skinner
43. P.J. Jones