The Budweiser Shootout gets “Rowdy”

Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

In the unofficial start to the 2012 NASCAR season there was no lack of excitement. Checkers or wreckers was the theme of the Budweiser Shootout and less than half the field finished on the lead lap. No points were on the line, merely a nice paycheck and bragging rights, but drivers and team owners stopped at nothing to win.

Exhibit A – Race winner Kyle Busch. By all accounts Busch should not have been in competition at the end of tonight’s race. Two separate incidents nearly cost Busch the win leaving his car sparking and battered. Yet Busch knew what it took to get his hobbled car to victory, passing Tony Stewart and emerging with a slim .013 seconds victory to take the checkered flag.

Exhibit B – A fresh faced Kurt Busch. Tonight we saw a new Kurt so to speak, taking on problems with a positive attitude.  After crashing at lap 75, Busch’s post-crash interview was thankful to his team, sponsors and optimistic towards next weekend. Bravo, great to see.

Exhibit C – The Hendrick Motorsports stable of drivers. Initially the HMS drivers were strong. Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and even Jimmie Johnson all led laps during the Shootout but unfortunately all four cars shared the same fate. They all headed home on wreckers after accidents ruined their evenings. Jeff Gordon thankfully walked away from a terrifying crash in which his car barrel rolled and landed on its roof. Gordon walked away and was treated and released from the infield care center.

This near disaster for Busch resulted in an amazing save.
Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Gordon’s accident set the remaining drivers up for a green-white-checker finish. After starting in the rear of the field in a backup car and saving his car from two near disasters, Busch’s win is nothing short of amazing and a testament to his “Rowdy” nickname. Busch will also go into the record books for winning Toyota's first Bud Shootout, just another record to add to his impressive list.

Race Results:

1. Kyle Busch
2. Tony Stewart
3. Marcos Ambrose
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Greg Biffle
7. Ryan Newman
8. Clint Bowyer
9. Carl Edwards
10. Juan Pablo Montoya
11. Jeff Burton
12. AJ Allmendinger
13. Kasey Kahne
14. Jimmie Johnson
15. Jeff Gordon
16. Jamie McMurray
17. Kurt Busch
18. Joey Logano
19. Martin Trues Jr.
20. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
21. Matt Kenseth
22. Kevin Harvick
23. Paul Menard
24. David Ragan
25. Michael Waltrip