Buescher wins caution-filled Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway

James Buescher won his fourth Truck Series race of 2012 on Friday night
at Kentucky Speedway. Credit: Katy Lindamood for Skirts and Scuffs

You’ve heard the saying cautions breed cautions? Friday night’s Kentucky 201 started off with five cautions within the first half of the race.

Unfortunately for Todd Bodine, he was involved in the first two. The former Camping World Truck Series champion brought out the first caution on Lap 17 when he spun in Turn 4. He was later collected when Johnny Sauter had a left rear go flat. That incident ended his night and left Sauter fighting to stay on the lead lap while the team made copious repairs to the No. 13. Sauter would eventually finish sixth.

The field returned to green on Lap 33 and Brian Scott in the No 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota took charge. Shuffling back and forth with James Buescher for the lead until the next caution period, both looked strong. But pit strategy came into play when the field pitted during the fourth caution caused by the spin of Brennan Newberry. Last week’s winner Ryan Blaney, in a backup truck, elected to stay out and and lead the race.

The fifth caution came out on Lap 55, which collected points contender Timothy Peters. 

When the checkered flag flew at 9:45 p.m. ET, it was James Buescher taking home the trophy earning his fourth win of his career – all coming in 2012. Buescher swept both Truck Series races in the Bluegrass State.

Buscher said about the win, “We’ve won four races with the same truck,” also pointing out that it was a long day and he was under the weather with flu-like symptoms.

“The cautions were tough because you couldn’t really feel out the balance of your truck,” said Buescher. He added that he told crew chief Michael Shelton at one point that he didn’t know how good or bad the truck was and if he made a guess, it might be wrong.

Turner Motorsports owner Steve Turner said, “In the offseason, we put all of our efforts in the mile-and-a-half program” when asked about the team’s dominance. The organization has won six races between three drivers.

The win lifts Buescher a spot to second in the series championship standings, just four markers behind points leader Ty Dillon.

Parker Kligerman finished second, a feat that wasn’t easy considering his spin on Lap 81. After only his fifth start with Red Horse Racing, Kligerman is poised to become the next first-time winner in the series.

Richard Childress Racing’s Dillon and Joey Coulter finished third and fourth. Other notables included John Wes Townley who finished 10th, Justin Lofton in seventh, and Blaney who finished 11th.

Turner Motorsports drivers Dakota Armstrong and Nelson Piquet Jr. had engine troubles. Armstrong’s truck went behind the wall early while Piquet was able to baby the truck to a finish down one cylinder.

Final results:

1. James Buescher
2. Parker Kligerman
3. Ty Dillon
4. Joey Coulter
5. Brian Scott
6. Johnny Sauter
7. Justin Lofton
8. Miguel Paludo
9. Matt Crafton
10. John Wes Townley
11. Ryan Blaney
12. Nelson Piquet Jr.
13. Jake Crum
14. Ron Hornaday Jr.
15. Norm Benning
16. Jennifer Jo Cobb
17. Jeff Agnew
18. Tim George Jr.
19. Cale Gale
20. Jason White
21. Timothy Peters
22. Tyan Sieg
23. Max Gresham
24. Travis Miller
25. John King
26. David Mayhew
27. Brennan Newberry
28. Ross Chastain
29. Bryan Silas
30. Todd Bodine
31. Dakoda Armstrong
32. Johnny Chapman
33. Chris Jones
34. Chris Fontaine
35. Dennis Setzer
36. Blake Koch

Ty Dillon leads the points.