(By Greg Engle)
Posted: Sunday,November 22nd, 2009
(By Sarah Farlee, CupScene.com Senior Staff Writer)
HOMESTEAD, Fla.– Carl Edwards has spent all season chasing Kyle Busch and it was only fitting the checkered flag fell on the season finale – with Carl chasing Kyle for the win in Saturday’s Ford 300 at Homestead Miami Speedway.
Busch earned his 30th career win and his first career Nationwide championship scoring more point’s than anybody in Nationwide Series history. He becomes the 21st driver in the 28 year series history to hoist the trophy.
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2009 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)
“The whole season, the guys have done such an awesome job,” said Busch, who became the first champion to win the season finale at Miami. “That’s just icing on the cake, to win the race on the last night of the season.”
Edwards wanted the win and did everything possible to get to the top, he just came up short. That scenario was a common thread of the season.
“I just didn’t have it my heart to spear him in turn three,” said Edwards, who was closing in on Busch, but ran out of laps.
“I was on the fence,” added Edwards, who also finished second in the final point’s standings. “I know it’s not right to hit somebody to win a race, but I wanted to win this race so bad.”
Brad Keselowski finished third in the point’s standings, but his season finale was not as productive. Keselowski wanted to go out on a high note – he will be leaving JR Motorsports for a full-time Sprint Cup and Nationwide ride with Penske Racing in 2010. His last race was eventful to say the least, spinning twice in 35 laps. The first spin was brought on by driver error after hitting the kill switch.
“Self inflicted damage there, I lost it and tore up the quarter panel,” said Keselowski, who is the only driver to finish all 35 races of the season. “I couldn’t recover from that. It’s nobody on my teams fault, just trying too hard.”
“Wanted a stronger finish, but what are you going to do,” added Keselowski, who finished 12th.
He may have lost it solo on the first spin, but he had help on the second. Denny Hamlin announced he would pay Keselowski back for past debts after their dust up in the desert, and Hamlin did just that with a nudge that sent Keselowski into his second spin.
Hamlin was black flagged by NASCAR and both drivers were warned. Hamlin said his lap penalty from NASCAR was well worth it as he noticed reactions from other teams; he would get his lap back when the caution came out on lap 92 and finish fifth.
Jeff Burton finished third and Joey Logano couldn’t quite get to his teammate to battle for the race win. Logano would finish fourth.
David Reutimann finished sixth. Ryan Newman finished seventh driving for Kevin Harvick Inc. Steven Wallace finished eighth, Scott Speed finished ninth and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top-10.
Other notes from the Ford 300:
53 cars took time in qualifying for the final race of the season. Those failing to make Saturday’s race – Jeremy Clements, Brian Keselowski, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Eddie MacDonald, Morgan Shepherd, Jon Borneman III, Chase Austin, Benny Gordon.
Parker Kligerman failed to qualify his Penske Racing entry, but replaced Todd Bodine in the No. 42, he finished 25th - two laps down.
Kelly Bires made his debut for JR Motorsports in the No. 5 entry. Bires will replace Brad Keselowski in the No. 88. Bires ran in the top-15 for most of the race, but a flat tire late in the race ended his solid run. Bires finished in the 29th position, two laps down. Bires is scheduled to begin testing with his new team immediately after seasons end.
Mike Bliss edged out Jason Allgaier for the coveted fifth, and final stage spot, in Monday’s Nationwide Series awards banquet. Bliss has maintained his position throughout the season by securing rides with five different teams. Bliss drove the season finale for James Finch, the team owner who released him midseason. Bliss finished 16th after a tire rolled from the team’s pit box and serving a pass through penalty. Allgaier finished the race in the 20th position, one lap down.
Justin Allgaier won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award. The 2009 rookie class of Allgaier, Gaughan and Michael Annett all close out the year in top-ten positions in the Nationwide point’s race. Three rookies in the top-10 had not happened since 2005 with Edwards, Hamlin and Reed Sorenson.
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