From the drop of the green flag in the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway–Kyle Busch was battling to get the win.
The day started with the drivers and teams having to deal with high temperatures and heat indices of well over 100 degrees. That made the 267 lap race a major challenge in every way.
Aric Almirola appeared to be the car to beat early in the race as he led a race high 70 laps early in the race including winning stage one. Kevin Harvick passed his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch to claim the win in stage 2.
Kyle Busch’s car was not handling well at the beginning of the race. He had to battle with it while the pit crew made adjustments throughout the hot afternoon of racing. He also had to battle his way to the front of the field to have a chance of contending for the win. He managed to achieve the goal in those battles as he found his way to the front of the field near the end of the race.
While Kyle Busch was counting down the laps to a win out front, Kyle Larson was closing in on the race leader. Larson was able to catch Busch on the last lap of the race and tried to do a “slide job” to take the lead. The two cars made contact in turns one and two that did indeed give Larson the advantage going down the back stretch. However, with the contact being made by Larson earlier in the lap Busch returned the favor. In turns three and four Busch continued battling by using the bump and run to get back out front and claim the win.
Kyle Larson was able to save his car from the spin and race to a second place finish. Kevin Harvick claimed third place with Martin Truex in fourth and Clint Bowyer rounding out the top five. See the complete results for the Overton’s 400 here.
Kyle Busch is the leader in the point standings. Kevin Harvick holds second place with Joey Logano in third. Martin Truex Jr. (4th) and Brad Keselowski (5th) round out the top five in the standings. See the complete Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings following the Chicagoland Speedway race here.
The teams and drivers are headed to Daytona International Speedway this week for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Saturday night under the lights.
By: Buck Stevens
2018 Overton\'s 400
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- JOLIET, IL - JULY 01: Paul Menard, driver of the #21 Menards/Sylvania Ford, and Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 PPG Ford, lead the field to the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton's 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 1, 2018 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
