Kyle Busch took to the track for the running of the E-Z-GO 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Saturday, October 25, 2008 in the third place position for the 130 lap event. Qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather at the Hampton, GA track so the field was set according to the 2008 NCTS Owner Points placing the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort / NOS Energy Drink Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra in prime position for the event.
Busch, who has three wins in three starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, took the lead before the drivers made their first circuit around the 1.54-mile track in Hampton, Georgia. Busch reported in that the truck was loose calling for track bar and air pressure adjustments on the first pit stop.
Busch led for nine laps before succumbing to Ron Hornaday who sat on the pole for the 130 lap race. The team pitted at the competition caution flag dropping the track bar down and adding rear wedge in the Tundra trying to tighten up the Miccosukee Resort Billy Ballew Motorsports entry.
Busch restarted ninth on lap 27 as other teams opted for fuel only. The young driver moved through the field picking up the third place spot by lap 35. On lap 37, Busch picked up the second spot and had continuous laps faster than the leader. Again Busch reported in being "loose at the end of a run" calling for more track bar, wedge and air pressure adjustments. The Billy Ballew Motorsports pit crew made all the right moves; taking out two rounds of track bar and adding a round of wedge and still putting him back on the track in the third place position. Busch again advanced to the second place spot by lap 63.
As the laps ticked off in the race, Busch called for more adjustments to the Tundra. Richie Wauters, the crew chief and Busch decided to gamble on tires at the stop taking on tires that had 15-laps of practice time and save the sticker Goodyear Tires for the last run. Busch battled three wide trying to pick up as many positions as he could and hoping for that late run caution. The gamble did not pay off with caution never returning to the field bringing Busch across the finish line in the eighth place position.
Disappointed at not repeating the win Busch commented; "It's the first time in four years that we didn't have a caution in the last ten laps,"
Although disappointed Busch posted his 12th top-10 finish in 14 starts for the Atlanta based independent team owner Ballew. Ballew sits 208 points out of the lead for the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Owner's Points Championship race with only three races remaining.
Although disappointed Busch posted his 12th top-10 finish in 14 starts for the Atlanta based independent team owner Billy Ballew.
The NASCAR Craftsman heads to the Texas Motor Speedway next for the running of the Chevy Silverado 350k Friday, October 31, 2008.
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