NASCAR Busch's victory tightens up race

Seven races remain before the 10-race championship showdown begins.
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt was on an airplane headed home by the time Kurt Busch got to victory lane at New Hampshire International Speedway.
Both were satisfied that Sunday's Siemens 300 kept them on the road to a possible NASCAR Nextel Cup championship with seven races left until the new championship showdown begins.
"I believe our chase for the championship started today in the first Loudon race instead of the second Loudon race," Busch said after moving from ninth to sixth in the points with his convincing win.
Earnhardt still second
The injured Earnhardt remained second in the points, thanks to some relief from rookie Martin Truex Jr.
Busch started 32nd in the 43-car field, worked his way to the front and was the only driver able to stay with pole-winner Ryan Newman through most of the 300-mile race.
Newman led a race-high 187 laps, but Busch passed him twice and, finally, pulled away from both Newman and runner-up Jeff Gordon at the end for his second win of the season and 10th of his career.
"We continued to work on our car and make it better, whereas Newman may have thought he had a great car and didn't make adjustments," Busch said.
A number of drivers had their eyes on the season standings Sunday, with the top 10 drivers, along with any others within 400 points of the lead after the 26th race, competing for the championship over the last 10 races of the season.
Busch's first win since Bristol in March solidified his chances of vying for the title when the "Chase for the Cup" begins on the same flat, 1.058-mile New Hampshire oval on Sept. 19.
"I thought we had to apply pressure this week and get our 10 races going right now," Busch said.
"I believe our chase for the championship started today in the first Loudon race instead of the second Loudon race."
Driving in pain
Earnhardt, with second-degree burns on his legs, neck and chin from a crash a week earlier during a sports car event, held on to second place in the standings after starting the race to get the championship points. He gave up the seat on lap 61 to Truex, the Busch Series points leader making his Cup debut.
Truex hit the wall on lap 141 after bouncing off Ken Schrader's car, but the 24-year-old rookie hung in to finish 31st, two laps behind Busch.
Series leader Jimmie Johnson, who swept both New Hampshire races last year, struggled to an 11th-place finish on Sunday but increased his lead over Earnhardt from 105 to 165 points, with Gordon 202 back.
Earnhardt, hoping for an early yellow flag, had to wait 59 laps before Ricky Craven bounced off Elliott Sadler and hit the wall, bringing out the first caution.
The ensuing driver change was flawless, with a crewman helping Earnhardt out of the car and Truex sliding in, buckling up and driving away without losing a lap.
"It ain't no fun getting out, I'll tell you that," said Earnhardt, sitting behind the pit box in the Dale Earnhardt Inc., team's pit stall and watching Truex drive his No. 8 Chevrolet.
"My injuries really, really hurt bad," Earnhardt said, a smile belying his words. "It's a pain I ain't never felt before."
Truex relieves Junior
Truex said he felt good about his first Cup race.
"All they wanted was last-place points," he said. "It's better than 43rd. They wanted Junior to start the race and me to get in and get everything I could. And 15 spots is 15 spots," he added, just a little off on his math.
Asked if he plans to stand by for Earnhardt next week at Pocono, Truex said he doesn't know.
"Hopefully not," he said. "Hopefully, Junior is good to go. I'll get my shot in my own car, hopefully, someday."
Newman led the first 170 laps before Busch got by him on the backstretch. Those two battled at the front for a while, with Newman regaining the top spot on a pit stop on lap 216, only to see Busch drive his Roush Racing Ford to the front again on lap 233, with Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet also getting past Newman's Penske Racing South Dodge.