Busch saves season with Bristol win

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Kyle Busch may have saved his season by holding off Mark Martin on a four-lap sprint to the finish to win Saturday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Busch is fighting for a spot in the Chase for the championship, and his fourth win of the season dramatically improved his chances intact. With just two races until the field is set, he jumped two spots to 13th.

Busch had to hold off Martin over several restarts, including the final one after a 15-minute rain delay.

Martin, the polesitter, finished second to move two spots off the Chase bubble to 10th. Marcos Ambrose was third, while Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five.

There was an awkward moment at the start of the race when feuding drivers Busch and Brian Vickers shared the same truck for their introductory lap.

The two drivers didn’t appear to speak as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the back of a truck and waved to the sold-out crowd. Some fans and an ESPN camera crew shared the ride, which appeared to be tense.

Busch and Vickers, former teammates, had a run-in last week at Michigan International Raceway when hard-racing between the two on the last lap of the Nationwide Series allowed Brad Keselowski to sneak by and steal the victory.

Busch was angry about how Vickers raced him, and Vickers has not minced words since.

“I hate that he lives in such an angry place,” Vickers said. “It must be miserable to live like that.”