Thrice as nice for Busch

Associated Press

BRISTOL, Tenn.

Kyle Busch made NASCAR history Saturday night with an unprecedented sweep of three national races in one week, completing the trifecta with a victory in the Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Busch hoisted a broom in Victory Lane, where he made his third visit in four days. He also won the Nationwide race Friday night, and the Trucks race Wednesday night to become the first driver to complete the sweep in the 14 years since NASCAR has had three national series.

“I’ve been trying to do this since I got to NASCAR,” said Busch, who has tried for a three-race sweep five times in his career.

The Cup victory, his third of the season and third in the last four at Bristol, was drama-free after another round in his ongoing feud with Brad Keselowski.

Busch admitted to intentionally wrecking Keselowski late in the Nationwide race, and he celebrated that win by mockingly rubbing his eyes like a crying baby as the crowd showered him with boos. Keselowski vowed revenge over the public address system, to the delight of the Bristol crowd.

The barbs continued all the way up to the start of the Cup race. As Busch was booed in pre-race introductions, he sarcastically told the crowd, “Aw, you’re so loving.”

Keselowski was introduced moments later, taking the microphone and earning a thunderous cheer by saying, “I’m Brad Keselowski ... Kyle Busch is (a jerk).”

There was almost no chance of an on-track altercation, though, as the two hardly raced near each other for most of the night.

Keselowski did make it hard for Busch to pass him late in the race, when Keselowski was fighting hard not to go a lap down, but Busch made a clean move around him in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota after several attempts.

“Great job,” his team radioed after the pass.

“I know,” Busch replied. “I have more class.”

Crew chief Dave Rogers reiterated that after Busch completed the victory.

“Some wise guys got introduced behind him, and he raced like a champion and handled it with class all day,” Rogers said.

David Reutimann rallied from a bout with food poisoning to finish second in a Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, and Jamie McMurray was third in a Chevrolet for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing.