Kyle Busch strikes gold in Nationwide at Fontana

Associated Press

FONTANA, CALIF.

Another Nationwide Series race at Fontana, another victory for Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing.

Busch certainly isn’t tired of the same old story.

Busch earned JGR’s ninth consecutive Nationwide victory at Fontana on Saturday, comfortably beating Sam Hornish Jr. for his third win in five races this season.

Gibbs’ Toyotas haven’t lost a Nationwide race on their unofficial home track since 2007, with Busch, Joey Logano and Tony Stewart navigating the wide, bumpy track with unmatched ease. Through changes in cars, drivers and crew chiefs, JGR has maintained its record streak.

Busch pushed ahead late in a back-and-forth duel with Nationwide points leader Hornish’s Ford to win his second straight Nationwide race, wrapping it up when Hornish brushed the wall with two laps to go.

“It’s really cool,” Busch said. “They’re known for having great stuff, but you’ve still got to be able to wheel it. I don’t think we were the best car, but we just chased down that 12 car. Didn’t want to see him win in front of our hometown crowd.”

Busch raced to his record Nationwide 54th victory, including six at Fontana, in front of fans from Toyota and other sponsors’ home offices, capping a doubly celebratory day for the winningest driver in Nationwide history.

What’s more, Parker Kligerman drove his Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota to a career-best fourth-place finish. Regan Smith was third, and Austin Dillon came in fifth ahead of Kyle Larson.