Kyle Busch runs 3rd but would have liked more

Kyle Busch got what helium came for astatine Sunday’s South Point 400 astatine Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

But it would person been nicer to get a small spot more, the Las Vegas operator said aft finishing 3rd connected his hometown track.

“Certainly privation we could person gotten a win, obviously, to not interest astir the adjacent 2 races. But it wasn’t meant to be,” said the operator of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota who was bidding for his archetypal triumph astatine LVMS since 2009.

A triumph besides would person resulted successful an automatic berth to the 3rd circular of the playoffs, with unpredictable races astatine Talladega and the Charlotte “roval” coming up successful the Round of 12 earlier the playoff tract is trimmed. Busch thought helium had a shot, until the prima dipped beneath the rim of the grandstands and cooled the track.

But the third-place decorativeness bumped him to 3rd successful the playoff standings, 22 points down person Kyle Larson.

“Felt similar we had a amended car erstwhile the prima was out,” Busch said. “But that was astir the time, erstwhile the lights went on, we got tally into the partition doubly disconnected of (Turn 2). We didn’t person the aforesaid velocity aft that.”

The two-time bid champion was making his milestone 600th Cup Series start, but helium said that didn’t marque the third-place tally immoderate much rewarding.

“If it ain’t a win, what does it matter?” Busch said.

Older member Kurt Busch, the defending South Point champion who was eliminated from rubric contention aft the archetypal circular of playoffs, was ne'er a superior origin to repeat. But helium parlayed effectual pit halt strategy and perseverance into an eight-place finish.

Gase taken to hospital

Unlike the Truck and Xfinity Series races connected Friday and Saturday, each of which produced a multi-vehicle pileup, the Cup Series contention had lone 1 yellowish emblem for contact.

Joey Gase had a tyre travel disconnected his car and clouted the Turn 2 wall. He walked to the ambulance but was transported to an undisclosed infirmary for further evaluation.

Closing laps

— Las Vegas was represented connected the way (Busch brothers) arsenic good arsenic pit roadworthy Sunday — erstwhile UNLV shot players John Gianninoto and Evan Marchal performed fueling duties for playoff drivers Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick during pit stops.

— Dana White was expansive marshal of this year’s contention and gave a reasonably regular bid to commencement engines: “What’s up, Las Vegas, are you ready?” roared the UFC president. “Gentlemen, commencement your engines!”

“Gentlemen, commencement your engines.” – @danawhite #SouthPoint400 | @ufc pic.twitter.com/glCdoCHB8M

— Las Vegas Motor Speedway (@LVMotorSpeedway) September 26, 2021

— LVMS president Chris Powell announced a caller programme called Speedway Legends Sunday that volition grant a NASCAR luminary each twelvemonth astatine the South Point 400. Hall of Famer Mark Martin, victor of the inaugural Las Vegas Cup Series contention successful 1998, volition beryllium feted successful 2022.

Contact Ron Kantowski astatine rkantowski@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski connected Twitter.