Casey Atwood (14) goes three-wide at RIR with Martin Truex Jr. (8) and Robby Gordon (55). Credit: AP

Hard-luck Atwood sees win disappear

RICHMOND, Va. -- Casey Atwood is 24 years old, so his idea of a long time is a little warped.

Five years, to Atwood, seems like a long time.

But when you haven't won in that period of time, five years is too long.

Casey Atwood

That's how long it's been since Atwood went to Victory Lane in the NASCAR Busch Series. He won at Dover in 1999, a month after his 19th birthday.

Friday night at Richmond International Raceway, Atwood was 15 laps from ending that 76-race losing streak.

Atwood was solidly in the lead, holding off numerous challengers.

But after a restart with 15 laps to go, Atwood was shoved out of the groove by Martin Truex Jr. and passed by Robby Gordon. No matter how hard Atwood tried in the closing laps, he couldn't get back by Gordon.

"Ah, man," Atwood said. "It's just disappointing. I thought we were going to get one."

A victory would have been a salve for what has been a difficult couple of seasons for Atwood.

Emerson Radio 250 Gordon tunes in victory Robby takes the checkered flag in the Emerson Radio 250 Top Finishers Casey Atwood and Martin Truex Jr. on their Richmond run Final Laps Gordon rolls to a thrilling victory at Richmond Int'l Raceway Early Caution Aaron Fike spins and collects Gus Wasson on Lap 2 Down and Out Boston Reid hits wall then collides with Lowell Bennett •   Results •   Busch Series Standings

Once deemed as Jeff Gordon's heir apparent, Atwood was released by Ray Evernham and ended up in the Busch Series with FitzBradshaw Racing.

That team is still learning its way in NASCAR, but Atwood nearly took them to Victory Lane at Richmond.

"I've been feeling good about where the team's going," Atwood said. "I'm so disappointed. It's been so long since I've won a Busch race. I thought we had it. I thought it was ours.

"I was running the high line, and there was no way that they could pass me. I could get a way better run off the corner. I didn't need those cautions because I could pull away from them on the long run."

Atwood certainly didn't need the last caution when Travis Geisler spun in Turn 2. That bunched up the field one final time and gave Truex another chance to pass Atwood. And, of course, Truex went for it.

"Martin got a run on a restart and got loose and got up into me," Atwood said. "Just a racing thing."

Atwood wasn't mad at Truex, but Truex was mad at Truex.

"Just got a run on him and got loose," Truex said. "Hate to do it to him. I kind of cost him the win. I feel like an idiot. But you've got to go for the win with 10 laps to go."

Atwood later said he didn't know why he didn't make a similar bump on Gordon, but Atwood doesn't race like that.

Still, to come so close is heartbreaking.

"I've been through some hard times here in the last few years," Atwood said. "I think all drivers go through that somewhat. I've just got to keep running like this, and things will go good for me."