Third-place finish after late cautions didn't diminish day's gains
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FONTANA, Calif. -- The disappointment was palpable as Kurt Busch candidly answered questions from a handful of reporters huddled around his No. 41 Chevrolet on Auto Club Speedway pit lane Sunday afternoon.
A hundred yards away Brad Keselowski was performing a loud victory burnout for the sold-out California crowd. The celebration could have easily belonged to Busch, who started from the pole position, led a race-high six times for a race-best 65 laps, but finished third after getting out-maneuvered on the restart of NASCAR's second attempt at a green-white-checkered finish.
Keselowski led only that final lap.
Busch was obviously letdown by the outcome. Yet even in the highly emotional moments immediately after the race, he didn't deflect his fortune on the late caution flag controversy.
Busch actually seemed upbeat despite the outcome.
"I don't know what we could have done different,'' Busch said matter-of-factly. "We just got pinned in by the yellows and the sequence at the end on which tires we needed to have to optimize how many laps were left.
"We had two tires; Keselowski had four. We didn't need that extra yellow at the end, and I just got out-muscled by Keselowski."
And contrary to what one might have expected, Busch even described the day as being "fantastic" overall.
For him, every day racing a Sprint Cup car is fantastic.
After missing the first three races of the 2015 while serving a NASCAR suspension for legal issues off-track, Busch has wasted no time returning to form behind the wheel of the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet.
He started eighth and finished fifth in his first race back at Phoenix a week ago and added a Coors Light Pole Award and third-place effort in California.
In those two starts, Busch has earned more points (82) than four drivers who have started all five races -- his team owner Tony Stewart among those he has outpaced in just two races (see the full standings here). And because NASCAR granted Busch an exemption, he is Chase eligible as long as he stays among the top 30 in points. He's already 28th.
"Some of it is the preparation of the team and some of it is the cars coming back toward my driving style," Busch explained of his fast start. "I like cars with less downforce in the rear and that balance feel I think has complemented the way that I drive. So, honestly I think it has to do with some of the rules packages that NASCAR has implemented and you've got to drive the car a little bit looser."
After winning the pole position at the super fast California 2-miler on Friday, Busch insisted he wasn't looking for redemption necessarily. But he was frank about how much it means to be back in a car and the extra motivation he carries.
"It's about driving,'' Busch said. "I have said it before on how this is a privilege to have a chance to drive at this top level. When it is taken away from you or you have made a mistake and you don't get a chance to go out there and do it on your terms, it is tough.
"I don't have anything to prove. I have my job to do, which is to go out there, drive and race for wins."
His talent has never been in question, but his drive has never more apparent.
"(I'm) just putting the blinders on and focusing on the car," Busch said. "It's my love. It's my passion. It's what I do."
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