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June 28, 2015

Kyle Busch Chase Watch

By Staff Report

NASCAR.com

Published:

2 Minute Read

See what ‘Rowdy’ needs to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup

RELATED: Busch wins at Sonoma | Updated Chase Grid post-Sonoma

With only 10 races left until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, it’s time to check up on Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, as he tries to rebound from early-season injuries and make the Chase.

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WHAT JUST HAPPENED: What a day it was for Kyle Busch at Sonoma Raceway. In just his fifth start of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, he used a late caution to get fresh tires that would take him to Victory Lane. With five laps to go, he took the lead from Jimmie Johnson. He held off older brother Kurt Busch and Clint Bowyer to score his second career Sonoma win and the 30th victory of his Sprint Cup career.



WHAT HE NEEDS: With the win, Busch now just needs to finish in the top 30 in the points standings to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. After Sonoma, he is unofficially in 37th place, 136 points behind the 30th-place driver Cole Whitt. According to NASCAR statistical services, if all things continue at this pace, Busch roughly needs an average finish of 14th over the next 10 races.



WHAT’S NEXT: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads back to Daytona International Speedway. This will be Busch’s first time competing there since he suffered a compound fracture of the right lower leg and a left mid-foot fracture in the NASCAR XFINITY Series season-opener in February. In 20 Cup starts at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, Busch has one win, five top fives, six top 10s, one pole and has led 329 laps (out of the 3,323 laps there). The summer race at Daytona has treated Busch better than the season-opening Daytona 500 as he has scored his lone win and four of his top fives then.



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