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Kyle Busch Wins Richmond Cup Race on His 24th Birthday

Kyle Busch became only the second driver in the history of NASCAR to win a race on his very birthday. Not only did the newly 24-year old clinch his 3rd Cup win of the season when crossing the finish line of the Crown Royal presents the Your Name Here 400 at Richmond International Raceway in 1st place, but he did so after previously taking the chequered flag in the Nationwide event at RIR – Lipton Team 250 – a day before.

Busch benefited from a completely new set of tires in the late stages of the Richmond race – which he took on during the 11th caution of the day – and stormed into the lead some 3 cautions later, never looking back to the finish line.

The Crown Royal presents the Your Name Here 400 had no less than 15 cautions, a record for the Richmond track. Most of the drivers decided to take on new tires in the late cautions of the day, which practically paved the way for Busch to bring home his 3rd win of the season. After overtaking Hendrick Motorsports' Jeff Gordon at the penultimate restart, the Toyota driver went on to build a comfortable lead up front, securing the triumph ahead of 2nd placed Tony Stewart.

It was an awesome win for us. We've struggled for four weeks and we hadn't finished the way we wanted to but we made it happen here tonight. We needed to get out and get a long run, and those guys had to chase us back and they couldn't catch us. It really worked out. (Crew chief) Steve (Addington) made a great race call there on when to pit and take four tires and we were able to stay out front from then on,” said Busch after the race.

Stewart himself switched to a complete set of new tires in the late stages of the race, but was unable to catch up with Busch in the final drive of the day. The team owner/driver was followed at the finish line by Jeff Burton, with Ryan Newman and veteran Mark Martin completing the Top 5.

Championship leader Kurt Busch finished the race in 12th place, some 4 spots down to new overall leader Jeff Gordon. Thanks to his runner-up finish in Richmond, Stewart has now climbed to 3rd overall, while reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson – race winner at Richmond in the past – dropped to 6th in the point standings after being involved in a wreck with 75 laps to go (36th place overall).
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