The NASCAR Xfinity Series took place today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Auto Lotto 200. Kyle Busch won the pole for the 51st time in his career. Before the race got underway, Morgan Shepherd, Ray Black Jr, JJ Yeley was sent to the back for unapproved adjustments. Jeff Green was also sent to the rear for an engine change.
Kyle Busch led the field to the green flag, and jumped out to a big lead on the backstretch. He continued to check out with Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski following right in his tire tracks. This would be the story for the first half of the race, as there were only 25 cars on the lead lap at lap 33. Early on drivers reported tight conditions and brake problems. Kyle Busch continued to set a blistering pace, by having only 20 cars on the lead lap at lap 41. But 8 laps later the caution came out for the first time. Debris was on the track near the restart zone. The leaders came down pit road for their scheduled stops, and Busch won the race off pit road by taking two tires. Mike Harmon was penalized for having too many men over the wall too soon.
Restart lap 56, Busch and Jones were on the front row, but Busch gets out in front of Jones, as Elliott Sadler follows closely behind. Busch continued to lead until another caution came out on lap 64. This time for Corey Lajoie as he hits the wall off of turn 2.
Lap 70 restart, Busch and Keselowski led the field down into turn 1, but Busch with a strong car gets the advantage in the middle of turn 2. 5 laps later the third caution comes out for Ty Dillon. Bowman accidentally gets into Dillon and turned him on the backstretch. Dillon's car went nose first into the wall suffering cosmetic damage.
The race goes back to green on lap 80, with Busch maintaining the lead once again. 10 laps later Jones starts to reel in the race leader Busch, but a caution comes out for debris on lap 93. Leaders came down pit road for their pit stops, Jones won the race off pit road by taking two tires only.
Green flag goes back in the air at lap 98, Alex Bowman and Blake Koch stayed out for track position to get the lead. Bowman had the better car and took the lead, but Kyle Busch retakes the top spot shortly after halfway. Busch would stay at the front until a caution came out with 35 to go for debris. At this time during the race, there was only 9 cars on the lead lap. The leaders came down pit road for their last pit stops. Busch won the race off pit road by taking two tires.
Restart with 27 to go, Busch and Keselowski was on the front row, but Busch gets ahead right before the 6th caution came out. Darrell Wallace Jr gets spun by Austin Dillon in turn 2, and other drivers gets collected in the wreck as well. This included Ross Chastain, Brennan Poole, and Ryan Preece all were involved.
The race resumed with 19 to go, as Busch and Jones battled it out, but Busch was able to save his lead. As soon as that happened, the 7th caution came out for Ryan Preece in turn 1. This was going to be a quickie yellow as the race went back to green with 14 to go. Erik Jones tried to reel in race leader Busch within the closing laps, but failed to do so in the process. This let Busch grow his race lead and go on to win the AutoLotto 200.
This would be Busch's 82nd career Xfinity win and his 6th of the year. Busch led twice for 190 laps in the race.
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