The big story in the NASCAR Busch Series this year has been the Buschwackers, Nextel Cup regulars also running the full Busch Series schedule. Last week's race in Kentucky was the first race won by a non-Buschwacker. Bur race winner David Gilliland isn't a Busch Series regular either. So would a Busch Series regular finally win the AT&T 250 in Milwaukee? Most of the Buschwackers stayed in Sonoma for Nextel Cup practice so they weren't able to qualify their Busch cars. Craftsman Truck series driver Aric Almirola took the pole in the #20 Rockwell Automation Chevy. But Denny Hamlin arrived and had to go to the back of the field.
Clint Bowyer-#2 AC Delco Chevy, Denny Hamlin-#20 Rockwell Automation Chevy & Jason Leffler-#38 Great Clips Chevy all took turns leading the first half of the race. A bad pit stop would take the lead from Bowyer. Then Leffler spun trying to get on pit road with 45 laps left. Hamlin was on pit road at the time. Hamlin finished 2nd, Leffler was 4th and Bowyer was 18th.
Paul Menard-#11 Menards Chevy took the lead with Kevin Harvick-#21 Coast Guard Chevy chasing him. It looked like an easy win for Menard when Erin Crocker-#98 Cheerios Dodge spun on a restart. That tightened up the field. Harvick tried to bump Menard out of the way for the lead but this forced JJ Yeley-#18 Vigoro Chevy to spin out Harvick. He took out Clint Bowyer, Mark McFarland-#88 US Navy Chevy & Jon Wood-#47 Armor All Ford. McFarland hit hard and hurt his shoulder. Harvick finished 19th.
This set up a green/white/checker finish and Menard was able to hold off Hamlin for the win. This was Menard's first win in the Busch Series and the first win for a Busch Series regular this season. Harvick still has a big points lead.
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