Kyle Busch won the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway, scoring his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in his 31st career start.
Busch became the youngest race winner in NASCAR’s premiere division. He is 20 yrs., 4 mos. and 2 days. Donald Thomas won at Lakewood Speedway (GA) on dirt on Nov. 16th, 1952 at age 20 yrs., 4mos. 6 days. He was four days older than Busch. Busch is also the youngest Bud Pole winner in NASCAR’s premiere division (California on Feb. 26th at age 19 yrs., 9 mos. and 24 days)
Busch became the third first-time race winner in 2005, joining Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne.
Busch became the 12th different race winner in 2005.
Busch has scored nine top-10 finishes in 25 races in 2005.
Busch led 95 laps, the most laps that he has led in a single race in his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career. He became the 11th different driver to lead the most laps in a race this season.
This is Rick Hendricks 136th victory as a car owner and sixth in 12 races this season. It is the fifth victory for Hendrick at California Speedway, the most of any owner.
This is the 13th victory by a Chevrolet in 2005. Ford has 10 and Dodge has two.
Race to the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, and Mark Martin have clinched a spot in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Kurt Busch will secure a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by starting the race this coming weekend in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
The most points a winner can score in a race is 190. The drivers ranked seventh to 10th in the point standings are all just 145 points or less ahead of 11th-place Ryan Newman The drivers ranked 11th thru 17th in the current point standings are all 174 or less behind 10th-place Jamie McMurray.
Eleven drivers will be racing for the four remaining unsecured spots in the 2005 Chase to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup at Richmond: Any of the following drivers have a mathematical opportunity to secure a spot in the Chase. The final determination of which drivers secure these spots cannot be made until the end of the race.
Jeremy Mayfield (+145 from 11th)
Carl Edwards (+86 from 11th)
Matt Kenseth (+11 from 11th)
Jamie McMurray (+1 from 11th)
Ryan Newman (-1 from 10th)
Jeff Gordon (-30 from 10th)
Elliott Sadler (-52 from 10th)
Dale Jarrett (-117 from 10th)
Kevin Harvick (-131 from 10th)
Joe Nemechek (-135 from 10th)
Brian Vickers (-174 from 10th)
Seventh-place Jeremy Mayfield will clinch if he finishes 39th or better at Richmond, regardless of any other drivers performance.
Eighth-place Carl Edwards will clinch if he finishes 19th or better at Richmond, regardless of any other drivers performance.
Ninth to 13th in the point standings are separated by just 62 points.
Richmond May Spell Trouble for Some of the Chase Contenders
Dale Jarrett has finished 13th or worse in his last seven races at Richmond International Raceway.
Joe Nemechek has finished 18th or worse in his last four races at Richmond International Raceway.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(9-4-2005)
