By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
A top-10 finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a monumental task for Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kurt Busch.
The No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE didn’t break into the top-10 in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 until the final stage. Busch picked his way through his fellow NASCAR Cup Series competition. The further up the running order, the harder the battles became tougher.
After the final round of green flag pit stops, Busch battled hard with fellow Chevy Racing drivers Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson. It took the 2004 Cup Series Champion almost 10 laps to pass Elliott, and another handful to pass Johnson. When the checkered flag waved, Busch found himself sixth.
“We had a full effort from everyone today,” explained Matt McCall, crew chief. “We created a deficit for ourselves with issues in pre-race inspection, having to start at the rear and serve a pass-thru penalty to start the race. The driver did a great job racing to stay in position for the free pass, to get back on the lead lap at the competition caution on lap 25.
“After that we just worked on trying to make the car better. We had good long run speed, but the short-runs near the stage breaks were tough. Kurt did a great job of driving up through the field on the last long green-flag run to score another top-10 finish. Really proud of this Monster Energy team today.”
Busch had been set to start the race from 12th, until pre-race technical inspection. When his Monster Energy machine failed tech three times, the Las Vegas, NV native had to drop to the rear of the field prior to the start. In addition to that, Busch had to serve a pass-thru penalty at the start of the race.
The 41-year-old lost a lap while serving the penalty. As race leader and pole sitter Elliott put competitors a lap down, Busch was there to take advantage. The CGR driver kept himself in position for the free pass during the competition caution on lap 20. That lined Busch up in 39th to start the final 65 laps of the first stage.
The sixth-place finish is the seventh top-10 for Busch this season and the 305th of his Cup Series career.
Busch remains 10th in the points standings after his top-10 finish. He is 44-points ahead of the playoff cutoff held by Erik Jones. Busch is also 137-points behind race winner and points leader Kevin Harvick.
Next for the Cup Series is the Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday, June 10.