By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
LOUDON, N.H. — Kyle Busch will have to wait another week for that first win of 2020, as the reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion’s day came to an early end at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.
Busch was running in the sixth position when he had a right front tire go flat, sending his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota hard into the wall and bringing out the caution on lap 16.
The dog days of summer continue to hound @KyleBusch.
His day is done at @NHMS. pic.twitter.com/ov3JIH1vZY
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
Busch said going down the backstretch he felt it go flat and was trying to get slowed down, so no one else ran over him down the straightaway.
“I blew a right-front tire for some reason. I have no idea why,” said Busch. “Way too early in the going for anything to be wrong or even to build enough brake temp or brake heat. I don’t know. Just hate it for our Pedigree team and the fight that we’ve been having this year seems to be continuing. Last time I was here in a Pedigree car, we blew a right-front tire for no reason as well too. Just seems to be our luck with the Pedigree scheme for some reason here at New Hampshire. It’s still 2020, but sooner or later we have to turn this stuff around.”
Busch will finish Sunday’s Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 dead last — his first DNF at The Magic Mile in 29 starts. He has seen success at Loudon in the NASCAR Cup Series having earned three wins, 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes
However, the Pedigree car has seen better days at The New England track.
“I think there’s a replay of another Pedigree car here a few years ago that blew a right-front tire for absolutely no reason too,” said Busch. “Seems to be our luck with the Pedigree car here at New Hampshire. Sorry to all of our fans and all the Pedigree folks. It’s still 2020.”
Photo Credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography / NKP Photo