Motorsports

Busch back in title-like form

The defending Nextel Cup champion leads 219 of 312 laps to take the Subway Fresh 500.

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Kurt Busch forgot all about being stiff and sore Saturday night, racing to his first victory of the season at Phoenix International Raceway.

The defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion led 219 of 312 laps on the mile oval, emphatically putting behind him a streak of misfortune that saw him crash at four consecutive events, including an IROC race a week ago at Texas Motor Speedway.

Greg Biffle, the hottest driver on NASCAR's top circuit, was the only competitor to challenge his Roush Racing teammate during the first half of the Subway Fresh 500, the first Cup race under the lights at PIR. But Biffle, who won the Cup race Sunday at Texas, lost his shot at another win in the pits.

A debris caution was extended by a brief power outage that took out the caution lights and forced NASCAR to stop the race for nearly seven minutes. On the ensuing restart on Lap 146, Biffle got by Busch, but it took two laps for the eventual winner to slip by on the inside and regain the top spot.

That was it for Biffle, who collided with Mike Bliss on pit road during the next caution, winding up with extensive damage to the front of his car, including a hole in his radiator. The team tried to repair the damage to no avail as Biffle wound up 40th.

Busch charged from ninth on a restart on Lap 211 to regain the lead, passing Jeff Gordon for the top spot on Lap 227.

Then Busch, driving a Ford, had to do it again.

This time, eight drivers remained on track when Busch and several other leaders pitted during a caution on Lap 240. Busch moved steadily forward from ninth until passing Michael Waltrip to take the lead for good on Lap 269.

Waltrip, in a Chevrolet, nearly got back by Busch on Lap 299 before wiggling hard then scraping the wall.

Busch held on to beat Waltrip by 2.315 seconds. Jeff Burton was third, followed by Waltrip's teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Brian Vickers.

It was the fourth victory in eight races this season for Jack Roush's teams.

"Kurt Busch gave them a clinic," Roush said. "I was sure he was hurting his tires at the end, but he saved just enough."

The start was delayed about 30 minutes by a late afternoon rain shower, but there were no more weather problems.

LATE FRIDAY: Biffle came out of an early spin unscathed and went on to a dominating victory in the NASCAR Busch series race at PIR. The former series champion led 112 of 200 laps to take the Bashas' Supermarket 200 by 1.969 seconds over Elliott Sadler.

[Last modified April 24, 2005, 01:03:20]