Kyle Busch has won in all three NASCAR national series at his home track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but it’s been awhile since he’s gone to Victory Lane at The Bullring at LVMS.
He rectified that Thursday night.
Busch got the best of a mid-race tussle with West Coast late model ace Derek Thorn, and drove away to win the Star Nursery 100.
“It’s been a long time since I won here – a really long time,” said Busch, who has won more than 50 races at the 3/8-mile paved oval. “The fans here have always supported me – in the beginning from The Bullring days when I was a kid.
“Thanks to all the supporters out here in Las Vegas – my mom and dad, and my wife and my son now … how times have changed. It’s so cool and special to come out here – I want to thank Craig Keough and Star Nursery for sponsoring this event, and the next one.”
Busch, and his brother Kurt, grew up racing Late Models and Legends cars at The Bullring.
Christian McGee finished second and Thorn was third.
A two-time West champion and a three-time champion on the SRL Southwest Tour, Thorn started Thursday’s race on the pole. Kyle Busch used the bumper to take the lead on lap 59 and after a side-by-side battle, cleared him for the lead. Thorn was able to get the lead back with a bump-and-run, but Busch repaid him to wrestle the lead back for good.
“We had a good car and just kind of got stuck there for a little bit,” said Busch, who qualified seventh. “That’s The Bullring – that’s how I remember it the times I used to be here. You gotta move them, or you’ll get moved. It’s fun racing.
“Thorn is one of the best competitors out here on the west coast, there’s no question. So, it’s cool to beat those guys tonight.”
Tyler Fabozzi and KBM driver Sammy Smith were fourth and fifth, respectively. Trevor Christiani was sixth, followed by Tanner Reif, Jonathan Mawhinney, Austin Thom and Dylan Lupton.
