James Buescher Wins NNS Daytona Race, He Should Thank Kurt Busch

The NASCAR Nationwide Series Daytona season-opener, the Drive4COPD 300, delivered quite the exciting finish to the end of the day that already had a few news-worthy moments.

The pole-sitter for the day, Danica Patrick, was tapped out by her own JR Motorsports teammate in the No. 88, Cole Whitt.  This took Danica out of the race early, by lap 49.

Throughout the next couple of hours, the race had small events take place.

As the race was winding down, my eye was on the tandem of Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler up towards the front... but then they started to fade back into the bulk of the racing pack.  It fooled myself and the race announcers because it looked like they were running into issues and fade out.

The pack up front started to jostle about in the closing laps of the Drive4COPD 300.  Kyle Busch pushed Kurt Busch to the front and for but a moment, it looked like the brothers Busch were going to pull off that coupe fans have talked about.
 
But then Joey Logano and his drafting partner started poking their nose into the fray.  With some dodging and blocking going on, the viewers were looking at a Busch or Logano possibly winning the race.

Suddenly from out of nowhere, Tony Stewart, being pushed by Elliott Sadler, came charging on like a freight train.  With the timing of their approach and pass, this race was Tony Stewart's to win.

Then Kurt Busch moved up from his low line to block the car in the middle line and they drove up into Tony's line, taking out Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler, and creating quite the mess that evolved from the move.

In other words, Kurt Busch's block started the big that restrictor plate racing in NASCAR is known for.

And the car that was in 11th on the back stretch, dodged and ducked through the carnage and James Buescher found himself in the lead position when the caution came out, freezing the field, winning the race, for his first win and oh, what a win.

The 2nd place car that also dodged the carnage was Brad Keselowski, followed by (virtue of their positions when the caution came out) Elliott Sadler, Cole Whitt and Austin Dillon.

NASCAR Results for the Drive4COPD 300.

Other notable finishers:

Tony Stewart (8th)
Dale Earnhardt Jr (15th)
Ryan Truex (31st)
Danica Patrick (38th)

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One scene that brought up some memories in an interesting fashion, was to watch a black No. 3 Chevy pushing Dale Earnhardt Jr. down the track to take the lead of but a lap or two.  That black No. 3 was the Advocare Chevy driven by Austin Dillon.

It's a sense of nice to see a black No. 3 on the track.  It's been long enough and doesn't feel like its intruding on any favored memories of the man himself.