Kurt Busch celebrates with his crew in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Last week’s Kansas Speedway race winner Kurt Busch said that victory for the second year 23XI Racing Toyota team was absolutely crucial for the organization’s competitive morale.
The veteran scored the first ever win in the team’s first-year second car, the No. 45 Toyota, and was still smiling about it this weekend during the run up to Sunday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway.
“A rush,” he said of the team’s atmosphere, “The hauler right now with all their crew members being here and the pit crew guys, I mean it was straight-up, like a football locker room or a college football locker room of just the morale, the track talk, the fun and the excitement – a different swagger.
“You have to have that after a win. And then you have to compartmentalize it into what can we do on track today with the cool procedures for the All-Star race and then we go for the million bucks.”
Busch will be looking to add another NASCAR All-Star Race trophy to his case to join the one he brought home in 2010 at Charlotte.
Ross Chastain Beating The Texas Heat
Ross Chastain confirmed that he received medical treatment after Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race – feeling dehydrated, he got two bags of IV fluids after the checkered flag. And, he says it was a lesson well-learned.
“Odd deal,” Chastain said. “I just didn’t hydrate enough.”
Chastain finished 12th in the Camping World Truck Series race driving the No. 41 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet and joked about a potential way to avoid the dehydration problem in the future.
“Probably eat more watermelon, probably just eat more watermelon in general,” said Chastain, whose family are multi-generational Florida watermelon farmers.
“I know we joke about the watermelon, but had I eaten a little more of it, I probably wouldn’t have had the problems I had in the truck.”
Interestingly, although the temperatures were in the 90s on Friday, a cold front moved through on Saturday, markedly chilling the air. It is only supposed to be in the low 70s when the NASCAR All-Star race begins Sunday night.
NASCAR Cup Series
Texas Motor Speedway – Fort Worth, TX
NASCAR All-Star Race – May 22, 2022
Sunday’s Starting Line Up
Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
1. 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Crunchy Cookie Toyota 28.554 189.115
2. 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Wrangler Ford 28.565 189.043
3. 24 William Byron Liberty University Chevrolet 28.528 189.288
4. 5 Kyle Larson HendrickCars.com Chevrolet 28.632 188.600
5. 45 Kurt Busch Monster Energy Toyota 28.620 188.679
6. 1 Ross Chastain Worldwide Express Chevrolet 28.723 188.003
7. 19 Martin Truex, Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota 28.744 187.865
8. 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield #BuschBacon Ford 28.767 187.715
9. 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 28.777 187.650
10. 16 A.J. Allmendinger(i) Andy’s Frozen Custard Chevrolet 28.807 187.454
11. 14 Chase Briscoe Magical Vacation Planner Ford 28.822 187.357
12. 2 Austin Cindric # Keystone Light Ford 28.830 187.305
13. 9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 28.831 187.298
14. 20 Christopher Bell DeWalt Toyota 28.834 187.279
15. 4 Kevin Harvick #BuschBacon Ford 28.864 187.084
16. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota 28.891 186.909
17. 23 Bubba Wallace Dr. Pepper Dark Berry Toyota 28.904 186.825
18. 6 Brad Keselowski Kohler Generators Ford 28.908 186.800
19. 34 Michael McDowell WISE-EV Ford 28.935 186.625
20. 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet 29.011 186.136
NASCAR Cup Series
Texas Motor Speedway – Fort Worth, TX
NASCAR All-Star Open – May 22, 2022
Sunday’s Starting Line Up
Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
1. 8 Tyler Reddick Guaranteed Rate Chevrolet 28.880 186.981
2. 99 Daniel Suarez Freeway Insurance Chevrolet 28.892 186.903
3. 47 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Kroger/Viva Towels Chevrolet 28.956 186.490
4. 43 Erik Jones FOCUSfactor Chevrolet 28.982 186.323
5. 17 Chris Buescher Fastenal Ford 29.003 186.188
6. 31 Justin Haley LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet 29.028 186.027
7. 3 Austin Dillon Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road 29.110 185.503
8. 7 Corey LaJoie Built.com Chevrolet 29.195 184.963
9. 21 Harrison Burton # Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Ford 29.224 184.780
10. 41 Cole Custer HaasTooling.com Ford 29.226 184.767
11. 77 Landon Cassill(i) Shelton Energy Solutions Chevrolet 29.287 184.382
12. 42 Ty Dillon Ferris Chevrolet 29.396 183.698
13. 51 Cody Ware Nurtec ODT Ford 29.506 183.014
14. 38 Todd Gilliland # First Phase Credit Card Ford 29.749 181.519
15. 15 Garrett Smithley Trophy Tractor Ford 29.895 180.632
16. 78 B.J. McLeod Pala Casino Ford 29.927 180.439
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