NASCAR

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fans Respond To Kyle Busch Saving Best For Last, Winning Fr8 208 At Chilly Atlanta

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published22 Feb 2025

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TRUCK SERIES busch wins at atlatna (1)

Moments after claiming Saturday’s Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Kyle Busch thanked the fans for showing up in 50-degree weather.  

Busch’s final lap moves were hot enough.   

The Cup Series regular pulled side-by-side with Stewart Friesen along Turn 1 on the final lap. The two remained together along the backstretch before Friesen inched ahead along the final turn.  

Busch then showed why he’s a future hall of famer, making a move on the final stretch and edging Friesen with a photo finish.  

X (Twitter) users responded to Busch’s last-lap maneuver, securing his 64th career circuit title and extending his streak of leading at least one lap in 15 starts at Atlanta …

Jack Wood claims Stage 1 after surging ahead on the outside of a three-way battle. It was his first career stage win …

Busch paced a line of five competitors from the inside lane to take the lead on Lap 40. In the eighth position, Matt Crafton suffered a cut tire and hit the Turn 3 wall …  

 Mosack passed Rajah Caruth on Lap 72. Caruth dropped from first place to third. After moving up to P2, Caruth suffered a tire failure two rotations later after exiting Turn 4, causing a spin and colliding with Andres Perez de Lara and Daniel Hemric. Tyler Ankrum ended up turning William Sawalich, who spun back into Caruth’s machine …

Busch reclaimed the lead on Lap 86, passing Grant Enfinger from the inside and pulled away. Enfinger came back to challenge Busch during the final 20 laps and eventually earned a top-10 finish …

 Competing for P14, rookie Connor Mosack, who started on the pole, made contact with Frankie Muniz along Turn 2 on Lap 106. Mosack was forced to the pits, while Muniz remained on the track, until he spun out a lap later …

Grant Enfinger challenged and overcame Busch on the inside on Lap 117 …

Chandler Smith displayed his driving skills on Lap 123, saving the No. 38 Ford after receiving an awkward push on the trioval by Stewart Friesen. Two laps later, Smith passed Luke Fenhaus for the lead. He finished P5 and claimed the points lead …

Hemric utilized an inside-lane to gain momentum and take the lead along the backstretch on Lap 130. He held it for only one lap before surrendering the advantage back to Busch along Turn 3. Hemric fell back to P16 …

 “How y’all like that one?” Busch famously asked …