After the rain that slowed the fast Daytona International Speedway, the young guns of the NASCAR Xfinity Series headed to Kentucky with hopes to run the Kentucky 300 out of the rain. And while the rain would cancel qualifying, the race went on without a hitch, and saw a very competitive race.
Because rain washed out qualifying, the field for the Friday night race was set by practice speeds, putting surprise driver J.J. Yeley (#28 JGL Racing Toyota) on the pole. While Yeley and his underfunded team would not be a factor at the front for long, other drivers starting at the front of the pack would.
On the start, it was the Cup drivers on the move, attacking the early leader Ty Dillon (#3 VF Imagewear Chevy). Dillon would surrender the lead to Kyle Busch (#54 Monster Energy Toyota), and quickly would pull away from his fellow Cup drivers.
After a competition caution at Lap 25 due to the rain earlier in the day, and a later caution for the spinning car of Derek White (#13 Dodge), Kyle Busch was under attack from and passed by Brad Keselowski (#22 Discount Tire Ford). But as is seen many times in these Xfinity races, fuel mileage would become the key.
With less than 60 laps to go, all the leading drivers made their way onto pit road for what they hoped would be their final stops. Yet, many drivers would be tight on fuel, possibly even one or two laps short. Thankfully for them, John Wes Townley (#25 Zaxby’s Chevy) would bring out the caution, setting them up with the chance to top off or save on fuel.
As the leaders came in to pit, drivers employed a number of strategies, sending leader Kyle Busch back into traffic on the restart. With Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones (#20 Freightliner Toyota) in the lead, it would become a three-car battle for the lead between Jones, Keselowski, and Busch. Lapped traffic would come into play, allowing Brad Keselowski to pass Jones for the lead with under ten laps to go, and would narrowly hold on to win the Kentucky 300 at the Kentucky Speedway.
Meanwhile, many of the favorite for the Xfinity Series championship hunt would finish one lap down at Kentucky, and left Chris Buescher (#60 Cheez-It Ford) in solid command still of the points, by 36 points over Chase Elliott (#9 NAPA Chevy).
Coming up next for the NASCAR Xfinity Series – granite. The young drivers take to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 18. See the Lakes Region 200 on NBCSN next weekend.
