Kyle Busch has only led 197 laps during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, ninth most in the series. After Sunday’s win at Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway, though, he’s tied for the series lead with three wins.
Unlike his wins at Fontana and Talladega in which Busch only showed up at the front in the closing stages, he was the dominant driver of the afternoon on Sunday. He started on pole and led 121 of 243 laps, and held off all challengers during a series of late-race restarts.
It was yet another eventful race in what’s been an eventful season for NASCAR. The drivers only got one lap completed before nearby lightning delayed the action for nearly two hours, although thankfully no rain ever fell.
Attrition was heavy, with multiple drivers — including Carson Hocevar, making his series debut — suffering brake failures and hitting the wall. Noah Gragson had the most violent impact, hitting the driver’s side of the car and bringing out a red flag for track repairs.
Then, because every NASCAR race this year seems to require some controversy, tempers flared between Austin Dillon and Austin Cindric over what looked like a racing incident. Dillon and his team owner, Richard Childress (who also owns Busch’s car), did not think so.
With the win, Busch moves up to seventh place in the points standings. It’s still reasonable to question whether or not he is a true title contender given his lack of laps led, as well as the fact that Busch only has one other top-five finish outside of his victories. But things are certainly trending in the right direction.