February 4, 2018 | 1:49 P.M. EST
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In addition to his many accomplishments as a NASCAR driver, Kyle Busch has traveled North America adding bullet points to his resume winning numerous marquee Super Late model events for Kyle Busch Motorsports. After closing the 2017 season with his second win in the prestigious Snowball Derby, Busch opened 2018 Saturday with a dominant victory in the Fourth Annual SRL Winter Showdown at Kern County Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.
After coming up two spots short in his inaugural Showdown appearance in 2017, Busch returned to the premier Super Late Model event on the West coast on a mission to bring home the trophy and the $30,000 oversized check. After starting from the fourth position, the Las Vegas native moved into second on lap 26, and after a hard-fought battle spanning several laps took the lead from two-time Showdown winner Derek Thorn on lap 63.
The Mobil 1 Camry would remain out front for the remainder of the 300-lap event, opening large leads during the lengthy green-flag runs. Busch had a lead of over four seconds when the fourth and final caution slowed the field with six laps remaining. A strong restart helped him pull away over the final five laps to finish 1.783 seconds ahead of pole sitter Buddy Shepherd.
“I can’t say enough about everybody at Rowdy Manufacturing – this is a KBM car, a Rowdy car,” Busch said. “Our Hamner Racing engine was so strong underneath the hood today. Thank you to Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development). Thanks to all the fans out here today at Kern County Raceway — you guys are awesome coming out and supporting your local short track. I can’t say enough about Wayne and Connie Spears — they do an amazing job for the West Coast and what they do to keep the SRL going and everybody at the Southwest Series.”
KBM driver Noah Gragson started the event from the 11th position, made his way as high as second, and ended up finishing fifth.
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