Kyle Busch earned his third straight win and a record ninth triumph in the Fr8 208 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at EchoPark Speedway on Saturday afternoon, pushing his overall series wins to an unprecedented 68. The 40-year-old driver claimed the victory after a tense battle in the final laps, holding off multiple challengers to extend his legacy in the series.
Late-Race Duel Highlights Intense Finish
In the closing stages, Busch exchanged the lead repeatedly with Stewart Friesen, a seasoned competitor, echoing their close fight at the 2025 Atlanta race. Ultimately, Busch’s No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet prevailed, aided by a well-timed push from teammate Carson Hocevar, who helped Busch regain and maintain the lead in the final seven laps. The race was shortened under the Adverse Conditions rule, ending ten laps earlier than the originally scheduled 135 laps.
Busch finished just 0.114 seconds ahead of the field, with Hocevar finishing second in the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. Giovanni Ruggiero of TRICON Garage came in third, followed by Ben Rhodes of ThorSport Racing and 2025 series champion Corey Heim. Heim, who won Stage 1 and drove the No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra, expressed frustration after learning the race was shortened without prior notice.
“It got dicey there at the end,’’ Busch said with a smile after celebrating with a bow at the finish line. “Certainly, a great race and it got exciting there at the end.
Had a great teammate [Hocevar] behind me and have to give credit where credit is due. Early on was a little worried he wasn’t helping but there at the end he was right there. …definitely made it a whole lot easier.
?Kyle Busch, Driver
Ben Rhodes Leads Throughout Most of the Race
Two-time series champion Ben Rhodes dominated a majority of the race with a race-high 70 laps led. Hoping to celebrate his 29th birthday with a victory, Rhodes’ day took a turn when he ran out of fuel mid-race, forcing him to recover from a two-lap deficit. Despite the setback, Rhodes managed to get back onto the lead lap and challenged Busch in the final laps but could not overtake the veteran driver.
Fierce Competition and Multiple Lead Changes
Stewart Friesen, who claimed Stage 2, aggressively challenged Busch late in the event, running nose-to-nose with the No. 7 Chevrolet lap after lap. However, Busch’s ability to hold off the charge, boosted by Hocevar’s momentum, sealed his win. Other notable competitors included Chandler Smith, last week’s Daytona winner, who finished sixth; Saturday’s polesitter Jake Garcia; and NASCAR Cup Series regulars John Hunter Nemechek and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Justin Haley placed tenth driving the No. 16 Kaulig Racing RAM, marking the manufacturer’s return to the series in 2026.
The event featured five different leaders and 14 lead changes, illustrating the intensity and competitiveness of the race.
Busch Reflects on the Challenges Despite His Success
Despite his remarkable record at EchoPark Speedway, Busch said the win required considerable effort, noting that his success has made him a target for other drivers who were less willing to cooperate in drafting and pushing. “If there was a confidence meter on me, the start of the race it was at a 100 but then as we got through the second stage of the race it was dipping, it was a 40 just because it seemed like everybody had talked, and no one was helping Kyle today,’’ Busch remarked, referring to how challenging it was to gain assistance on the track.
“Every time I pulled out of lane and looked for two or three to go with me in order to get to the front not one of them ever came to my rear bumper to push,”
he added, reflecting on the difficulty of making the moves he had managed solo in the past.
“Just seemed like at the beginning and middle of the race I was having a tough time being able to make the moves I remember making last year by myself. Today it was harder to do that.”
Looking Ahead to the Next Series Event
Chandler Smith’s sixth-place finish helped him maintain a 28-point lead over competitor Giovanni Ruggiero in the early driver standings. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will next compete at the downtown St. Petersburg Road Course in the OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 next Saturday at noon Eastern Time, broadcast on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. This event marks the first-ever street race in series history, adding a new dimension to the competition’s 2026 season.
