NASCAR: Kyle Busch Wins Inaugural Kentucky Speedway Sprint Cup Series Race

Kentucky Speedway has released an additional statement on the traffic situation surrounding Saturday night’s inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The statement expands on the track’s initial comments about the gridlock.

Here’s the latest from Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger:

Kyle Busch recaptured the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points lead following his victory at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night, taking over the top spot for the first time since Martinsville.

Former points leader Kevin Harvick fell to third, while Carl Edwards remained in second place – four points behind Busch.

Massive traffic was unfortunately one of the dominant storylines for the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Below is some of the traffic-related reaction from drivers and officials:

• Jimmie Johnson went home to Charlotte for his daughter’s birthday on Friday and flew back to Cincinnati on Saturday morning. He planned to drive to the track, but instead arranged for a helicopter when he heard rumblings about the traffic.

Denny Hamlin, known for being honest and opinionated, said Friday that NASCAR racing is “not about just all-out speed anymore.”

Speaking to reporters at Kentucky Speedway, Hamlin observed that because the cars are so aero-sensitive and the rules are restricted on the current model Cup car, all the cars are basically going the same speed.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he was surprised to hear his fans lit into Jimmie Johnson on Twitter following Saturday night’s race at Daytona International Speedway – but added he probably shouldn’t have been.

“I was (surprised), but these people are passionate,” he said. “I don’t know if I should be that surprised by anything with the fans. ‘Cause they’re passionate, you know? They get in their minds what they think is right and what they think happened and they run with it.”

Kevin Harvick took his seat on the Kentucky Speedway media center stage, looked around the room and offered the hint of a smile.

“This is what our sport needs,” he said. “New events, new facilities for us to race on.”

We’ve gotten more than a few fans in the past week who have asked why Tony Stewart doesn’t draft with Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Ryan Newman in restrictor-plate races.

Stewart and Newman didn’t work together once again on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. The reason?

On Saturday night, for the first time since 1954, NASCAR will hold a Sprint Cup Series race in the state of Kentucky.

You’re forgiven if you don’t remember the previous Cup race in the Bluegrass State. It was a 100-mile race held on a dirt track called Corbin Speedway; race winner Lee Petty and Herschel McGriff were the only drivers to finish on the lead lap.