WHAT IN THE WORLD???
What looked to be a sure-fire victory for Joe Gibbs Racing has fallen apart in the closing laps of Sunday’s Cookout Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, first as a result of Martin Truex Jr. and now Kyle Busch.
The No. 18 Toyota Camry was leading the event under caution with 23 laps to go, when all of the sudden smoke started billowing from the Joe Gibbs Racing entry, taking Kyle Busch out of the running for his second win of the season.
Kyle Busch's motor blows up!
WHAT IS THIS #NASCARPlayoffs OPENER!? pic.twitter.com/WS4NWrUHOv
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 5, 2022
Instead, Busch, one of 16 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, will settle for a 30th-place finish, while handing the lead to Petty GMS Motorsports and Erik Jones on a restart with just 20 to go.