CONCORD, N.C. – Kyle Busch normally celebrates his victories by climbing on top of his race car and bowing to the crowd.
With no fans in attendance Monday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NASCAR star passed on the personal tradition after driving past Austin Cindric on the final lap of overtime to earn his 97th win on the second-tier Xfinity Series.
“It kind of felt a little odd,” the 35-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver said. “I guess I could have bowed to the camera.”
After a crash involving several cars sent the race into overtime, Cindric had a great restart in overtime and overtook Busch for the lead starting from the inside lane. Busch battled back, though, driving by Cindric on the back stretch of the final lap and holding on for his 18th win at the track overall.
“I thought choosing the outside was the right way, but obviously it wasn’t. I don’t know,” said Busch, the top-tier Cup Series season champion last year and in 2015. “Those guys put up a whale of a fight tonight on restarts. I guess I’m not good at it anymore.”