In the second event of the 10-race Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Playoffs, there are now two Toyota Camry drivers locked into the next round to compete for the 2017 championship. Kyle Busch added his name to that list by winning Sunday afternoon’s race at the one-mile oval at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
 
“It’s fun to drive these Toyota Camrys with how fast they are,” said Busch, following the race. “You know, it’s a great opportunity for us to put them in victory lane. It was just a great day for our team and for the 18 team we were able to execute all day long and we did everything right. We did everything we were supposed to do and that’s where you end up when we’re able to do those things and it was a great race up front too with the 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) there.”
 
After starting from the pole position, Busch relinquished the lead to fellow Camry driver Truex who won the race’s first stage. Truex was well on his way to capturing the race’s second stage, but an accident on the final lap of the segment collected the race leader along with several other Playoff contenders. Truex was able to continue on and finish the race in the fifth position.
 
Toyota continued the dominance at the New Hampshire oval leading 299 laps (of 300) in today’s race with Busch out front for 187 laps and Truex taking time at the point for 112 laps. Camry drivers have won a total of nine MENCS races at New Hampshire, including five of the last six events.
 
The MENCS Playoffs continue next week as the ‘round of 16’ is cut down to the ‘round of 12’ at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. Both Busch and Truex are locked in the next round based on their wins at New Hampshire and last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.

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