DARLINGTON, S.C. – Kyle Busch stopped his older brother’s roll to claim the second stage of Sunday night’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
The 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, who won the Southern 500 in 2008, beat Kurt Busch off pit road under caution at lap 160 and held serve for the remaining distance for his 10th stage win of the season.
Kyle Busch’s stage points put him in position to possibly clinch the regular-season title, after Joey Logano came to the pits with a flat tire on lap 172 and lost a lap as a result.
Meanwhile, Kurt Busch chased his brother to the green-checkered flag, coming in 1.734 seconds adrift after taking second place from Clint Bowyer on lap 188.
Denny Hamlin eventually finished third in the stage, followed by Erik Jones, Kyle Larson and Bowyer.
Jimmie Johnson, William Byron, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick completed the points-scoring drivers in the top 10 at the second stage break.
Kurt Busch has led the most laps so far, running out front three times for 92 of the first 200 laps around the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval.
The second stage was slowed three times by yellow flags, including a stage-ending caution on lap 198 after B.J. McLeod spun with assistance from Matt Tifft in turn one.
Daniel Suarez sent fellow playoff bubble driver Ryan Newman around on lap 141 to bring out the first yellow of the second stage, while Corey LaJoie spun in turn two on lap 158, necessitating a caution that ultimately put Newman back on the lead lap with the free pass.
Notables deep in the field at the end of stage two included Martin Truex Jr. in 29th and Logano in 32nd. Both were one lap down to leader and stage winner Kyle Busch.
Stage 1 Report: Kurt Busch Dominates Opening Stage At Darlington