Kyle Busch can add “Camping World SRX Series winner” to his long list of racing achievements, and he only needed one race to do it.
Busch claimed the victory in round three of the 2023 season, taking the win at Pulaski County Motorsports Park (VA).
“It’s fun. This is just a great atmosphere and environment to just be around,” said Busch in victory lane on the ESPN broadcast. “It’s really cool, there are some great race car drivers and great personalities, too. I love being able to race, you know? I’d race more if I could, but there’s only so much you can get in and so much you can do.”
On lap 56, Brad Keselowski spun from the lead after contact with Kyle Busch entering turn one. Busch inherited the top spot as a result. Busch led the rest of the way to take the victory.
“I got a good run off of [turn] four, and I really wasn’t ready to pass him yet for the lead, but I got a good run on him and got a good launch. I was alongside of him, right-front to left-rear. He arced it out and came down, and I was there.
“It’s hard in these things. The vision’s not great in these mirrors and everything else, I get it. You’ve also got to be aggressive in that same stance and hold your ground and take those spots when you can get them.”
Clint Bowyer finished second, followed by Tony Stewart, Keselowski and Ryan Newman.
With the win, Kyle Busch became the fourth driver to win an SRX race in their debut. He is also the 10th different winner in SRX history, and the sixth different winner in the last six races for the series dating back to the 2022 season.
A multi-car incident ended the night for several drivers with 10 laps to go, including Paul Tracy, Ken Schrader and Josef Newgarden. Tracy and Newgarden battling for a spot in the top five, with Schrader and Hailie Deegan collected as a result.
After the accident, a dejected Schrader said simply, “I'm not running another race with [Paul Tracy]. I'm done.”
Marco Andretti, the defending series champion, entered the night second in Camping World SRX Series points. Andretti finished ninth after an eventful and tumultuous evening. Newman now holds a 21-point advantage over Andretti in the points standings.
Andretti took the win in the first heat race to take some of the sting out of the night, jumping to the lead on the opening lap from the second starting position. Andretti held off a late challenge from Keselowski to take the heat race win, as the two drivers battled side by side and made contact throughout the final three laps. Busch muscled around Keselowski on the final lap to take second in the heat race, with Keselowski finishing third.
Bowyer finished in the top spot for the second heat race, taking the lead from Newman with five laps to go.
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy/Racing America
SRX Racing at Pulaski County Main Event Results
| Fin | St | No. | Driver | Sponsor | Laps | Diff | Status | Points |
| 1 | 6 | 51 | Kyle Busch | Florida Panthers | 100 | -- | Running | -- |
| 2 | 10 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Goodyear | 100 | 0.637 | Running | -- |
| 3 | 1 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Bass Pro Shops | 100 | 1.666 | Running | 20 |
| 4 | 3 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | Camping World | 100 | 1.852 | Running | 18 |
| 5 | 8 | 39 | Ryan Newman | South Point | 100 | 2.078 | Running | 16 |
| 6 | 4 | 06 | Helio Castroneves | Purdue University | 100 | 2.67 | Running | -- |
| 7 | 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Sport Clips Haircuts | 100 | 3.046 | Running | 12 |
| 8 | 11 | 5 | Hailie Deegan | Good Sam | 100 | 3.242 | Running | 10 |
| 9 | 2 | 1 | Marco Andretti | Camping World | 100 | 5.103 | Running | 8 |
| 10 | 7 | 3 | Paul Tracy | Caymus Vineyards | 89 | 11 laps | Accident | 6 |
| 11 | 12 | 2 | Josef Newgarden | South Point | 89 | 11 laps | Accident | -- |
| 12 | 9 | 52 | Ken Schrader | Federated Auto Parts | 89 | 11 laps | Accident | 2 |
Heat Race 1 Results
| Fin | St | No. | Driver | Sponsor | Laps | Diff | Status | Points |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | Marco Andretti | Camping World | 20 | -- | Running | 12 |
| 2 | 5 | 51 | Kyle Busch | Florida Panthers | 20 | 0.306 | Running | -- |
| 3 | 6 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | Camping World | 20 | 0.329 | Running | 10 |
| 4 | 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Sport Clips Haircuts | 20 | 0.953 | Running | 9 |
| 5 | 4 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Bass Pro Shops | 20 | 1.421 | Running | 8 |
| 6 | 7 | 3 | Paul Tracy | Caymus Vineyards | 20 | 3.248 | Running | 7 |
| 7 | 1 | 2 | Josef Newgarden | South Point | 20 | 3.534 | Running | -- |
| 8 | 12 | 06 | Helio Castroneves | Purdue University | 20 | 3.773 | Running | -- |
| 9 | 8 | 5 | Hailie Deegan | Good Sam | 20 | 3.958 | Running | 4 |
| 10 | 10 | 52 | Ken Schrader | Federated Auto Parts | 20 | 4.412 | Running | 3 |
| 11 | 9 | 39 | Ryan Newman | South Point | 20 | 4.759 | Running | 2 |
| 12 | 11 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Goodyear | 19 | 1 lap | Mechanical | -- |
Heat Race 2 Results
| Fin | St | No. | Driver | Sponsor | Laps | Diff | Status | Points |
| 1 | 1 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Goodyear | 20 | -- | Running | -- |
| 2 | 2 | 39 | Ryan Newman | South Point | 20 | 0.515 | Running | 11 |
| 3 | 3 | 52 | Ken Schrader | Federated Auto Parts | 20 | 1.35 | Running | 10 |
| 4 | 5 | 06 | Helio Castroneves | Purdue University | 20 | 1.975 | Running | -- |
| 5 | 8 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Bass Pro Shops | 20 | 2.302 | Running | 8 |
| 6 | 4 | 5 | Hailie Deegan | Good Sam | 20 | 2.648 | Running | 7 |
| 7 | 7 | 3 | Paul Tracy | Caymus Vineyards | 20 | 3.629 | Running | 6 |
| 8 | 10 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | Camping World | 20 | 3.811 | Running | 5 |
| 9 | 9 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Sport Clips Haircuts | 20 | 4.108 | Running | 4 |
| 10 | 12 | 1 | Marco Andretti | Camping World | 20 | 4.349 | Running | 3 |
| 11 | 11 | 51 | Kyle Busch | Florida Panthers | 20 | 4.712 | Running | -- |
| 12 | 6 | 2 | Josef Newgarden | South Point | 20 | 5.189 | Running | -- |
