Dasmarka Real Estate

Oftentimes in racing, the fastest car does not win. A combination of strategy and luck can take a car that lagged mid-pack all race and propel it to Victory Lane. Such was the case in Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301 from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where Kurt Busch and crew chief Pat Tryson opted not to pit during a late-race caution period and assumed the lead just before the rains came.

"These guys made an awesome call," Busch said. "Sometimes you just don't win 'em the right way. I think we can honestly say that, but we had a lot of work and a lot of effort put in today and we'll take it."

A wreck involving Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray and David Ragan with 30 laps remaining set up the dramatic conclusion. Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick and a host of other leaders came down pit road to get fuel as a storm cell neared the facility. Busch, Michael Waltrip, J.J. Yeley, Martin Truex Jr., Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson and Casey Mears all stayed out, gambling the rain would hit before the end of the scheduled distance.

The race restarted with Busch on point but went yellow on the first green flag lap due to a spin involving Clint Bowyer and Sam Hornish Jr. As the cars circled behind the pace car, the rain set in and NASCAR immediately pulled the cars down pit road. A few moments later, the sanctioning body called the event, with Busch claiming the victory.

"We had a pretty good car all day," crew chief Pat Tryson said. "We topped off the fuel and were pretty close to make it to the end. We were hoping for some cautions, we got them and I told Kurt that we were going to stay on track and take a gamble. Today it worked and it got us a win."

Waltrip, Yeley, Truex and Sadler rounded out the top five.