Breaking down the Nationwide O’Reilly race at TMS

Why Kyle Busch won

Because this is Texas and Busch always wins in Texas. Saturday was his track-record seventh win in the Nationwide Series in Texas. He goes for the weekend sweep in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500. Busch also won Friday’s Camping World Truck Series race at TMS. Busch led for 116 laps Saturday and outlasted Joey Logano, who led for 59 laps.

Bayne of his existence

Leader Trevor Bayne’s engine blew on Lap 49, forcing him out of the race. It was unclear what caused his car to lose control and hit the wall on Turn 2, which then caused an engine fire. “I’m guessing a tire. The way it caught fire … the way it felt,” Bayne said. “It makes you want to either cry or laugh. I don’t know which I want to do. It never happens when you’re running 20th.”

Rolling violation

Pole-sitter Joey Logano cost himself five positions after a pit-stop violation when he rolled through his box. He fought his way back and finished second.

Elliott remains points leader

Chase Elliott, the series points leader, started slow but he and his team rallied to finish fourth. Elliott leads the Nationwide Series with 1,146 points, 48 ahead of Regan Smith. Elliott increased his lead by six points Saturday. “We really, really struggled. This is the best performance as a team [this year], just getting better throughout the race,” Elliott said.

Do you wanna drive?

Clint Bowyer took over for Elliott Sadler after only 10 laps. Sadler wasn’t feeling well. Bowyer was in fourth place through Lap 133 and finished ninth. “He was looking pretty rough,” Bowyer said of Sadler after the race.

This story was originally published November 1, 2014 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Breaking down the Nationwide O’Reilly race at TMS."