Colin Braun blows past Kyle Busch for first truck win

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Colin Braun took advantage of an unintentional block by a lapped truck to pass Kyle Busch and race to his first NASCAR truck win Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.

The 20-year-old Braun gave team owner Jack Roush his 50th truck victory and third in a row at the track closest to his headquarters in Livonia.

This race looked as if it belonged to Busch, the talented 24-year-old who regularly wins races in Sprint Cup, Nationwide and the Camping World trucks series. He led 62 laps and appeared in total control before suddenly coming upon the slow-moving Norm Benning, two laps off the pace.

Busch slowed and ducked low on the banked 2-mile oval on lap 77, driving nearly into the infield grass to get past Benning, while Braun went high around both Benning and Busch to grab the lead.

"In the closing laps there, luckily Kyle got stuck there in traffic and my spotter got me cleanly through traffic," said Braun, whose first victory came in his 35th truck start.

Busch, who left after the race to fly to Kentucky, where he was scheduled to drive in Saturday night’s Nationwide race, said: "It was unfortunate, I had a lapped truck that couldn’t hold his line. I tried to go low and, when we went into the corner, (the hole) closed up. My fault there. That was a pass for the lead, that was the win. Whoever got out front, it seemed, was able to hold it.

"It’s very frustrating for us to finish second once again," added Busch, who has won twice and finished second three times in his seven truck starts this season.

With Busch fading in his mirrors, the only concern Braun had after taking he put his Ford F-150 into the lead was the possibility of another caution flag in the race that had been slowed five times for 20 laps to that point.

"Man, I was worried," Braun said. "I struggle on the restarts. I’ve got a lot to learn getting my restarts better."

Braun came into the race 18th in the season points with only three top-10 finishes in eight starts. But the youngster, an accomplished sports car racer before moving to NASCAR, led 62 laps at Charlotte last month before Busch hit him from behind and sent Braun into the wall. And he matched his career-best third-place finish last week at Texas.

"A big thanks to Jack Roush for sticking with me," Braun said. "Obviously, it’s been a tough year so far, but I know we’re on a roll now."

Roush, who said he has been tough on Braun, was ecstatic when the No. 6 truck crossed the finish line out front.

"Great job, Colin," the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing said, giving the youngster a hug in Victory Lane. "It’s just great to be in front of the home crowd. This is my turf."

Later, Roush said: "Colin is a good driver now. He’s going to be a great driver after he’s learned some of the things he needs to know on the racetrack. He’s well on his way to being as good in this business as anybody has been."

Braun appeared as much relieved as jubilant to get to Victory Lane.

"We’ve been close the last couple of races, so it really feels good to finally get it done," he said.

Pole-winner Brian Ickler was third, followed by Matt Crafton, Mike Skinner, Taylor Malsam and Ron Hornaday Jr.