Bodine nudges Kyle Busch on last lap, steals truck win

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Todd Bodine figured on the final lap he simply would push Kyle Busch to the finish line, one Toyota driver helping another.

That little nudge, though, was enough to turn Busch sideways and leave Bodine celebrating again at Talladega.

Bodine took the lead on the final turn off the last lap and nipped Ron Hornaday Jr. and Busch on Saturday in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

“I knocked him sideways and went on to pass,” Bodine said. “I didn’t mean to do it. Good thing he’s a good driver and saved it.”

Bodine raced to his second victory of the season and won for the second straight year in the 250-mile race on NASCAR’s largest track. Bodine also won the season opener at Daytona, NASCAR’s other restrictor-plate track.

The trucks raced as many as three- and four-wide over the thrilling final laps, and Busch appeared as if he might hang on for his 20th overall victory this season in the Nationwide, Trucks and Sprint Cup races

“Nothing really I could have done differently,” Busch said. “Bodine’s truck was just real, real strong. He was the best Toyota we had out there today, and he just unfortunately got into us coming off the corner and we got a little loose. I got it back down to the bottom, but it shot up and around.”

Colin Braun, who was running up front most of the race, blew a tire with 10 laps left to bring out the final caution. Braun got a quick fix on pit road and was quickly back racing with the leaders. He briefly had the lead after starting 21st on the restart.

“It was fun to drive back up to the front again,” said Braun, a rookie.

Braun finished fourth and Mike Wallace fifth.

Bodine was tight with Busch in the final thrilling laps, then finally got the No. 51 out of the way to take the lead. Bodine almost conceded the victory, but knew if he could get the No. 30 in position at the right spot at the end, they would have a great shot to win.

“I was just going to push Kyle and help him get a win and try to have a good points day,” Bodine said.