Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global

Ty Dillon secures maiden Nationwide victory at the Brickyard

it doesn't get much better than having your first win be at Indianapolis.

Ty Dillon celebrates

Ty Dillon celebrates

NASCAR Media

Kyle Busch
Eric McClure
Chase Elliott
Chris Buescher
Regan Smith
Ryan Reed
Joey Gase
Joey Logano
Trevor Bayne
The IMS Pagoda
Ryan Sieg
Paul Menard

Ty Dillon got by the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Kyle Busch on lap 77, shortly after a restart, in the 100 ­lap Lilly Diabetes 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday and pulled away from Busch, gradually, in the waning laps to drive his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet into victory lane.

It's all about the trophy.

Ty Dillon

"I slipped and he got right by me," Busch said. "He drove underneath me, and that was the race, right there."

It was the first ­career Nationwide win for Dillon.

"It feels great," Dillon said. "I couldn't ask for anything better right now ­­ to beat Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, all the guys we beat." Busch finished second, and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Matt Kenseth was third. The No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick was fourth, and the No. 22 Team Penske Ford of Joey Logano rounded out the top­five.

"The strategy was good," Kenseth said. "The caution came out at the right time; we were good on fuel."

Dillon was also one of the four drivers ­­ also including Brian Scott (No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet), Chase Elliott (No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet), and Trevor Bayne (No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford) ­­ eligible for the $100,000 Nationwide Dash 4 Cash bonus. As the highest-­finisher of the four, Dillon claimed the Indy prize.

"It's all about the trophy, though," Dillon said.

Varying strategies

The race came down to a battle of pit strategies in the second half. Originally, most teams planned on a road course­type strategy, pitting as soon as they entered their pit windows. As a result, Harvick and others stayed out with the second caution of the race came out on lap 55. Busch, Dillon and other headed down pit road, but Harvick and others waiting until the race went past lap 65 under green.

The yellow flag waved one more time for debris on lap 71, negating the benefit of Harvick's strategy. With the additional caution laps, Busch, Dillon and the rest who pitted under the previous caution were able to go the remaining distance. While Busch and Dillon restarted up front, Harvick restarted outside the top­15.

Busch started on the pole, but like he lost the lead to Dillon on a restart, he lost the lead at the start of the race to his JGR teammate, Kenseth. As Kenseth took the lead in the opening laps, Harvick got up to second, and by lap 10 was leading the race.

Harvick lost the lead to Logano on the first restart of the race that followed a yellow flag on lap 15. Logano and Dillon took two tires and restarted the race first and second, while Harvick opted for four tires. Harvick eventually got back up to second and took the leaed as some headed down pit road just past lap 30. Harvick stayed out and ran up front until he finally pitted for two tires on lap 45.

Dillon will race for another Dash 4 Cash bonus, the final one of the year, next weekend at Iowa Speedway in Newton. As the other three highest­finishing Nationwide championship­eligible drivers, Scott, Bayne and Regan Smith (No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet) will challenge Dillon for the bonus. Scott finished seventh, Bayne was ninth and Smith 10th.

Just 15 points now separate the top four drivers in the championship, with Chase Elliott leading Regan Smith by four markers.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article JRM emerges as title contender
Next article Keselowski dominates standalone Nationwide race in Iowa

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global