SPARTA, Ky. — James Buescher held the lead for most of the way in temperatures approaching 100 degrees, fending off challengers to win the NASCAR Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway.
Buescher, who started the night fourth in the season standings, took the lead in his Exide Chevrolet for the first time just 27 laps into the 150-circuit race and dominated the rest of the way. He was on top for 119 laps.
It was his second career Truck Series victory, following a win at Daytona to open the season.
The temperature was 98 degrees — on the track it was 117 — when the race began.
Pole-sitter Matt Crafton led before Buescher took over and didn't let go.
Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski started 17th but climbed back to finish second. Ty Dillon was third, Crafton fourth and Timothy Peters fifth. Peters accumulated enough points to take over the lead in the standings.
Rounding out the top 10 among the 36 entries were Johnny Sauter, Joey Coulter, Jason Leffler, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Kyle Larson.
Nelson Piquet Jr., coming off a victory last week in the Nationwide Series race at Road America, was running among the leaders until he bumped into the wall. The Brazilian, the son of the three-time Formula One champion, was sidelined on the 70th lap when pushed outside when Todd Bodine and Justin Lofton made contact.
Lofton, the No. 1 driver in the standings coming in, finished 14th.
Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
