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Byline: AL PEARCE
THEY DON'T CALL KYLE BUSCH "Rowdy for nothing. Some fans love him for being among NASCAR's few remaining throwback racers. Others hate him for being arrogant, cocky and in your face. Still others aren't quite sure about the 23-year-old, perhaps the best pure racer (according to Jeff Gordon) in Sprint Cup.
After the Shelby 427 at Las Vegas, can there be many doubters? Busch won the pole but cavalierly started from the rear after an engine change. Undauntedhe told fans during driver introductions what was cominghe stormed and tiptoed through the pack, led 49 of the final 58 laps (including the last 17) and beat Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, David Reutimann and Bobby Labonte. The win was his first this year and his 13th in 153 career Cup starts. All told, he has 45 wins in NASCAR's three top series since 2004. But winning at home might top them all.
"There were knots in my stomach coming to the checkered flag, Busch said after his trademark exaggerated postwin bow and a new twist: kissing the start/finish line. "This is probably as big as the Daytona 500. I said it wasn't going to be [that important], but it is. We ...