NASCAR at New Hampshire 2015 Results: Winner, Standings, Highlights and … – Bleacher Report

Kyle Busch has faced obstacles all season long. First, it was a three-month absence following a scary crash at Daytona International Speedway. Next, it was the onerous obstacles NASCAR placed in front of him to make the Chase. On Sunday, it was Brad Keselowski.

No surprise here: Busch got the job done.     

The No. 18 car crossed the start-finish line under caution Sunday to take the 5-hour ENERGY 301, besting Keselowski to take home his third race of 2015. Of course, Busch has won those three races in only eight opportunities in points races. Jimmie Johnson, who has had the distinction of competing in every race on the Sprint Cup schedule, is the only driver with more victories.

Let the celebration begin! https://t.co/wzaZIxhEDb

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 19, 2015

The Joe Gibbs Racing star has come back from his broken leg far better than anyone could have expected. Except for miserable days at Dover and Michigan, Busch has been by far the hottest driver on the circuit. 

“Winning cures all,” Busch told Tom Jensen of Fox Sports. “That’s just sort of the statement that I think many drivers would attest to, but we’ve certainly had some good runs and been real positive as of late.”

Busch is now just 58 points out of 30th place in the points standings, the magic number for him to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup. NASCAR put that restriction on Busch when he returned from injury, creating an exception to the rule that says drivers must compete in every points race while setting the bar pretty high.

“To be honest with you, we just go out every week and try to perform at our best and we know that our best will put us in a good enough spot in order gather those points in order to get in the top 30 in points,” Busch told Jenseon on Friday. 

Keselowski, who led the most laps with 100, continued to get back into a solid rhythm with a second-place finish. It was his first top-five outing since Texas in April. The No. 2 car may have wound up catching Busch if it weren’t for the late-race caution, though it would have taken a heroic effort. Geoffrey Miller of Athlon Sports pointed out Keselowski wasn’t happy with some decision-making from NASCAR:

Keselowski had a lot of questions during the race about cautions, timing, etc.

— Geoffrey Miller (@GeoffreyMiller) July 19, 2015

Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top five. Harvick has 11 top 10s in his last 12 races, including four straight. All three drivers have already locked themselves into the Chase. Harvick and Logano have arguably been the most consistent drivers on the circuit.

Among the other notables, Jeff Gordon finished ninth, Denny Hamlin wound up 14th and Jimmie Johnson was the first car one lap down in 22nd. Johnson has finished outside the top 20 in only five races all season. 

It was yet another tough day for Danica Patrick, who wound up 24th. She has not had a top-10 finish in a points race since Bristol in April. The No. 10 car has now gone nearly two full months since being even inside the top 14.

Looking up in the standings, Clint Bowyer’s 34th-place finish could wind up being a critical blow to his Chase hopes. Bowyer opened the race in 16th place, but without a win. Aric Almirola, who opened the day 17 points behind in 18th place, finished 15th and leapfrogged Bowyer in the standings. The No. 15 car is looking increasingly like it will be on the outside looking in.

Both Almirola and Bowyer are dependent on Busch not getting into the top 30 and taking that final Chase spot. Ryan Newman, also looking to get into the Chase on points, gave himself a little bit of room with a solid 11th-place finish. Paul Menard would now be the final car in on points if Busch manages to bust his way into the top 30.

Given the way things are going, that’s an increasingly safe assumption. Busch may be the best driver on the planet at the moment. If he makes the Chase, he is at least on par with Johnson if not the outright favorite to take the whole thing. 

Anything can happen in the Chase, but NASCAR’s top circuit appears to be trending toward one of the best stories of 2015.