Kurt Busch wins first race since reinstatement

RICHMOND, Va. — Kurt Busch turned in a dominating performance in the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Sunday, leading 291 of 400 laps on his way to his first win of 2015.

Busch’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick finished second.

Harvick rejoined Busch up front after taking third from Jimmie Johnson on a restart with 26 laps to go, then passing Jamie McMurray for second with 17 to go.

Johnson also got by McMurray to finish third, sending McMurray to fourth. Joey Logano rounded out the top five.

After Logano started on the pole and led the first 94 laps of the race, Busch took the lead on lap 95 and led most of the remainder of the race.

Harvick soon took over the second spot and was able to run second to his teammate until lap 173.

Busch and McMurray battled closely for the top spot during a cycle of green flag pit stops around lap 255, and McMurray was able to take the lead on 262.

After the cycle was nearly completed and following a lap-270 caution, Busch was back up front. McMurray restarted fourth but was mired behind lapped cars after getting the “Lucky Dog” to get back on the lead lap. He had been caught a lap down by the caution after he had pitted.

Brad Keselowski restarted near Busch and the front, but his engine was down a cylinder. McMurray was able to drive back up toward the front and take second from Keselowski on lap 304. Keselowski eventually dropped outside the top 10.

Finishing sixth through 10th were Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr.