Kyle Busch makes exception to rule

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Kyle Busch was frustrated by NASCAR's latest rule change. He took it out on the competition.

The Las Vegas native led all but three laps Saturday night to capture the Kroger 200 for Toyota's 15th victory in 22 Nationwide races this season.

It was the first event since NASCAR's mandate Wednesday to cut down the horsepower in Series engines knocked 15 horsepower out of Toyota's engines. NASCAR changed the parameters after rival teams complained, even though Toyota was within the rules.

"We wanted to come out here this weekend and sort of get a little sweet revenge on everybody," Busch said. "It turned out that way, and it worked out in our favor."

Busch won his 15th race of the season spanning NASCAR's three series, breaking the record of 14 set by Kevin Harvick in 2006. He has six Nationwide wins in 20 starts this year.

"It's been a dream season, completely all around," Busch said. "We're still running and still able to win races, so that's been the greatest fact."

Busch and Jason Leffler, last year's Kroger winner, were upset with NASCAR's decision about the horsepower. Both felt Busch's win showed that there's more to their success than cars with powerful engines.

"It's all about the people here," Leffler said. "I think this week that got overlooked a little bit. People felt like we had advantages in other places. I think we've got a lot of advantages in a lot of places. You're going to have a tough time taking them all away."

Last year, Toyota was the upstart when the Kroger race was Toyota's first win in what then was called the Busch Series.

Pole sitter Colin Braun finished second Saturday, and Mike Bliss moved up from 17th to finish third. Carl Edwards was four laps down early in the race but finished 11th.

Joey Logano, the 18-year-old sensation who finished in the top two in his previous three Nationwide races, placed eighth.

• IRL -- Scott Dixon took another big step toward a second IndyCar championship, holding off Helio Castroneves, his closest pursuer, for a victory in the Rexall Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, Alberta.

Castroneves, still looking for his first win of the season, kept the pressure on Dixon lap after lap on the temporary airport circuit. But Castroneves nearly slid off course on worn-out tires six laps from the end, allowing the New Zealander to cruise to his fifth victory of the season.

Las Vegas resident Paul Tracy, who started 16th, finished fourth.

• NHRA -- Ashley Force earned her first career No. 1 qualifier at the FRAM-Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

The 25-year old daughter of drag racing great John Force had her pass of 4.096 seconds at a top speed of 301.60 mph in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang from Friday night hold up Saturday.

The other No. 1 qualifiers were Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

• DESERT RACING -- Las Vegan Bryan Freeman won his sixth Single Buggy title of the season in the first of two days of a Championship Off Road Racing event in Chula Vista, Calif.

Freeman's Menzies Motor-sports teammates, Rob MacCachren and Larry Job, placed third in Pro 2 and third in Pro Buggy, respectively.

Carl Renezeder finished first in Pro 4 and Pro 2.