Published: May 02, 2008 04:50 pm         

ON PIT ROAD: Kyle Busch grabs win No. 2

With another big crash on the white flag lap, Kyle Busch rolled his Toyota under caution to the checkered flag in his best finish at Talladega Super Speedway.

In a race with 21 different leaders, Tony Stewart led the most laps. But, it was still not Tony’s day, as a late race crash would leave him with a 38th place finish. Talladega’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., looked to be headed for a finish in the back. But, by escaping the last lap crash, he managed a top 10 finish. Following Busch across the line were Juan Pablo Montoya, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan and Brian Vickers. The series now heads to Richmond this weekend.

•The Southern Regional Racing Series stormed into Crossville last Friday with 44 Super Late Model cars registered for the 40-lap $3,000-to-win Chris Sopha Memorial Race. Crossville’s Brett Wyatt was the fastest qualifier, but Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA jumped out to an early lead. Crossville’s Randy Weaver got by Wyatt for second and held onto that spot for the remainder of the race. Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville finished third with Wyatt fifth.

•A huge crowd attended the race, and the Bread of Life Rescue Mission got a boost to their food pantry from those fans. Pastor Ralph Reagan of the Bread of Life was at the track with his recently released book, Fallen, Felon, and Finally Faith. The book sales receipts are going toward the new building fund for the mission.

•Other winners at Crossville Raceway included Hannah Proffitt — Cruisers; Robert Edwards — Late Model Sportsman; Steve Mullinax — Open Wheel Modified; Pro Street — Mike Selby; Modified Mini — Bryan Gregory; and Pure Mini — J D Rector.

•Crossville Raceway will conduct the regular weekly racing program Friday along with the fans' side by side racing, where fans can compete on the track in their own car. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.

Joe Dunn is a Chronicle correspondent, and his column appears weekly.