Kyle Busch nets Truck Series victory at Atlanta

[The General]

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Kyle Busch made the most out of a lucky break Saturday, pulling away from Ron Hornaday to win Saturday's Craftsman Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Busch was rolling along in third place with 26 laps to go in the 130-lap race when he was black-flagged by NASCAR for having the driver-side window net unhooked. Seconds before he would have had to pit, a crash brought out the caution flag and allowed the Nextel Cup star to make his stop under yellow and remain in contention.

Busch took full advantage, passing Hornaday on a restart with eight to go and pulling away to his fifth Truck victory (watch video). Busch is the first Cup regular to win a Truck race this season.

Busch, who led a race-high 65 laps, said he was holding the window net up and driving with one hand for about 12 laps before the black flag, then had to keep putting it back up on the straightaways late in the race.

"It was vibrating off every lap and I was putting it back on every straightaway. That was an experience," Busch said, grinning. "I've never done that before."

After the race, Busch, who also will race here in Sunday's Cup race, stopped his Chevrolet truck in front of the flagstand. He jumped onto the hood and took a formal bow in front of the cheering fans before collecting the checkered flag for his victory lap.

Hornaday, who started from the pole, led 51 laps and finished second, regained the series lead over Mike Skinner by four points. The two-time Truck champion said he was amazed watching Busch drive one-handed on the fast 1.5-mile oval.

"Impossible, and he did it," Hornaday said, shaking his head. "I seen it for eight laps. He had that thing sideways with one hand. That was awesome."

Johnny Benson finished third, followed by Mark Martin and Skinner, who worked his way back toward the front after falling as far back as 13th.

Skinner began the race with an 11-point lead over Hornaday, but it is the fifth consecutive race in which the two have swapped the lead.

Former open-wheel star Jacques Villeneuve finished on the lead lap in 14th, his best finish showing in four Truck races.

NASCAR.COM - Kyle Busch nets Truck Series victory*at Atlanta - Oct 27, 2007