Busch claims Nationwide finale, title

HOMESTEAD, Fla. --- Kyle Busch only needed the green flag to drop to win his first NASCAR title. His coronation was never in doubt and neither, really, was the outcome of the Nationwide Series finale.

Busch made it a double dose of celebration for Joe Gibbs Racing, wrapping up the series championship before turning a single lap and capping Saturday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway with his ninth trip to Victory Lane.

"It's not easy to win in any division in this sport when you're racing against some of the best," Busch said. "It's a big deal."

Busch held off a hard-charging Carl Edwards to win the 300-mile race, a fitting ending because the two NASCAR stars finished 1-2 in the final standings.

By the numbers, Busch was sensational in NASCAR's second-tier series. He led a record 2,698 laps, had a record 11 second-place finishes, and finished 210 points ahead of Edwards.

REACHING OUT: Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya helped NASCAR and the Speedway promote today's Ford 400, doing interviews with Hispanic outlets in South Florida.

Questions are asked in English and Spanish, and a lot has been made to connect stock car racing with a Latin audience.

Now that he's running up front and in the Chase for the Championship, NASCAR has cultivated a new group of fans. But success has come with a price in South Florida. Now everybody wants to be his friend.

"It's actually a nightmare, it is," he said. "It's so many people. Everybody wants tickets. You know, everybody wants this, everybody needs this. Everybody is your best friend."

chief concern: Now that Jimmie Johnson has been signed to a three-year extension through the 2013 season, car owner Rick Hendrick has shifted his attention to keeping crew chief Chad Knaus for the rest of his career.

Hendrick said he would like to sign Knaus to a lifetime contract similar to the one he has with driver Jeff Gordon.

"Jeff and I have an agreement," Hendrick said. "As long as he drives in Cup, he's going to drive our car. I'm hoping he's going to drive a bunch of more years. We know it's going to be at least three or four. So we're excited about that."

PIT STOPS: Steve Addington, who was replaced as Kyle Busch's crew chief in October despite winning 12 times in 67 starts, has decided to leave Joe Gibbs Racing. ... Jimmy Fennig, the crew chief for David Ragan, might be making his final start in today's race. Fennig is expected to assume a managerial role at Roush Fenway Racing.