Championship driver Busch takes top pit stall from Hamlin
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HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Joe Gibbs issued a team order on the eve of NASCAR's championship that gave Kyle Busch an edge over the other three title contenders.
Busch was gifted the coveted No. 1 pit stall Saturday when Joe Gibbs Racing made the dubious decision to force teammate and pole winner Denny Hamlin to pass on the top spot. Busch qualified second and grabbed the favorable pit stall after Hamlin's team yielded to Gibbs' demand.
"It's an advantage for them, which stinks for us," reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. said.
Busch will take any perk he can when he races Truex, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick for the title Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"Ultimately, it's an upper-management decision, and that's part of it.