Rain turns into Bliss for Nationwide winner
CONCORD -- Mike Bliss raced to his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory since 2004, catching a break to claim the rain-shortened event Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Bliss, who started from the back of the field, took the lead because he was in the right position when the caution flag came out with 39 laps to go.
The caution put Bliss ahead of series points leader Kyle Busch, who clearly had the fastest car on the track most of the night.
It looked as if Busch would get lucky when rain halted the race a few laps later and got him back near Bliss' bumper. But more showers came, and NASCAR officials called the Carquest Auto Parts 300 with 30 laps to go.
Bliss, the 2002 Trucks champion, won the October 2004 race at the track for his only other Nationwide victory.
Brendan Gaughan was second, followed by Busch, Brian Vickers and Joey Logano.
It was the second consecutive disheartening finish for Busch. He had to start at the back because of an engine change, but wasted little time moving through the field. He darted by slower cars, working his way into 10th after just 17 laps -- 11 of them under green-flag conditions.
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