Auto Racing | Finish boosts Busch's spirits

SONOMA, Calif. — A two-week slump sent Kyle Busch spiraling into crankiness despite his spot atop the NASCAR Sprint Cup points standings.

With a win Sunday at Infineon Raceway, his mood instantly lifted.

Busch snapped his mini-slump by racing to his first series win on a road course with a Toyota that was so bad during practice he was certain he'd wreck. Instead, he made his series-high fifth visit to victory lane this season.

"I'm not happy unless I am winning, to be honest. I am a miserable person," he said. "But it means a lot to be able to run well and win."

Busch, who had a poor qualifying run and started 30th, steadily moved through the field and grabbed the lead from defending race winner Juan Pablo Montoya on an early restart. Nobody came close to taking the lead from him the rest of the way, but he did have to hold off a pair of challenges on two late restarts.

It was Busch's 11th overall victory this season spanning all three of NASCAR's top series. It also was his second road course victory of the year, following a Nationwide Series win in Mexico City in April.

"I am really impressed with Kyle," said third-place finisher Jeff Gordon, his former teammate. "I've been around him, and I didn't think he's a really good road racer. So I think you've got to give that guy a lot of credit for his talent."

David Gilliland finished a career-best second and was followed by Gordon, Clint Bowyer and Casey Mears.

Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., was 11th, while pole-sitter Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw finished 33rd.

Win for Schumacher

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — A day after Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta was killed in a qualifying accident, five-time world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his first Top Fuel win in 12 tries at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.

The event was overshadowed by the death of Kalitta. He died from multiple injuries after his car went out of control in the fourth round of qualifying Saturday.

"Today's race was extremely tough to get through from an emotional standpoint. But we managed to take care of business like Scott would have wanted us to," Schumacher said.

Schumacher had a 4.589-second run at 325.06 to defeat Brandon Bernstein for his 46th win, moving him within six of Joe Amato (52) for most Top Fuel wins ever.

Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their divisions.

Other events

• Dan Wheldon celebrated his 30th birthday by winning the Iowa Corn Indy 250, his second victory of the Indy Racing League season. Wheldon took the lead out of a caution with 90 laps to go after making the risky decision not to pit. The move paid off, as Wheldon held off Andretti Green drivers Hideki Mutoh and Marco Andretti down the stretch.

• Felipe Massa overtook Ferrari teammate and pole-sitter Kimi Raikkonen with 32 laps to go and held on for a 17.9-second victory in the Formula One French Grand Prix. It is the second consecutive Ferrari sweep at the Circuit de Nevers in Magny Cours.

• Carl Edwards shoved past fellow Sprint Cup standout Clint Bowyer with 25 laps to go, then held off rising star Joey Logano to win the Nationwide Series Camping World RV Rental 250 on Saturday in West Allis, Wis.