Jimmy Spencer won the Sam’s Town 300 Busch Grand National race, but not without a late challenge from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Spencer, a Winston Cup regular who runs a limited BGN schedule, led the last 25 laps of the 200-lap race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, beating Earnhardt to the finish line by 0.211-seconds–about four car-lengths–in the battle of Chevrolet Monte Carlos.
As the leaders took the checkered flag, a melee erupted in the fourth turn. At least six cars were involved in the crash, including two-time defending Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie. His car wound up sliding on its roof with flames shooting from the rear.
Spencer, 40, who now has eight Busch Series victories, averaged 114.117 m.p.h.
Joe Nemechek, the winner of the season-opening race at Daytona two weeks ago, wound up third in his Chevy, followed by the Ford of Jeff Burton.
