Week 17 GFT NASCAR AI Driver Rankings: Kyle Busch Wins at Gateway, Byron holds P1

4 June 2023
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News

MADISON, IL — Kyle Busch went from Pole to Victory Lane earning his 3rd win of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season in at World Wide Technology Raceway in the Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter on Sunday. Busch survives 5 late race restarts to secure the win in NASCAR Overtime.

Finishing Order:
P1 Kyle Bush, P2 Denny Hamlin, P3 Joey Logano, P4 Kyle Larson, P5 Martin Truex Jr, P6 Ryan Blaney, P7 Daniel Suarez,P8 William Byron, P9 Michael McDowell, P10 Kevin Harvick.

Week 17 NASCAR GFT Top 25 AI Driver Rankings following the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 4, 2023 (Image: GFT Digital / gofullthrottle.net)

THE BIG MOVERS:
With the win Kyle Busch jumps up 6 spots to P3 while Denny Hamlin’s 2nd place finish moves him up 5 spots to P5. Daniel Suarez finished 7th and that moved him into p16 above the Playoff cut line. Tough day for Tyler Reddick whose 35th place finish (Brake Failure) drops him 3 spots to P10 while Ross Chastain drops 4 spots to P7.

“That was pretty awesome,” Busch said after he climbed from his car. “Man, to sit on the pole, lead a lot of laps and have my guys do such a great job today was pretty phenomenal for us. Great for RCR. Just win, baby! Thanks to Team Chevy, appreciate (sponsor) 3Chi… We’re going to have a great time with this one. This one is pretty cool.”

Kyle Larson, driver of the №5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and Kyle Busch, driver of the №8 3CHI Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway. Image: Jeff Curry | Getty Images

Kyle Busch, driver of the №8 3CHI Chevrolet, takes a bow after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway. Image: Jeff Curry | Getty Images

Kyle Busch, driver of the №8 3CHI Chevrolet, celebrates with RCR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Richard Childress and wife, Samantha Busch, in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway. Image: Jonathan Bachman| Getty Images

The Cup Series will next take on Sonoma Raceway in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on June 11 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).