If anyone thought Kyle Busch was going to take it easy in Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, they were mistaken.

Busch earned his third straight win in the Fr8 Racing 208 and the ninth of his career at the 1.5 mile Atlanta high banks. The victory was also his record 68th in the Truck Series. But this one did not come easy.

The race ended 10 laps short of the scheduled 135 laps because of the Adverse Conditions rule. That meant drivers had to race hard to the finish without knowing they would not get those final circuits to make a move. Busch crossed the line just .114 seconds ahead of the field after a wild closing stretch that saw several trucks try to line up for one last charge.

Late in the race, Busch found himself locked in a battle with veteran Stewart Friesen. The two raced side by side in a duel that looked like a replay of last year’s fight at Atlanta. Friesen kept putting his truck next to Busch’s door, but Busch’s No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet had just enough help at the right time.

That help came from teammate Carson Hocevar. In the final laps, Hocevar gave Busch the push he needed to clear Friesen and take control for good. Hocevar finished second, making it a strong day for Spire Motorsports. Giovanni Ruggiero finished third, followed by Ben Rhodes and 2025 series champion Corey Heim.

Heim, who won Stage 1, said after the race that he did not realize the event had been officially shortened. It was that kind of afternoon. Drivers were pushing hard and trying to keep track of changing conditions at the same time.

For a while, it looked like Rhodes might steal the spotlight. The two time series champion led a race high 70 laps and seemed ready to celebrate his 29th birthday with a trophy. But a mid race fuel issue forced him to rally from two laps down. He fought back to the lead lap and even challenged Busch late, but he could not make the pass stick.

There were five leaders and 14 lead changes during the race. The action stayed intense from start to finish.

Busch admitted after the race that this win required extra effort. He said that early on, it felt like other drivers were not willing to work with him. With so much success at this track, he knows he carries a target on his back.

He explained that his confidence was high at the start, but it dropped as the race went on because he struggled to get help in the draft. Every time he tried to make a move, no one would go with him. In the end, though, Hocevar’s late push made the difference.

Chandler Smith finished sixth and kept the points lead, holding a 28 point advantage over Ruggiero. Jake Garcia, John Hunter Nemechek, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Justin Haley completed the top 10. Haley’s run was notable as he drove a RAM truck in the manufacturer’s 2026 return to the series.

The Truck Series now heads to the downtown street course in St. Petersburg for the OnlyBulls Green Flag 150. It will mark the first street race in series history.

But for now, the story belongs to Busch. Once again at Atlanta, when it mattered most, he found a way to win.