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Rookie Leicht wins cautioned-filled Busch Series Meijer 300

Jun 17, 2007 - 4:50 AM SPARTA, Kentucky (Ticker) - Rookie Stephen Leicht has done something few thought he could.

Driving a Ford Fusion, Leicht navigated his way through a rough-and-tumble NASCAR Busch Series Meijer 300 on Saturday night to win the first race of his young career.

The 20-year-old, in just his 38th start, led for only 13 laps at Kentucky Speedway to become the 10th different driver in 16 races to cross the finish line first in 2007.

Leicht averaged 117.698 miles per hour and earned $103,833 for the win.

The native of Asheville, North Carolina also became just the second non-Nextel Cup regular in the winner's circle in the last 52 Busch races.

Brad Coleman finished a career-best second in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo followed by Scott Wimmer in a Chevy.

The race had nine caution flags, including a wreck by current Busch series points leader Carl Edwards, who was nudged into the wall by Steven Wallace to end any attempt to win a fourth consecutive race in this series.

"My spotter told me how anxious [Wallace] was and just tell him to take it easy and not ruin it for us on the restart," Edwards said. "He got under me a little bit and I just moved down to block and he got me. It's both of our faults."

Edwards recorded his first did not finish in 20 Busch Series races.

Shane Huffman and Aric Almirola completed the top five in a pair of Chevys.

Polesitter Regan Smith, who led 62 laps early on, ran out of gas on a pit stop later in the race and could not refire his engine. By the time his pit crew got him started and running, he was three laps down and finished in 19th place.