ICYMI: Relive New Hampshire and all of the highlights in less than 2 minutes


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grHc7RZi8DU&feature=youtu.be

It's always the key to any sports playoffs. Don't peak too early.

Kyle Busch's timing is pretty darn good by that measure. Busch secured a spot in the next round of the NASCAR playoffs by winning the ISM Connect 300 Sunday in New Hampshire.

"We ran up front all day long, we executed and we did what we came here to do," Busch told NBCSN after the race.

Busch started at the pole and led for 187 laps, holding off an early challenge from standings leader Martin Truex, Jr and late surge by Kyle Larson. Larson ended up finishing 2nd.

There were questions leading up to the race as to who in the field was going to challenge the dominate Truex, Jr. in the playoffs. The 2017 Regular Season Champion is having a monster year with 5 wins including last week in Chicago. Sunday was another strong performance with Truex, Jr. leading for 112 laps, but he got caught up in a stage 2 multi-car wreck that took out Kyle's brother Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick. He managed to regroup well enough to finish 5th.

Kyle Busch, on the other hand, avoided the wreck and took the lead, never looking back. The win vaults Busch into the top 3 in the standings, behind Truex, Jr. and Larson.