Race 18: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

THE STARTING GRID:





THE WINNER:
In a race in which he’d finished a close second the previous two years at a track where he’d narrowly lost the Daytona 500 in February and the Nationwide race to teammate #11-Denny Hamlin the day before, #18-Kyle Busch squeaked out his first Daytona victory in the Sprint Cup Series by running just inches ahead of #99-Carl Edwards in turn one when a huge wreck brought out the caution to end the green-white-checkered finish. Busch was one of the fastest cars all night, leading as early as lap 25, but his night nearly ended on lap 82 when a power steering problem caused his car to twitch violently coming into turn three, clipping #11-Denny Hamlin. Though he fell from the top 5 to 37th as he slowed on the apron, he somehow saved his car from spinning and immediately began climbing back up through the pack. With 4 laps to go, he was racing #24-Jeff Gordon side-by-side for the lead and was just ahead of him when the ninth caution fell, then outdueled #99-Carl Edwards in another side-by-side battle in the resulting abbreviated green-white-checkered finish. Busch led 31 laps en route to his sixth victory of the season.

RESULTS:
1) #18-Kyle Busch THE WINNER!
2) #99-Carl Edwards Gradually climbed his way up from the 24th starting spot and led a lap during the fourth caution on lap 109 when he stayed out an extra lap before pitting, handing the lead back to #88-Earnhardt, Jr. He remained silently in the top 5 for the late stages of the race and, after spinning #24-J. Gordon out of 2nd on the restart for the green-white-checkered finish, waged a thrilling duel with #18-Ky. Busch by racing him hard on the outside where teammate #26-McMurray had won the previous year. Unfortunately, the eleventh and final caution ended the race on the final lap with #18-Ky. Busch just narrowly ahead of him between turns one and two. Led 1 lap.
3) #17-Matt Kenseth After saving his car from sliding into the turn two wall on lap 91, he fought to help teammate #99-Edwards make a bid for the victory in the green-white-checkered finish by trying to shove him by #18-Ky. Busch on the outside as the field raced down the backstretch. Coming into turn three, however, he unexpectedly cut down to follow #18-Ky. Busch, allowing #2-Ku. Busch to nose into the hole on the outside to form a two-by-two battle for the top four spots, his car scored ahead of #2-Ku. Busch.
4) #2-Kurt Busch Just as in February, he struggled in everything leading up to the main event only to find himself with the leaders when the checkered flag fell. This time, adversity came when he was the fastest car in the only practice session on Friday, then blew a right-front tire coming off turn two during a fuel run, destroying his primary car and forcing him to a brand-new backup car that could only qualify 36th. After running a very frustrating 25th-place race for much of the day, frequently losing spots he’d gain on the track whenever he pitted, he moved into the lead pack in the final 25 laps and became a factor. He was just inside the top 5 before the tenth caution with 4 to go and slid into fourth during the green-white-checkered finish when he moved behind #99-Edwards after #17-Kenseth moved down low. He grazed the outside wall coming out of the tri-oval on the final lap, but kept it straight and defended his position when the race abruptly ended.
5) #6-David Ragan Remained in or near the top 10 all night on the heels of another excellent qualifying run despite being shaken from the draft when he raced up high in a three-wide battle on lap 30. In the top 5 after the fourth caution on lap 109, he shoved #88-Earnhardt, Jr. into the lead past #11-Hamlin on lap 121. He lost several spots soon after under the fifth caution on lap 124 after a penalty for “noncompliant fueling” when his catch can man disengaged the can too early, forced him to pit a second time. Climbing back through the pack, he bumped a loose #20-Yeley coming off turn four on lap 139 and checked up just before the eighth caution unfolded behind them. On the final lap, he authored a fantastic save when, while running in the middle groove in the tri-oval, he was clipped in the left-rear by a diving #7-R. Gordon and broke loose, sliding up into #07-Bowyer, the field scattering three and four-wide around them but somehow not wrecking. As the big wreck happened behind he and #07-Bowyer, he was able to hang on to his top 5 and secure one of his best finishes of the season.
6) #7-Robby Gordon Turned in his best finish of the year in a car that did not have any sponsorship until Menards came on board on race day, running near the top 10 most of the night before running 10th on lap 130. He nearly caused the big wreck on the final lap when he dove down low in the tri-oval beneath #6-Ragan while racing for fifth, nearly wrecking #6-Ragan. He stayed down low after the contact, kept his car straight during the field’s scattering in the final big wreck and picked up a well-deserved top 10 when the race was called. Led 1 lap.
7) #9-Kasey Kahne Raced all the way up from 41st to 6th in the first 41 laps with teammate #19-E. Sadler not far behind. With 17 laps to go, he was challenging for the top 5 on the backstretch when #88-Earnhardt, Jr. bumped #18-Ky. Busch to his inside, one of the cars making contact with the left-front of his car enough to cave in the fender. He dropped back through the pack sporadically puffing smoke, but wasn’t black-flagged and remained on the track as the smoke subsided. Struggling to hang on to the high groove, he was nearly hit by #20-Yeley when his car walked up the track with 16 to go. Fortunately, he was able to pick his way through the final lap melee to secure a strong finish, his third straight at Daytona.
8) #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. In a car hand-stencil-painted by his team, he raced his way into the lead on lap 20, passing #15-Menard on the backstretch just before the first caution came out on that same lap. When he pitted too close to the inside pit wall under that caution, forcing a 21-second stop, he lost the lead and restarted 14th. Aided by teammates #48-Johnson and #24-J. Gordon, however, he found his way back into the lead by lap 37. He nearly wrecked teammate #48-Johnson out of the lead on lap 77 when he bump-drafted #48-Johnson in the tri-oval. #6-Ragan shoved him to the lead on lap 121 and, seven laps later, passed #60-Said for the lead when #60-Said stayed out on old tires. His shunt of #18-Ky. Busch while on the backstretch with 17 to go crumpled the left-front fender of #9-Kahne. Still in the top 5 with 6 laps to go, however, he was knocked very loose coming into turn three and lost several spots, taking him out of the top five. Led a race-high 51 laps.
9) #07-Clint Bowyer Solid top-10 run became a tense affair in the closing laps when he and #5-Mears made contact on lap 139, #5-Mears wrecking soon after to bring out the eighth caution. He had an even closer call during the final green-white-checkered finish when #6-Ragan made contact with him coming out of the tri-oval on the final lap, his car brushing the outside wall, but staying straight as the field scattered around him. Still, he held on and finished in the top 10.
10) #8-Mark Martin Qualifying on the outside pole, his best starting spot at Daytona since 1990 and his best at a restrictor plate track since 1991, he joined teammate #15-Menard in an all-DEI front row. Earned an excellent finish as well on the heels of being tabbed by Hendrick Motorsports on Friday as driver of the #5 full-time in 2009.
11) #83-Brian Vickers Was the biggest mover through the pack on lap 30, having gained 23 spots from his 28th place starting position. Became involved in the fifth caution on lap 124 when he spun #31-J. Burton coming off turn four, the sixth on lap 130 when #26-McMurray merged into him coming into turn one and spun, and nearly in the eighth when a wobbling #5-Mears broke loose right in front of him off turn four nine laps later.
12) #29-Kevin Harvick Fought to lead a lap under the second caution of the race by staying out for an extra circuit, but it didn’t work. When the race was restarted with 8 laps to go following the ninth caution of the race, he got very loose in the high groove coming off turn four in front of #6-Ragan, but saved his car from spinning.
13) #43-Bobby Labonte NO NOTES
14) #10-Patrick Carpentier (R) The highest-finishing rookie for the second time this season and the first time since the Samsung 500 at Texas. Was clipped in the right side by the sliding #77-Hornish, Jr. while riding the apron during the eleventh caution of the race, but kept going and earned an excellent finish.
15) #15-Paul Menard Became the second straight first-time polesitter in his 57th Cup start and, in doing so, gave DEI its first Daytona pole. He led the opening laps of the race until #88-Earnhardt, Jr. took the lead from him on the backstretch just before the first caution of the race on lap 20. He suffered damage to the right-rear quarter-panel after a pit road collision with teammate #01-Smith around the second caution on lap 44 and required several strips of tape. Despite this, he was able to race back up to 7th on lap 139, but was then spun by #20-Yeley in the tenth caution as #20-Yeley was checking up for the spinning #44-Reutimann, who was himself turned after checking up for the wrecking #48-Johnson. On the apron, he barely avoided damage in the eleventh and final caution when he and #1-Truex, Jr. squeezed #45-T. Labonte into a near-spin. Led 19 laps.
16) #45-Terry Labonte After running a very quiet, very patient lead-lap race, he was nearly taken out in the tenth caution when he bumped the slowing #22-Blaney on the backstretch with 4 laps to go and narrowly avoided t-boning #48-Johnson as #48-Johnson spun off #22-Blaney’s nose. He narrowly avoided damage again in the eleventh and final caution when he got squeezed between #1-Truex, Jr. and #15-Menard, his car drifting some distance along the apron before driving off from the wreck.
17) #1-Martin Truex, Jr. Weekend got off to a bad start when his primary car was confiscated after inspection when the car did not fit NASCAR’s templates, forcing him to miss practice and race in a backup that could only qualify 35th. Considering all the adversity, he ran a respectable race on Saturday, running up in 15th on lap 114, but had to romp on the brakes when #26-McMurray spun in front of him on lap 130 to narrowly avoid a t-boning incident. He did, however, bring out the seventh caution on lap 137 when, while running the lower groove off turn four, he hooked #11-Hamlin into #12-Newman. By lap 139, his car showed clear damage to the left-front of his bumper and his left-rear quarter-panel was bowed out as his rear bumper had been bumped too hard by another car. Suffered some more cosmetic damage in the eleventh and final caution when he squeezed #45-T. Labonte into #15-Menard while they escaped on the apron.
18) #78-Joe Nemechek Brought out the ninth caution of the race with 11 laps to go when, while racing #60-Said off turn four, he hooked a merging #60-Said into the outside wall, but managed to avoid further involvement. While following #1-Truex, Jr. on the apron, e was hit in the right side by the sliding #20-Yeley in the eleventh and final caution, but like #10-Carpentier avoided further damage and kept going, picking up one of his best finishes of the year.
19) #22-Dave Blaney After running up near the top 5 in the early stages, he slipped back around 15th as the night continued. Still running 15th with 4 laps to go, he sparked the tenth caution of the race when he was squeezed between the slowing cars of #28-Kvapil and #45-T. Labonte, causing him to pop out of the outside groove and clip #48-Johnson, sending #48-Johnson spinning into the outside wall. He narrowly missed damage in the eleventh and final caution when, while riding behind #28-Kvapil on the outside, he locked his brakes and was held up by the wrecks, following the cars downhill before coming out of the smoke undamaged.
20) #20-Tony Stewart & J.J. Yeley Stewart, severely ill with flu-like symptoms, nevertheless started the race and showed he had a strong car despite scraping the outside wall off turn three on lap 5. Frequently sweeping down low on the backstretch to gain more positions, he diced his way into 3rd on lap 39. Still running with the leaders under the third caution on lap 71, the flu got the best of him and he had his pit crew get relief driver J.J. Yeley, who did not qualify on Friday, ready to take over. The driver change was made under that caution and Yeley returned to the track on the lead lap around the 30th position. Yeley ran a respectable race in the laps immediately following, climbing up to 12th by the seventh caution on lap 136 and saving his car from spinning off turn four on the lap 139 restart even when #6-Ragan bumped him. His checking-up, however, ultimately brought out the eighth caution when #5-Mears wrecked a few cars behind. His car broke loose once again with 16 laps to go, nearly collecting #9-Kahne in the outside wall. Yeley was also involved in the tenth caution when, while running behind the spinning #01-Smith as he spun #44-Reutimann, he cut down across the nose of #15-Menard and spun with him through the grass before nearly hitting the wrecked #48-Johnson as he drove back onto the track. He was even involved in the eleventh and final caution when, while running the outside groove just behind the initial wreck, he crossed down across the hood of #41-Sorenson and spun into the right side of #78-Nemechek, who kept going.
21) #44-David Reutimann Lost five laps when he pitted under green on lap 97, perhaps to make post-qualifying adjustments, and proceeded to be the Luckiest Dog, receiving the Lucky Dog on cautions four, five, six, seven, and eight between laps 109 and 140 to get back on the lead lap. He was then involved in the tenth caution with 4 laps to go when he checked up for the wrecking #48-Johnson and was spun by #01-Smith, turning him left into #11-Hamlin, the two spinning through the grass.
22) #41-Reed Sorenson He bounced off #9-Kahne in turn one with 7 laps to go while hugging the outside groove for much of the late stages. He spun out of the outside groove in the eleventh and final caution just after #20-Yeley cut across his nose, his own spinning car knocking #70-Sauter into a spin down the banking.
23) #48-Jimmie Johnson In a car that was frighteningly loose on the track and frustratingly in the way on pit road, he still ran up with the leaders for much of the day as he drafted with teammates #24-J. Gordon and #88-Earnhardt, Jr. On lap 32, he dropped back quickly as he was trapped alone in the middle groove with no one high or low letting him in until he was practically out of the top 20. Under the third caution on lap 71 and the fourth on lap 109, he was a pit lane roadblock for #24-J. Gordon, forcing his teammate to slow down when he cut #24-J. Gordon off. On the lap 75 restart, he shoved his way into the lead and was nearly wrecked by teammate #88-Earnhardt, Jr. when he was bump-drafted in the tri-oval. He also nearly hit #29-Harvick coming off pit road under the fifth caution on lap 124. He creased his right-front fender racing under #18-Ky. Busch on the backstretch for 3rd on lap 133, but fortunately was able to make repairs when the seventh caution came out three laps later. Unfortunately, he was taken out in the tenth caution of the race when #22-Blaney was forced out of his groove on the outside and clipped him in the right-rear, turning him head-on into the backstretch wall, which he ground against facing backwards before slipping down the turn three banking near #11-Hamlin. Led 4 laps.
24) #01-Regan Smith (R) Having joined his DEI teammates in the top 8 after qualifying, his luck faded on race day when he ran into the back of teammate #15-Menard on pit road around the time of the second caution on lap 44, punching a hole in the left-front of his car’s bumper and crumpling up the right-rear quarter-panel of #15-Menard, both cars requiring tape. He became involved in the tenth caution with 4 laps to go when, while checking up for the wrecking #48-Johnson, he knocked #44-Reutimann into a spin, sending #44-Reutimann spinning through the grass with #11-Hamlin. His car wobbled after the contact and spun down the banking of turn three, but fortunately didn’t hit anything.
25) #00-Michael McDowell (R) NO NOTES
26) #11-Denny Hamlin After dominating the Nationwide race at Daytona the day before, he mimicked teammate #20-Stewart’s daring moves to the inside of the track on the backstretch, often riding the yellow line as he climbed up to 3rd on lap 80. He nearly wrecked teammate #18-Ky. Busch on lap 82 when #18-Ky. Busch had a power steering problem and crossed his nose, but managed to avoid disaster. Still in the top 5 after the fourth caution on lap 109, he took the lead on lap 115 and held it until #6-Ragan pushed #88-Earnhardt, Jr. past him six laps later. Things went downhill a few laps later when, while running near the lead draft coming off turn four on lap 136, he was clipped in the left-rear by #1-Truex, Jr. and spun into #12-Newman, sending them both spinning to the inside, the left-rear of his car tagging the wall. He came back onto the track only to be involved in the tenth caution of the race with 4 to go when #01-Smith turned #44-Reutimann into him, sending him into the grass, sliding back onto the track, and nearly colliding with #48-Johnson as the two slid in different directions over the turn three banking. Led 6 laps.
27) #55-Michael Waltrip Began to make his own move toward the front about the same time as #2-Ku. Busch in the final 20 laps which, unfortunately, was just in time for him to be taken out in the eleventh and final caution when #77-Hornish, Jr., forced down the track by #28-Kvapil, clipped him in the right-rear, sending him hurtling up the banking and into the two wrecked cars. Led 1 lap.
28) #70-Johnny Sauter Turned in his season-best qualifying run by starting 5th and remained in the top five for much of the first run before the first caution fell on lap 20. After running a relatively quiet race after that, he was involved in the eleventh and final caution on the final lap when he spun from the outside groove while racing under #41-Sorenson, who also spun to the inside after #20-Yeley cut across his nose. His car wound up sliding into #77-Hornish, Jr. and the others on the apron.
29) #77-Sam Hornish, Jr. (R) In a car heavily towed-out yet again, he looked like he was going to have another strong run at Daytona when he raced all the way up from 42nd to 10th in the first 63 laps. He avoided disaster bravely during the fourth caution of the race when #19-E. Sadler crashed into the turn four wall, not hitting the brakes or swerving even though he was running the high groove, but still missing #19-E. Sadler completely. He was also nearly involved in the eighth caution when he was behind the wobbling #5-Mears on lap 139, but slowed down to avoid contact that time. He was involved in the opening stages of the eleventh and final caution when #28-Kvapil slid down into him, forcing him to clip the right-rear of #55-Waltrip, who turned up and pinned all three into the outside wall. His car then slid down the banking and tagged the right side of #10-Carpentier, who managed to hold on and keep going as #70-Sauter’s car slid sideways into his.
30) #24-Jeff Gordon Had a very loose race car in the opening stages after starting mid-pack, nearly wrecking when he merged up in front of #83-Vickers coming off turn four on lap 5, then again when he was squeezed between #70-Sauter and #2-Ku. Busch in the same spot on lap 11. Linked with teammates #48-Johnson and #88-Earnhardt, Jr., however, his car became a fixture in the top 5 after the first round of pit stops. Still surrounded by his teammates, he made his way into the lead on lap 79, lost some spots, then regained the lead on lap 133. He fought hard with #18-Ky. Busch for the lead through much of the latter stages of the race, running side-by-side with him with 4 laps to go when the tenth caution came out. Unfortunately, he was narrowly behind #18-Ky. Busch at the moment of caution and was forced to restart 2nd for the green-white-checkered finish. It was on that fateful restart that he spun off the nose of #99-Edwards as they raced into turn one, but didn’t bring out the caution, dropping him far back in the pack. Led 46 laps.
31) #28-Travis Kvapil After running in the top 10 around the one-quarter mark of the race, he checked up while running 13th on the backstretch with 4 to go and, ultimately, sparked the tenth caution of the race when #22-Blaney, running behind him, was forced to pop out of line and clip #48-Johnson into a spin. Unfortunately, his strong run was ruined when he brought out the eleventh and final caution on the final lap, his car slipping down onto #77-Hornish, who slid back up into him with #55-Waltrip and pinned him hard into the outside wall, destroying his car.
32) #26-Jamie McMurray The defending champion of the race struggled with poor handling and terrible track position that mired him around 30th for much of the day. He brought out the second caution on lap 44 when he made contact with #12-Newman as the two raced for the same spot off turn two. He spun out trying to merge in front of #83-Vickers coming into turn one on lap 130, bringing out the fifth caution as he spun through the grass, but didn’t hit anything. Though the car was not damaged, he spent 6 laps behind the wall for repairs and received one of them back as the Lucky Dog under the ninth caution with 11 to go.
33) #21-Jon Wood Fell to the back before the green flag along with #84-Allmendinger and #60-Said as one of the quick cars out of the top 35 who needed to make several adjustments to get out of qualifying trim and into race setup. Just like at Talladega, however, his crew brought his car behind the wall just three laps in to make those adjustments, dropping him 8 laps down to the leaders before he returned to the track on lap 11. He did get one of his laps back as he received the Lucky Dog under the first caution of the race.
34) #5-Casey Mears Just when it looked like his mid-pack run was going to allow him to move towards the front in the late stages, he broke loose racing under #07-Bowyer off turn four on lap 139 while checking up for the slowing #20-Yeley and wobbled wildly before backing into the tri-oval fence to bring out the eighth caution of the race, ending his day.
35) #60-Boris Said Successfully made his first race at Daytona since he finished 14th in the 2007 Daytona 500 after his pole run was washed out that July and he missed the 500 this year by one transfer spot. Fell to the back before the green flag along with #21-Wood and #84-Allmendinger as one of the quick cars out of the top 35 who needed to make several adjustments to get out of qualifying trim and into race setup. Lost a lap in the first green flag run, but received the Lucky Dog under the second caution on lap 44. He took the lead by being the only car to stay out under the fifth caution on lap 124, but lost the lead almost immediately to #88-Earnhardt, Jr. on the lap 128 restart. He was taken out in the ninth caution of the race with just 11 to go when, while merging off turn four, he crossed the hood of #78-Nemechek and turned hard into the outside wall, ending his day. Led 2 laps.
36) #12-Ryan Newman The Daytona 500 champion of this season had a rough time of it in this event, starting back in 32nd and being spun out of 19th by #26-McMurray on the backstretch on lap 44 to bring out the second caution of the race. Though the only damage to his car was a low right-front tire and he recovered to run 5th on lap 108 and even challenge #11-Hamlin for the lead on lap 115, the right side of his car was pancaked during the fifth caution on lap 124 when the sliding #38-Gilliland pinned him into the turn four wall. As there was no damage to the front of his car, he returned to competition. His car was finished off, however, in the seventh caution on lap 136 when #1-Truex, Jr. hooked #11-Hamlin into him, sending his car spinning to the inside before hitting the inside wall hard with the right-front of his car.
37) #31-Jeff Burton Miraculously avoided damage during the fifth caution of the race when, while checking up for the wrecking #38-Gilliland and #12-Newman a few cars in front of him, he was rear-ended by #83-Vickers and spun through the tri-oval and into the grass. His crew removed the clumps of grass and he returned to the race. He was not as fortunate in the eighth caution on lap 139 when, while checking up for #5-Mears’ wreck, he was turned into the outside wall in the tri-oval by #2-Ku. Busch, crumpling the front of his car enough for his radiator to gush water. Picked up his first DNF of the season as well as his first finish outside the top 15.
38) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya Suffered damage in the third caution of the race on lap 44 when #16-Biffle came across the hood of his car and pinched him into the outside wall, scraping up the passenger side of his car and damaging his left-front, requiring some pieces of tape. The damage was apparently more severe than this as he lost several laps as the crew made repairs. After returning to the track, his car was seen limping around on the apron with 6 laps to go.
39) #19-Elliott Sadler After racing up near the top 10 in the first third of the race, he was taken out in the fourth caution of the race on lap 109 when his right-front tire blew while running on the inside groove in turn four, sending his car hard into the outside wall and nearly collecting #77-Hornish, Jr. Fortunately, he was okay and the crew got the car back onto the track several laps down.
40) #38-David Gilliland For the second time in three weeks, he turned in a career run, racing up to 5th on lap 89 and 2nd on lap 103 behind #88-Earnhardt, Jr., the two breaking away from the pack before the fourth caution came out on lap 109. Under that caution, however, he lost several spots when he overshot his pit box by a couple inches and had to back up, dropping him to 14th after a more than 20 second pit stop. Running back up in 7th on lap 124, he broke loose after running over some bumps in turn four and slid up into #12-Newman, turning himself into the wall in what became the fifth caution of the race. The damage to the front of his car was enough to put him behind the wall.
41) #09-Sterling Marlin After narrowly making the field in the 18th position, he fell back in the early stages, made an extra pit stop under the first caution, and lost a lap before receiving the Lucky Dog under the third caution on lap 71. After running laps down to the field for possible lengthy repairs, he fell out of the race with handling problems after completing 103 laps.
42) #84-A.J. Allmendinger Fell to the back before the green flag along with #21-Wood and #60-Said as one of the quick cars out of the top 35 who needed to make several adjustments to get out of qualifying trim and into race setup. Unfortunately, he never got to that point as he brought out the first caution on lap 20 when his right-front tire blew coming off turn two, turning him hard into the outside wall just like #2-Ku. Busch had in practice. He returned to the track on lap 80, several laps down.
43) #16-Greg Biffle Brought out the third caution of the race on lap 71 when he came across the front of #42-Montoya coming off turn four and turned himself into the wall, annihilating the front of his car.

DID NOT QUALIFY:
#66-Scott Riggs
#96-J.J. Yeley

Race 17: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire

THE STARTING GRID:





THE WINNER:
A confluence of dramatically-changing weather conditions, fuel strategy, and a rash of late-race cautions moved #2-Kurt Busch from 18th to the lead with 27 laps to go. Busch did not have one of the fastest cars of the day, complaining of a lack of straightaway speed, but, unlike the leaders, he pitted with #5-Casey Mears, #18-Kyle Busch, and a few others under the fifth caution at lap 217 and had already decided to go for the win despite being two laps short of the 301 lap mark. After narrowly avoiding disaster on lap 247 when he caught a piece of the wall off turn two and smoked his brakes racing #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, he chose to stay out while the leaders followed the dominant #20-Tony Stewart onto pit road under the sixth caution on lap 274. Aided by lapped traffic and seven other cars who stayed out under that caution, Busch was still in the lead when a pair of wrecks with 22 laps to go brought out the seventh caution which became a red flag when a thunderstorm washed over the track. While his car was seen shedding parts as it dragged a loose brake duct under the rear of his car, Busch was relieved when the race was called at that point, 284 laps in, with Busch as the winner. Busch led only the final 10 laps as he scored the upset victory.

RESULTS:
1) #2-Kurt Busch THE WINNER!
2) #55-Michael Waltrip After changing engines for the second week in a row, forcing him to start at the back of the pack, he moved into 2nd when he stayed out under the sixth caution of the race on lap 271 and remained there in the two laps of green-flag racing before the seventh and final caution came, followed by the red flag for rain that ended the race. He was within sight of #2-Ku. Busch when #7-R. Gordon chased him up the track just before that last caution, but was not quite in position to make the pass.
3) #96-J.J. Yeley Moved into 3rd when he stayed out under the sixth caution of the race on lap 271 and remained there in the two laps of green-flag racing before the seventh and final caution came, followed by the red flag for rain that ended the race. Not only scored the best finish of his career since finishing 2nd in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 to #5-Mears, but did so a week after his DNQ at Sonoma.
4) #1-Martin Truex, Jr. Despite feeling ill on qualifying day, he turned in a solid run, establishing himself as one of the fastest cars on the track when he climbed up to 4th on lap 50 after starting 8th. After falling back to mid-pack as the clouds returned, he moved up to 4th once more after staying out under the sixth caution on lap 271.
5) #19-Elliott Sadler Was locked in a tight battle with #15-Menard for the Lucky Dog on lap 160 and eventually got it under the fifth caution on lap 217. This put him in a position to gamble by staying out in under the lap 271 caution, the sixth of the day, where he successfully defended his fifth-place restart spot.
6) #41-Reed Sorenson Was the provisional polesitter when rain nearly washed-out qualifying on Friday, threatening to make him start back in 35th. The track was dried, however, and though #10-Carpentier and the other drivers who ran later knocked him back to sixth, he still had admirable track position for the start. He was not as visible in the race, however, except for breaking loose in turn three on lap 162 right in front of teammate #42-Montoya, at which time he saved the car, but still dropped back several spots. He went down a lap soon after, but received the Lucky Dog under the fourth caution on lap 203 and stayed out under lap 271's sixth caution to finish where he started.
7) #5-Casey Mears Turned in another excellent run after it was made official that he would not be returning to Hendrick in 2009. After running mid-pack in the first fuel run, he gained the lead by staying out with #83-Vickers under the first caution on lap 86. Surprisingly, he opened up a massive two-second lead over the field by lap 122, remaining in the lead despite leading only 1 lap all season. His car was even the leading Hendrick car when all four were running in the top 8 on lap 127. The second caution on lap 140, brought out by debris, came at a perfect time for him as #20-Stewart was catching him and he planned to pit next at lap 150. However, he lost the lead to #20-Stewart during that pit exchange and was unable to get it back, hovering around 3rd on lap 178. Looking for an edge, he pitted along with #18-Ky. Busch, #2-Ku. Busch, and others under the fifth caution on lap 217 and, like them, hoped to stretch his fuel the rest of the way. This decision proved to be a good idea as he was able to stay out during the sixth caution on lap 271. Led 53 laps.
8) #11-Denny Hamlin Another very fast car in the first part of the race, his machine drove well, but sprayed out troubling volumes of brake dust whenever he was racing another car through the corners. He, like many of the leaders in the mid-to-late stages, was about 9 laps short of making the 301 lap distance. He pitted for fuel only along with the other leaders under the sixth caution on lap 271 and was the first off pit road as teammate #20-Stewart chose to take on tires.
9) #48-Jimmie Johnson After cruising up through the pack along with teammate #24-J. Gordon, he raced up into 3rd behind #24-J. Gordon inside the final 100 laps and began racing much harder as the clouds closed in. On lap 228, he broke loose under #24-J. Gordon as the two raced for 2nd and bumped him up the track off turn two, the two bumping each other again on the backstretch before he got the spot. He then set sail for the leading #20-Stewart, closing to within a half-second of him on lap 253 as he rolled very well through the center of the corners. He lost some ground when #28-Kvapil smoked his brakes in front of him on lap 256, then a little more when he got loose racing under the lapped car of #7-R. Gordon on lap 264. He was the eighth and final driver to stay out under the sixth caution on lap 271 and only lost one spot in the final scramble. Benefitted greatly from extensive testing at the Milwaukee Mile.
10) #43-Bobby Labonte Bested his best qualifying run of the season for the second week in a row by starting outside-pole and remained in the top 5 for much of the early stages of the race.
11) #24-Jeff Gordon Fought his way up from a 19th place starting spot to the 12th spot on lap 50. In surging up through the pack, he sustained some slight damage to the left-front fender of his car, but the crew was able to make repairs and he was able to race up to 4th on lap 127 and 2nd on lap 174.
12) #31-Jeff Burton After climbing up from his 31st place starting spot to the top 20 on lap 22, he took two tires under the second caution on lap 140 and was 7th for the restart, where he remained for much of the day until the final run to the rain-shortened finish.
13) #20-Tony Stewart Won the Nationwide Series race at the same track on Saturday and was one of several cars who climbed double-digit positions from their starting spots during the first fuel run. After starting 28th, he was up to 14th by lap 50. Along the way, he gently bumped #40-Franchitti coming off turn three on lap 54, then clipped #22-Blaney into a wiggle coming off turn four on lap 92 as he continued to climb. He was up to 2nd on lap 138 and was closing in on #5-Mears to less than a second when the second caution came out on lap 140. During the pit stops under the yellow, he beat #5-Mears off pit road and held the lead for the entire mid-to-late stages of the event, even as the weather changed, and looked to be the first man to sweep two races at New Hampshire. Knowing he couldn’t make it on fuel, he pitted and led many of the leaders down pit road, but lost five spots in the pits when he chose to take on tires. That, combined with the eight cars who stayed out and the lapped traffic, dropped him well back in the pack for the final few laps. Led a race-high 132 laps.
14) #29-Kevin Harvick Fastest in practice on Friday and qualifying third despite nearly wrecking off turn two on his timed lap, his car was still strong when the weather turned out to be sunnier than expected on race day and he led several of the opening laps after passing polesitter #10-Carpentier. He held the lead until #88-Earnhardt, Jr. caught him on lap 43 and passed him on the next lap. He then ran 3rd for much of the race, but started falling through the pack around lap 176 when his car handled so badly that he couldn’t pick up the accelerator in the middle of the corner. When the clouds moved back in again in the final 100 laps, his car picked up speed, but he ran out of time. Led 54 laps.
15) #12-Ryan Newman NO NOTES
16) #83-Brian Vickers At a track where he’d not qualified in July and finished last in September, he gained valuable track position when he stayed out with #5-Mears during the first caution on lap 86. Complaining that his car was “plowing,” he was not quite able to hold the position as well as #5-Mears, but even so, only slipped back as far as 5th before the second caution came out on lap 140 for debris, allowing him to pit with the leaders. He remained in 4th on lap 178 and remained in the lead pack which, unfortunately, put him on the losing pit strategy when the sixth caution came out on lap 271.
17) #99-Carl Edwards Dropped back with teammates #16-Biffle, #26-McMurray in the early stages from similar handling problems and was strangely invisible for much of the day despite running up to 14th on lap 262.
18) #17-Matt Kenseth After struggling with his teammates for much of the race, he raced his way up to 11th on lap 262, then lost a handful of spots to the eight cars that stayed out under the sixth caution on lap 271.
19) #44-David Reutimann Brought out the first caution of the race on lap 86 when he got loose and slid up into the left-rear of #40-Franchitti, sending #40-Franchitti spinning into the outside wall in turn thee. He nearly brought out another caution on lap 214 when he checked up in a tight pack of traffic coming off turn three, forcing #8-Almirola to bump him and #26-McMurray to bump #8-Almirola, #8-Almirola saving his car from spinning.
20) #78-Joe Nemechek He received the Lucky Dog under the first caution of the race on lap 86, then brought out the third caution when he spun in turn three on lap 152, but didn’t hit anything. Led 1 lap.
21) #16-Greg Biffle Slipped back in the early stages along with teammates #99-Edwards and #26-McMurray as his car was handling poorly in the sunny weather, his car nearly spinning twice off turn two in the first 30 laps as his car “lacked overall grip.” A gamble to take four tires under the brief third caution on lap 152 didn’t help as he remained in 22th on lap 167 and, once again, bad luck came in the form of a pit road speeding penalty - this time for too fast entering - under the third caution on lap 203, sending him to the tail end of the longest line. He had just gone a lap down to #20-Stewart on lap 271 when the sixth caution came out, giving him the next-to-the-last Lucky Dog of the day.
22) #07-Clint Bowyer Slowly, but surely moved his way into the top 5 in the late stages, racing hard with #24-J. Gordon on lap 232 to the point that he got loose and wound up with a black donut on his passenger side door. Disaster struck when he brought out the seventh and final caution of the day as he broke loose racing #77-Hornish, Jr. in turn three on lap 279, sending his car backing hard into the outside wall. Still managed to finish running.
23) #8-Aric Almirola Wild afternoon began quietly when, after having to start at the back of the pack due to a transmission change, he went a lap down in the early part of the race, then got the Lucky Dog under the third caution of the race on lap 152. Things started getting crazy for him on lap 214 when he was wedged between the slowing #44-Reutimann and the closing #26-McMurray, his car breaking loose when #26-McMurray bumped him. Though he made a miraculous save, he was again tested just three laps later by #9-Kahne coming off turn one when #9-Kahne bumped his left-rear. He almost saved the car again, drifting through the corner for a few hundred feet, but eventually bumped the wall with the rear of his car, bringing out the fifth caution. Then, under green on lap 224, he retaliated, clipping #9-Kahne and sending him into a spin in turn one.
24) #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Was one of the strongest cars in the first run and was the first to pass #29-Harvick for the lead, edging ahead of #29-Harvick on lap 44 and taking the lead outright soon after. Stuck in traffic running 8th after pitting under the first caution of the race, he nearly spun in the middle of a tight pack of traffic coming off turn four on lap 94, but saved it. Running 10th and knowing he was short on fuel, he made a move to pit road on lap 271, but just enough of his car was in the racing groove for a low-running #26-McMurray to plow into the right-rear of his car, sending him spinning onto the entrance of pit road. Still managed to finish running. Led 29 laps.
25) #18-Kyle Busch For the second week in a row, he was allowed to re-qualify on Friday, this time after it started to rain during his qualifying lap. Again, the second chance did not result in a significantly-better qualifying run, but unlike last week, he wasn’t a factor in the race, mired mid-pack all afternoon. He ran over his air hose during his pit stop under the second caution on lap 140, but was not issued a penalty. He tried to turn pit strategy to his favor by pitting with #5-Mears, #2-Ku. Busch, and others under the fifth caution on lap 217. Unfortunately, he chose to pit with the leaders on lap 274 and, after battling hard back in the pack with #42-Montoya on lap 278, then bumping off each other on the frontstretch, he was spun by #42-Montoya coming into turn one and collided with the passing #42-Montoya, crumpling the front of his car.
26) #7-Robby Gordon Was another persistent lapped car who first had a front-row seat to the #20-Stewart / #48-Johnson battle for the lead on lap 264, then raced new leader #2-Ku. Busch much harder on lap 278, locking his brakes and chasing #2-Ku. Busch up the track as he tried to get the Lucky Dog. He received the Lucky Dog just seconds later when the seventh and final caution came out for a wreck behind them. Led 1 lap.
27) #01-Regan Smith (R) The highest-finishing rookie for the sixth time this season, trailing #77-Hornish, Jr. with a series-leading seven races.
28) #38-David Gilliland NO NOTES
29) #15-Paul Menard Was perhaps the fastest of the lapped cars in the race, keeping pace with the leaders and battling hard for the Lucky Dog with #19-Sadler on lap 160.
30) #9-Kasey Kahne Worked to get on the same pit sequence as the leaders by being the first car to make a green-flag stop on lap 62, allowing him to move from 6th to 2nd behind #29-Harvick when the pit cycle was completed on lap 81. Pit strategy shook him out of the lead pack, however, where he found himself racing #8-Almirola, whom he bumped into a spin on lap 217, bringing out the fifth caution of the race. He was retaliated upon by #8-Almirola on lap 224 when he was himself spun, but did not bring out a caution as he didn’t hit anything.
31) #10-Patrick Carpentier (R) Won the first pole of his Sprint Cup career in his 17th start as one of the last cars to qualify after the one hour, forty-five minute rain delay on Friday. On Sunday, he led the opening four laps, holding off #29-Harvick on the outside before losing the lead to him soon after. He fell a lap down during the first green flag run, but received the Lucky Dog under the second caution on lap 140. Led 4 laps.
32) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya After pacing both practice sessions on Saturday, he was not as competitive on Sunday and took four tires along with #16-Biffle under the third caution on lap 152, but also found himself still mired in the middle of the pack, 25th on lap 167, narrowly averting disaster when #41-Sorenson slid up the track in front of him on lap 162. After racing hard with #18-Ky. Busch on lap 278, then bumping off #18-Ky. Busch on the frontstretch, he turned hard left and spun #18-Ky. Busch, who swung around and slammed him in front of his left-rear tire, knocking him into a spin as well. He openly admitted to deliberately spinning #18-Ky. Busch in a post-race interview. Was penalized two laps, dropping him from 26th to 32nd.
33) #22-Dave Blaney Wiggled off the nose of #20-Stewart as the two raced off turn four on lap 92 soon after the restart following the first caution of the race, but kept his car from spinning.
34) #66-Scott Riggs Excellent fourth-place qualifying run was, unfortunately, the sole highlight of his weekend, keeping him 36th in owner’s points coming into Daytona.
35) #45-Terry Labonte NO NOTES
36) #28-Travis Kvapil Went a lap down and locked his brakes in front of second-place #48-Johnson on lap 256.
37) #70-Johnny Sauter NO NOTES
38) #40-Dario Franchitti (R) After turning in his best career qualifying run with a 7th place effort and being one of the 10 fastest cars in practice, he gradually slid back through the pack during the first run, #20-Stewart tapping his rear bumper coming off turn 2 on lap 54 when he did not get on the throttle fast enough. The contact did not make him spin, but he wound up bringing out the first caution of the race on lap 86 when #44-Reutimann slid up into his left-rear in turn three, sending him spinning backward against the wall. His car sustained some minor damage to the left-front fender, just enough to make it rub against the tire.
39) #77-Sam Hornish, Jr. (R) Dropped several spots on lap 213 when, after the lap 211 restart jumbled up by the slowing #00-McDowell, he was stuck in the middle of a tight three-wide battle raging through the middle of the pack. His luck didn’t get better in the latter stages of the event when he was involved in the seventh and final caution of the race on lap 279, spinning through the grass and kicking up spectacular clods of dirt as he fought to regain control. Though there only appeared to be some damage to the front of his car, it still dropped him further back in the field than #07-Bowyer.
40) #6-David Ragan Racing in a Red Sox sponsored machine which, inauspiciously, carried Bill Buckner’s number, he had a roller coaster day, losing spots in the pits when he slid into his pit stall early in the race, then soldiering up to 13th on lap 262. It was there that he tried to negotiate the lap 271 wreck, the sixth caution, coming off turn four, but his disabled teammate #26-McMurray clipped him in the right-rear, ripping the right-front tire off his car as he spun down the frontstretch.
41) #26-Jamie McMurray Slipped back from a solid 13th place starting spot in the early stages along with teammates #99-Edwards and #16-Biffle, likely due to the team chasing the setup. His was the car that first bumped #8-Almirola into a spin during #8-Almirola’s miraculous lap 214 save. He found his second wind along with many of his teammates and was 12th with 39 laps to go, but while running there nine laps later, disaster struck when #88-Earnhardt, Jr. slowed in front of him coming off turn four. He barely had enough time to turn when his right-front clobbered #88-Earnhardt, Jr., sending him sliding up into the wall and into teammate #6-Ragan, taking him out of the race in what was the sixth caution of the race.
42) #00-Michael McDowell (R) Was the first car to go a lap down, losing a lap to #29-Harvick during the first fuel run. Running sixth on the inside line on the lap 211 restart following the fourth caution brought out by #84-Allmendinger on lap 203, his car did not get up to speed and blew the engine. Fortunately, he got out of the way and did not bring out the caution himself, though the field behind him did race three-wide for the next couple laps.
43) #84-A.J. Allmendinger Fell back from his 10th place starting spot and ran a quiet race until he brought out the fourth caution of the race on lap 203 when his engine exploded in a massive plume of smoke on the frontstretch, sparking a fire beneath his car as he stopped in front of a fire crew on the backstretch. Fortunately, he got out of the car okay.

DID NOT QUALIFY:
#21-Marcos Ambrose (R)
#34-Tony Raines