Busch wins, gives nod to 2nd-place Martin

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Kyle Busch is not going away.

One week after a 23rd-place finish at Michigan appeared to leave him little hope of making the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Busch rebounded in dramatic fashion, completing a season sweep of the Cup series races this season at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Busch used a three-wide move on Lap 433 to pass Ryan Newman and Michael Waltrip and take the lead and held on through a brief red-flag stretch for a late-race accident and approaching rain for the win in the Sharpie 500.

"He gave me room, man," Martin said. "I just didn't get it done."

Said Busch: "It's awesome. Mark Martin, what a class act. He deserved to win this race.

"I drove him as hard as I could," Busch said. "We didn't have the best car tonight, but we had a car to do if I just drove it hard enough.

"And the fans - we love all of them."

Busch gave the checkered flag after the race to a fan.

Bristol is the only track on the current Cup schedule where he has more than one win. He also won the spring race in the 2007 season.

Greg Biffle got a jump on pole-winner Martin at the start of the race and led the first 65 laps without much of a challenge.

Denny Hamlin had a left-front tire go down, which brought out a caution for debris on Lap 65. All the lead-lap cars pitted and Biffle was the first off pit road. Martin led one lap during the stops, but Biffle maintained his led on the restart on Lap 70.

Martin passed Biffle for the lead on the track on Lap 78 to take the lead and remained out front as a caution was displayed on Lap 136 for debris. Again all lead-lap cars visited pit road and Martin edged Kurt Busch off pit road first.

On the restart on Lap 145, it was Martin, Kurt Busch, Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Bobby Labonte spun on the frontstretch on Lap 164 to bring out the fourth caution of the race. Only a handful of leaders hit pit road, including Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers and Carl Edwards. Martin retained his lead on the restart on Lap 171.

After 200 laps, Martin continued to lead and was followed by Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Marcos Ambrose and Johnson.

John Andretti’s car scrubbed the wall on Lap 253 and debris from the run-in caused NASCAR to throw a caution on Lap 255. All lead-lap cars pitted, with Martin again in the lead on the restart, followed by Johnson, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch.

After 300 laps, Martin remained out front, followed by Johnson, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Truex.

Johnson passed Martin for the lead on Lap 307 as the race leaders encountered a large amount of lapped traffic.

David Gilliland hit the wall on Lap 355 to bring out the sixth caution of the race. All the lead-lap cars pitted, with most believing they would not need to make another stop before the finish.

On the restart on Lap 362, Johnson led, followed by Martin, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Hamlin.

With 100 laps remaining, Johnson remained the leader, followed by Martin, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Hamlin.

Rain brought out a caution on Lap 422 and left teams with a big decision on pit strategy. Most lead-lap cars pitted, but Waltrip remained on the track to take the lead on the restart on Lap 432. Newman lined up second after taking two tires, Martin was third, Kyle Busch fourth and Kurt Busch fifth.

Kyle Busch charged around Waltrip and Newman to take the lead on Lap 433, but his charge was slowed by a three-car accident on Lap 439. Busch remained the leader on the restart on Lap 452 followed by Newman, Martin, Montoya and Ambrose.

Sam Hornish Jr. hit the wall on Lap 458 to bring out another caution. On the restart on Lap 464, Kyle Busch led followed by Martin and Newman.

Truex hit the wall on Lap 479 for the 10th caution. Kyle Busch continued to lead on the restart on Lap 487.