In the only Chase race of the Chase that runs under the lights, the series was racing in their backyard. They were at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America 500.
For the first time this season, Jeff Gordon earned the pole for the race. For the 18th consecutive year Gordon earned a pole and his 69th overall.
Carl Edwards lined up right next to him and was the fastest car in happy hour on Friday night.
It only took two laps and Ryan Newman hit the outside wall suffering a lot of damage to the car. That brought the field back to Gordon who was pulling away from Edwards.
Many of the Chasers hit pit road who just missed the wreck like Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and others. Hamlin got new tires and Stewart suffered damage on the rear quarter panel.
Kyle Busch on the restart was third but by turn two he was in the lead. Gordon was shuffled back to third but got back by Edwards who took second.
Paul Menard who had a fast car early went by both Edwards and Gordon for second.
The caution waved when Kurt Busch spun on his own and the field all hit pit road.
Jimmie Johnson who took four tires on that last stop was mired back in traffic. He had a flat tire and spun.
He hit pit road for fresh tires and only the guys in the back of the pack pitted.
The race went into a long green flag run and Busch was showing the way with Gordon in second.
Johnson was mired back deep in traffic in 28th and was struggling in traffic. Kasey Kahne had an issue and was forced on pit road a bit early for a stop.
The pit cycle was a clean one Busch maintained his lead and there were no penalties on this round of stops.
Busch while leading radioed to his crew that he was dealing with throttle issues and was forced to cut the engine off so the throttle wouldn’t hang.
Caution waved on lap 108 for debris and the field hit pit road. Greg Biffle and Juan Montoya took two tires everyone else took four.
Busch maintained the lead and Gordon in second.
There was contact on pit road between Johnson and Clint Bowyer. Johnson got sandwiched in the middle and made contact with Bowyer.
On the restart Busch pulled away and Biffle took over second. Biffle though on two tires lost a few positions as the guys with four were able to pass him.
Gordon was running down Busch when caution waved when Kahne had contact with Sam Hornish, Jr. Both suffered a lot of damage and the field was slowed once again.
It had only been nine laps but most of leaders pitted. Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Montoya, Johnson, Martin Truex, Jr. and Clint Bowyer all stayed out.
The next round of green flag stops began with the guys who did not pit on the previous caution. Soon after they pitted for fuel and tires the rest of the leaders hit pit road for a stop and fuel.
Right after a green flag stop, Gordon suffers an electric problem and goes to battery number 2. He loses a lap to Johnson and was struggling.
Caution waved for Marcos Ambrose who spun in turn four. The caution waved and Gordon got the lucky dog.
The leaders all pitted and Johnson had another slow stop and cost them the lead.
Gordon was on pit road they changed the battery all in one stop. They would restart tail end of the field.
On the restart, McMurray wasn’t able to hold off Busch who retook the lead.
Busch was in control but McMurray was coming until caution waved when Robby Gordon spun.
The field all hit pit road again and Busch was able to maintain off of pit road. Caution waved on lap 246 when Jeff Burton got loose and came across Bowyer.
The night went bad from worse for Gordon, on one of his final stops he sped entering and had a pass thru penalty.
McMurray was catching Busch but caution waved with 26 laps to go.
Most of the leaders stayed out on the caution.
McMurray had the best car late in the race and was able to pull away from Busch.
McMurray went on to win his third race of the year. He was the first non chaser to win a Chase race since he won last fall at Talladega.
The rest of the top 10 were Busch, Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Logano, Kevin Harvick, David Reutimann and David Ragan.
Johnson extended his points lead to 41 over Hamlin. Biggest loser was Gordon who maintained fourth but ended up 156 points out of first.
The series next heads to Martinsville Speedway next Sunday at 1ET on ESPN.
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