Kenseth continued to pace the field when green flag racing resumed although just ten laps after the restart the first big talking point of the day occurred as Dale Earnhardt Jr tapped Chase contender Kyle Busch, ironically the driver he will replace next year at Hendrick Motorsports, into a high seed spin on the back straight. Earnhardt Jr's #8 DEI Chevrolet was able to continue unscathed but Busch's car, which made hard contact with the back straight wall, was destined to spend more than 40 laps in the garage getting repairs, potentially ending the championship hopes of the outgoing driver of the #5 Chevrolet.
Following a round of yellow flag pitstops from which Kenseth emerged ahead the action at the front picked up as Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon both moved to the fore to start a long period of excellent close two and three wide racing around Kansas' wide, high banked turns.
However as this was going on at the head of the field more problems were befalling some of the title contenders as Martin Truex Jr suffered a puncture that resulted in another quick caution but thankfully for Truex Jr, no lasting damage. Jeff Burton wasn't so lucky when the fuel pump packed up on his #31 RCR Chevrolet however and he would lose more than ten laps while his crew fixed a functioning component.
At the head of the field the racing continued with Kenseth, Busch, Gordon the recovering Truex Jr and Tony Stewart all taking turns at leading but it was the #2 Penske Racing Dodge of Busch that eventually settled at the head of the field with Stewart in tow and the rest of the pack, now led by Jimmie Johnson, falling away.
With dark skies approaching rapidly Busch led the field through the half way point of the race but by lap 140 everyone had to think about making a green flag pitstop and Busch was one of the first to break ranks and make his stop, handing Stewart the lead.
![Greg Biffle - 3M/Ameriquest Ford [pic credit: Ford media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/297694.jpg)
