And so it proved on lap 203 when Busch took less than two corners to sweep around the outside of the #07 Chevrolet to retake the top spot. Bowyer soon lost second place as well to the #99 Ford of Edwards, who was slowly coming into his own in a race both he and his Roush-Fenway team desperately wanted to win. Edwards closed the gap to Busch until the two started lap 215 side by side but before Edwards had the chance to seal the deal the yellow flags were out for the first of Elliott Sadler's three spins in the #19 Gillett-Evernham Motorsports Dodge.
Good pitwork from the #18 Gibbs crew kept Busch ahead although he was given little opportunity to stretch his advantage as Sadler spun again on lap 231. It was during this caution period that Busch's Steve Addington led team made their only error, choosing not to change tyres after a short eight lap green flag run. Jeff Gordon and Bowyer also stayed out while the rest of the field, led by Edwards, came to pit road.
The decision to make an extra stop was soon vindicated for Edwards and he moved from fourth to first in less than four laps and then managed to open a lead to rival that of Earnhardt Jr earlier in the race.
By lap 260 Edwards led Busch by six seconds and once again put Johnson, who received the lucky dog free pass on lap 235, a lap down. On lap 261 Sadler finally ended his day with spin number three into the inside wall on the back straight, which slowed the field and erased Edwards' advantage.
Edwards' advantage would be erased permanently on lap 275 when something in the engine went pop, sending smoke billowing out of the back end of the #99 Ford and dropping Edwards from the lead of the race to a 42nd place finish.
![Kyle Busch wins the Kobalt Tools 500 in Atlanta [Pic Credit image.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/416212.jpg)
