Just as Harvick and Stewart made contact Burton was able to sneak through and take second place, putting him in prime position for attack Hamlin when the race resumed under ‘green-white-chequered' flag conditions.
Hamlin did all he could on old tyres to old off Burton but when the green flag waved Hamlin's car, possibly low on fuel, did exactly the same as Stewart's and bobbled coming off turn two. In a flash Burton, Harvick and Bowyer were through with Burton avenging his half a car-length defeat to Busch in last year's race with his first victory in nearly 40 races.
Harvick admitted responsibility for wrecking his off-track friend Stewart as he saw his chance of taking a first Cup Series win since last year's
Daytona 500 evaporate while Bowyer was quite happy to take third on a day where he was rarely out of the top ten.
Greg Biffle was the leading Ford driver home in fourth place for Roush-Fenway Racing after he used his fresh tyres to push Earnhardt Jr back to fifth in the final two laps. Earnhardt Jr was less than impressed with his team's late strategy despite being the leading Hendrick Motorsports contender for the third straight week while Hamlin sputtered home in sixth place, the highest placed JGR entry following a day of dominance by the Gibbs/Toyota stable.
Kasey Kahne led the Dodge runners home in seventh place with Aric Almirola taking his best ever Cup Series result with a fine eighth place effort in his first outing in the #8 DEI Chevrolet. David Gilliland was a praiseworthy ninth for Yates Racing with Matt Kenseth completing the top ten.
Jeff Gordon was eleventh on a day where he rarely featured with Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr and a despondent Stewart completing the list of unlapped finishers in 14th position.
Juan Montoya enjoyed a competitive day and finished 15th with Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Johnson all two laps adrift in 16th, 17th and 18th places respectively.