While that crash thinned the field slightly it made no difference to the lead group as Hamlin continued to lead with Martin and Busch continuing to squabble over second, Martin gaining the upper hand again on lap 254 before losing it again in the pits on lap 262.
With the final 100 laps approaching it appeared as if Hamlin may finally have been rattled as he made slight contact with the lapped car of Sam Hornish Jr, allowing Busch and new third place man Earnhardt Jr to close to within a second of the leader as they fought through traffic. The top three remained close as the final round of stops approached and when Michael Waltrip and Casey Mears got together coming off turn four it allowed the leaders to make their final stops under the caution.
The green flag waved on lap 361 but the racing would last just nine laps before Jamie McMurray crashed, leaving 30 laps on the board when racing resumed. Earnhardt Jr managed to get around Busch for second but as they battled Hamlin pulled away. But on lap 380 Hamlin suddenly slowed as his right front tyre began to deflate. Earnhardt Jr and Busch closed in, taking the lead away from Hamlin in a stunning three wide move in turn two with Earnhardt Jr taking both Gibbs cars on the outside line.
After leading 381 laps Hamlin could do nothing as he slipped down the order before finally the tyre blew on lap 390 to bring out the caution flag again. Even worse was to follow for Hamlin, who was held on pit road for two laps after NASCAR decided that he deliberately drew a yellow flag to help his teammate.
![Clint Bowyer - Jack Daniels Chevrolet [pic credit: GM media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/289103.jpg)
