Kyle's elder brother Kurt was quick to take over the leaders mantle as the race passed the 100-lap mark but the driver of the #2 Penske Racing Dodge, who also led commandingly in the 2007 Coke 600 before a crash put him out, nearly suffered the same fate on Sunday as he blew a tyre and slapped the turn one wall. Like his sibling Kurt was able to recover but could only finish 16th with his damaged car.
From third on the grid Brian Vickers was arguably the surprise package of the night for
Red Bull Racing, taking the fight to the leaders and paced the field for more than 60 laps as the race approached the half way mark. However a rear wheel broke clean off as Vickers headed into turn one on lap 184, sending Vickers hard into the wall and his left rear tyre into a spectators camper van in the infield. Injuries were avoided but Vickers' night was over on the spot.
Kahne took the lead for the first time shortly after Vickers' demise but he had to contend with the #88 Hendrick Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr, who had been stalking the leaders all evening. Earnhardt Jr took the lead much to the delight of the busy, but not full, LMS grandstands and he remained a major factor until he cut a tyre whilst leading on lap 298 and was rear-ended by JJ Yeley. Despite suffering damage to the right side and rear of his car Earnhardt Jr managed to eke out some 60 laps on his final tank of fuel to finish fifth.
Triple Coke 600 winner Johnson had been biding his time in the #48 Hendrick Chevrolet, leading the race briefly as early as lap 47 but not really featuring until the race entered its final 100 miles. Johnson was in front when the eleventh and final caution flag of the night waved on lap 332 of 400 and continued to head the field off pit road after everybody took what they hoped to be their final tank of fuel. But on lap 346 Johnson's car suddenly slowed as his engine lapsed from eight to seven cylinders and five laps later it went bang for good, dropping the defending series champion to 39th.
![Kasey Kahne. [Pic Credit image.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/405825.jpg)
