Kurt Busch wins in Atlanta

Kurt Busch survived two green-white-chequered’s at the death to guide the number two Penske Dodge to victory lane in Atlanta.

But it was a confrontation between Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards that will steal the attention of this particular race.

Busch had started the 325 lap race well, and having won this fixture last year, he was determined to fend off the rest of the field to complete his trifecta of wins at the track.

But it was a slight knock on Carl Edwards’ Ford by Dodge’s Brad Keselowski on lap 39, that sent tempers flaring, and would lead to the robbery of Kurt’s deserved limelight.

With just a handful of laps to go, Edwards sought revenge on the young Penske driver, and nudged the 26-year-old’s car into a roll on the front straightaway.

All evidence suggested that Edwards – having been nudged out of contention by Keselowski in the earlier incident on lap 39 – used his repaired car to go back on track and seek retribution against the youngester. In an interview with Fox Sports’ Dick Berggren, Edwards did tell the cameras that he had intended to push the 12 car around a little bit, though he admitted he had not set out to cause such a wreck.

Although out of the race, Keselowski escaped the wreckage unhurt, but Edwards – whose car had not been damaged in the incident – was reprimanded by Nascar, and he was ‘parked for agressive driving.’

A sorry end to the day for two incredible talents, whose history together actually proceeds their arrivals. In the 2009 Talladega race, Brad Keselowski got into the side of Carl Edwards in what was an almost identical wreck to this one, and although they had put that one behind them, it’s going to be a long while before these two drivers get re-added to each others Christmas card lists.

Aside form the squabbles, there was a great deal of intense racing, and Kurt’s victory was not as clear cut as the wreckages.

Kasey Kahne led the most laps for Dodge, and Juan Pablo Montoya spent most of the day cemented in the top five with his Chevrolet, but it was down to the 2004 series champion to lead home the pack and improve on his unexpected 35th place finish at Las Vegas last time out.

He took advantage of a poor restart from Montoya after a wreck involving Jamie McMurray and Clint Bowyer had put an end to the initial green-white-chequered, and led the final two laps of the second restart without any trouble from either of his closest challengers.

Matt Kenseth, who also got by the Colombian on the restart, came home second for Ford, while Montoya finished third in his Target Chevrolet.

Aside from Montoya, it was a surprise to some that only two of the top ten finishers were in facr, Chevrolets. With a manufacturer who usually dominate the circuits, it was a puzzling afternoon for Rick Hendrick, who saw five of his six cars retire from contention with tyre issues.

A special mention needs to be said of Paul Menard, who steered his Richard Petty Motorsports’ Ford Fusion through the carnage to come home fifth, which is his first top five finish in his115 race career.

The series now takes a two week rest while the drivers brace themselves for the spectator’s thrill that offers no mercy, the Food City 500 from Bristol Motor Speedway.