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Busch: Earnhardt Jr bumps and runs to Michigan victory

A resounding cacophony of boos met Earnhardt in Victory Lane...

Auggie Vidovich leads Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart

Auggie Vidovich leads Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart

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Pitstop for Matt Kenseth
Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads Matt Kenseth
Dale Earnhart Jr. and Matt Kenseth
Kevin Harvick
Kurt Busch leads Tony Stewart and Jon Wood
Carl Edwards
Mark Martin and Carl Edwards

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s reign as Mr. Popularity took a big hit at Michigan International Speedway. A resounding cacophony of boos met Earnhardt in Victory Lane after he put the bumper to Carl Edwards to steal the win.

"That was crazy, I know Carl is really mad," said Earnhardt who adds his 22nd Busch series win to his resume. "We got a run off that corner, I don't know if he was going to hit the wall or whatever, but he checked up and we got into the back of him.

"I am sure he's mad and thinks we wrecked him on purpose but it was the last lap, or the second to last lap. Not too bad, I am real proud of the whole team. We weren't when we counted there at the end, we were tight. Carl definitely had the best car."

The battle began when Earnhardt took the lead on lap 95. A late race caution on lap 103 slowed his charge and brought the leaders to pit road. JJ Yeley stayed out and grabbed the lead with Gordon beating Earnhardt out of the pits to restart second on lap 106, with Earnhardt third.

Gordon passed Yeley with 18 to go hotly pursued by Earnhardt who took four tires to Gordon's two-tire stop. Gordon driving the No. 88 Chevy for Earnhardt this weekend did an admirable job trying to keep Earnhardt at bay. The two were engaged in a door-to-door battle on lap 117 which allowed Edwards to sneak up and try and pass through for the lead.

As they went three-wide for the lead, Kurt Busch spun slowing the field. Edwards was scored the leader when the field restarted with five laps to go. The day's eighth caution fell with two to go when Todd Kluever's car stopped on the racetrack with transmission issues setting up a green/white/checker finish.

Edwards got loose off of turn two and when he did Earnhardt put the bumper to the back of his Ford. Edwards went spinning through the grass, effectively ending the race. While NASCAR held the field to try and sort out the finish, Edwards went back on the racetrack and gave Earnhardt's No. 8 Chevy a shove of his own with the No. 60 Ford.

"Man I was having a good time racing," said Edwards who wound up 23rd. "He wrecked me off of two. I just wanted to make sure he knew that I was mad that he wrecked me. NASCAR said they weren't going to stand for that stuff. I don't know we'll see it is what it is. I just wanted to make sure he knew I was mad."

Casey Mears stayed out of the melee to earn second.

"It's good TV," said Mears. "I am watching the big screen and everyone is yelling and booing. But we were really good."

Robby Gordon was third, "I knew that I was next to him and if I could have stayed next to him it was our race to win. Our car was loose but it worked really well for us."

Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin complete the top five.

Kevin Harvick continues to lead Busch series standings. Denny Hamlin (- 484), Carl Edwards (-486) Clint Bowyer (-585), and JJ Yeley (-656) complete the top five.

 

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