The race began in the hot sunlight with only a small portion of the 1.5 mile track shaded. Opening laps were unremarkable until lap 46 when Greg Biffle met with the wall. The contact brought out the caution and canceled the green-flag pit stops that were about to take place. As cars cycled through the pits during the yellow, Kurt Busch emerged with the lead at lap 52 and took the green flag.

On lap 53, the first of several multi-car accidents littered the speedway. A tire tread from Jimmie Johnson’s car (cut from contact with A.J. Allmendinger) flew off the car. While Johnson tried to signal his distress, cars bottled up behind him and began a spectacular, smoke-filled crash.

Drivers such as Elliott Sadler, Kevin Harvick, Dave Blaney, Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya and Sterling Marlin were all involved in the crash. With as many as eight cars in the garage for repairs or out of the race, the number of cars on the lead lap dropped dramatically.

Ten laps later on the next restart, Tony Raines found himself loose and impacted Jeff Gordon, who went spinning through the grass and then back onto the track only to hit the outside retaining wall and be t-boned by Allmendinger. It was Gordon’s fourth straight DNQ at Charlotte. Jeff Burton also received minor damage as he tried to skirt the wreck. The number of cars off the track then totaled eleven.

Burton was unable to control his hastily repaired car and brought out a fourth caution as he smacked the wall. A long green flag run then began with the lead swapping between all manner of drivers, including Kyle Busch, Bill Elliott and Brian Vickers. The green condition continues until lap 140 for debris, bunching up the field again. By now, only fourteen cars remained on the lead lap.

Another yellow flag at lap 170 further complicated things. Some cars came out from the garage to make laps and gain positions. The television commentators speculated that more debris cautions could stem from these cars coming back to the track.

The lead swapped between Vickers, Johnson and Kurt Busch until Busch slapped the wall at lap 186. Things are clear until lap 222 when Carl Edwards accidentally took out teammate David Ragan, collecting Elliott as well.

Many of the leaders began experiencing major handling issues and other mechanical problems. Despite the efforts of #83 Red Bull crew chief Doug Richert, Vickers’ machine continued to leak power steering fluid, the result being that Vickers eventually manhandled his car without any power steering. Kyle Busch reported battery problems which would be addressed in an upcoming pit stop.

Jimmie Johnson retakes the lead as teammate Busch cuts a tire and slams the wall, which seems to be giving out more side stripes than Darlington. He was able to drive his wounded machine back to the garage despite a broken and on fire brake rotor.

Vickers, Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Stewart battled for the lead until caution number ten flies for the three-laps down car of Kasey Kahne, who also smacks the wall on lap 267. The green flag flies until lap 290, when the #36 of Jeremy Mayfield takes an amazing spin on the frontstretch. Caution is out for the eleventh time.

The top ten is an eclectic mix of big names and big surprises. While Kenseth, Johnson and Stewart continued to play musical chairs with the lead, Kyle Petty quietly worked his way into the top ten to battle for ninth with Reed Sorenson. Casey Mears placed himself third.

Lap 337 brings out the thirteenth caution of the night as the great run of Brian Vickers comes to an end when he makes contact with the wall. A miscue on pit road relegated leader Johnson to tenth place with Tony Stewart leading Mears and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Stewart begins to extend his lead but reports are coming from the leaders’ pits indicating that almost everyone, if not everyone, will have to stop for a splash and go. Varying degrees of concern are reported: some drivers are short by as many as five laps, others agonizingly close at one lap and half a lap.

J. J. Yeley, having an impressive run so far, places himself in the top three as the leaders close in on the final laps of the race. The lead cycles to Mears as Stewart, Earnhardt, Denny Hamlin and Johnson were forced to stop for fuel.

Mears’ fuel situation is tense as he’s been told that he is a half lap short on gas. He enjoys a ten second lead over Yeley. Crew chief Darien Grubb is able to slow Mears down to conserve enough fuel to cross the finish line first. Mears triumphantly wins as he runs out of gas moments later, to be followed by Yeley in second and Kyle Petty in third, his first top five in ten years.

Sorenson also collected a top five and fifth spot was taken by Vickers, who recovered quickly from his contact with the wall. Stewart, Ricky Rudd, Earnhardt, Hamlin and Johnson rounded out the top ten.

The next race takes place within the concrete canyons of Dover with the COT. It also marks the end of FOX’s race coverage.

Until next week, have a safe and happy Memorial Day.

Have a question or comment for Samantha? Send it to samanthamaynard@sportsgrumblings.com.