Martin took the lead
on pit stops by changing just two tires, but when the restart came with 21 to go, another big wreck quickly developed when
Carl Edwards hit the fence, bunching up the field and forcing Dave Blaney down pit road before he collided with Ken Schrader.
The following restart
came with 10 to go, and Martin looked poised to win his first Daytona 500 when yet another big crash collected Jamie McMurray,
Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Truex with just five laps remaining bringing out the red flag.
A green-white-checkered
restart saw Martin just two laps away from the elusive trophy. But on the last lap, Kyle Busch, attempting to work both
lanes, collided with Matt Kenseth, causing the Big One, and collecting Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Sterling Marlin and others.
Clint Bowyer wound up on his roof and on fire.
Harvick, who restarted
seventh and Martin battled back to the line, with Harvick just edging out Martin for the win.
Jeff Burton escaped the
madness and finished third. Mike Wallace, in a part time effort, was fourth. Rookie David Ragan finished fifth.
Two teammates, Elliott Sadler
and Kasey Kahne, who were penalized prior to the race, finished sixth and seventh respectively. Pole sitter David Gilliland
crossed the line in eighth followed by Joe Nemechek and David Stremme.
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The views and opinions in this article are that of the writer(s) and not necessarily that of SCR
2006 StockCar Review.
