Kahne edges Harvick for win

By Jim Utter - The Charlotte Observer

HAMPTON, Ga. -- A caution killed Kevin Harvick's chance at ending his 95-race winless streak.

Clint Bowyer's spin was just the opportunity Kasey Kahne needed as he passed Harvick on a restart with 11 of 325 laps remaining and held on for victory in Sunday night's Pep Boys 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Harvick appeared in control for the victory but his No. 29 Chevrolet was not strong on restarts. After all the lead-lap cars pit for tires on the caution, Harvick retained the lead but the restart gave Kahne a chance to get around him.

CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS

The win is Kahne's second of the season — he also won on the road course at Sonoma, Calif., in June — and cements his place this season's Chase for the Sprint Cup with only one race left to set the 12-driver field.

Pole winner Martin Truex Jr. got an early jump on the field and led the first 38 laps.

Sam Hornish Jr. spun twice — first on Lap 37 and then again on Lap 61 — to cause the first two cautions of the race.

Carl Edwards, driving with a broken right foot, developed radiator problems on Lap 82 and was forced to the garage to make extensive repairs. During the caution, lead lap cars pit with Kyle Busch coming out first, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Truex.

Max Papis wrecked on Lap 104 to bring out the fourth caution. Lead-lap cars pit for tires and fuel and again Kyle Busch got off pit road first. On the restart on Lap 109, Busch was followed by Truex, Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart.

Hamlin made his way around Busch on Lap 199 to take the lead. Eight laps later, Johnson returned to the lead when he got around Hamlin.

Debris in Turn 3 brought a caution out on Lap 132. This time, Jeff Gordon was first off pit road and on the restart on Lap 135 he was followed by Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Johnson.

Hamlin quickly passed Gordon after the restart to take the lead, but four laps later Gordon returned to the front. Hamlin eventually got back around Gordon for the lead again, only to see Kevin Harvick pass him for the lead on Lap 167.

Greg Biffle and Truex began a round of green-flag pit stops on Lap 184. By the time the cycle had completed on Lap 191, Harvick was back in the lead followed by Earnhardt, Hamlin, Brian Vickers and Kasey Kahne.

Johnson spun on Lap 201 to bring out the sixth caution. All lead-lap cars went in for fuel and tires, with Harvick coming off pit road first, followed by Hamlin and Earnhardt. Stewart had to pit twice because of a missing lugnut.

Ryan Newman stayed out to lead a lap for five bonus points, but pulled off before the restart on Lap 208.

With 90 laps left, Harvick remained the leader, followed by Kahne, Juan Pablo Montoya, Hamlin and Mark Martin.

Kurt Busch and Reed Sorenson wrecked in Turn 4 on Lap 246 to bring out a caution. During a round of pit stops, both Johnson and Vickers developed axle problems. Johnson was forced to go to the garage for repairs while Vickers's car was fixed on pit road.

Kahne took the lead on the restart on Lap 253 followed by Montoya, Mark Martin, Harvick and Jeff Gordon.

Joey Logano spun and wrecked on Lap 268 to bring out the eighth caution of the race. All lead-lap cars went in for fuel and tires with Kahne coming off pit road first, followed by Harvick and Montoya.

Montoya passed Kahne on the outside shortly after the restart on Lap 274 to take the lead for the first time Sunday night.

With 25 laps remaining, Montoya remained in the lead. Harvick passed Montoya for the lead on Lap 305 of 325.