Tony Stewart was awarded the pole position after qualifying was rained out and the starting order was determined by owners' points.

The 2009 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 was the 17th of 36 scheduled stock car races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, and Juan Pablo Montoya rounded out the top twelve drivers.

[13] Ahead of the event, the organizers expanded the track's infield section to make more than 400 percent usable land available.

Christopher said he was looking forward to compete in the event and was asked by team owner Kirk Shelmerdine to undergo a seat fitting, "I went over to see him last weekend when I was [in North Carolina].

Johnson, Reed Sorenson, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and Joey Logano filled positions three to ten.

[3] Heavy rain caused NASCAR officials to cancel qualifying and used owner points to determine the starting order.

Positions two to ten were occupied by Joe Nemechek, Casey Mears, Truex, Reutimann, Johnson, Montoya, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick.

[28] Billy Mauldin, the President and CEO of Motor Racing Outreach began pre-race ceremonies by giving the invocation.

[29][30] NASCAR announced that a competition caution would take place on lap 35 due to the forecasted rain, requiring drivers to undertake mandatory pit stops for tire wear analysis.

[31] On the second lap, Kurt Busch began challenging Jeff Gordon for the first position, as Stewart dropped to fifth.

[29] On lap 16,[29] Patrick Carpentier hit the outside wall at turn four due to a broken brake line, causing the first caution.

[31][32] The race restarted on lap 20, with Jeff Gordon passing Kurt Busch on the outside lane at the fourth turn to retake the lead.

[29][31] On the 21st lap, the second caution was waved; Jamie McMurray was hit from behind by Harvick, sending him into the turn four barrier after losing traction in his car.

[29] On the 60th lap, Sadler lost control of his car in the second turn, hitting Scott Speed's vehicle.

That sent Speed into Michael Waltrip, who hit the wall, and Robby Gordon spun in avoidance, necessitating the fifth caution.

[31] Two laps later, Dale Earnhardt Jr. used a battle between Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch to move into second on the inside line.

[32] Five laps later, Paul Menard locked his left-front tire, and he crashed into the turn three wall, prompting the seventh caution.

[32] After Earnhardt spun his tires, Truex was hit from behind by an unsighted Kyle Busch into turn one,[31][32] collecting Burton, Harvick, Mears, Reutimann, Brian Vickers, David Ragan and McMurray.

[28] On the 183rd lap, Logano's left rear tire burst from contact with Newman and Reutimann between turns three and four;[32][33] its carcass tore through his car's sheet metal, and he spun near the pit road entrance.

The leaders made pit stops for car adjustments four laps later, handing the lead to Martin and later Biffle.

[32] Logano took the lead after his crew chief Greg Zipadelli instructed him to remain on track as the driver was about to enter pit road for fuel.

[38] Logano bested Kyle Busch's record of 20 years, four months, and two days in the 2005 Sony HD 500 at Auto Club Speedway.

Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Sam Hornish Jr., Johnson and Kahne completed the top ten.

"[35] Jeff Gordon spoke of his happiness that he could challenge for the victory, "I wasn't very good on the restarts and those guys there, the #2 [Busch] and the #14 [Stewart] and the #48 [Johnson] got me but I could ride right there with him.

[41] Since NASCAR began implementing a television network contract in 2001, the start times of most daytime races were moved to begin later in the day.

"[42] Ramsey R. Poston, spokesperson for NASCAR, said the organization supported the idea of consistent times for the start of races.

[42] Kyle Busch apologized for causing the eight-car crash that stopped the race on lap 175,[43] "I got into Martin and I hate it for him and Jeff Burton and those guys.

"[43] Vickers stated Kyle Busch should have been disqualified after he reviewed video footage of the accident in the care center, "That's the second week in a row that stupidity has cost us a race, and it's frustrating.

"[43] Burton said he felt the accident was a consequence of NASCAR's rules on double-file restarts, "I don't think the fans want to see more wrecks.