This race gained popularity due to Elliott Sadler's unseen, yet terrifying crash.

[6] During the first practice session, Jimmie Johnson was quickest, ahead of Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman in second and third.

[7] During the first Saturday practice session, Jeff Gordon was scored first fastest, ahead of his teammate Johnson and Kevin Harvick in second and third.

[8] In the third and final practice session, Burton was quickest with a speed of 166.936 miles per hour (268.657 km/h).

[11] Johnson, A. J. Allmendinger, Burton, Jamie McMurray and Mark Martin rounded off the top ten.

[12] At the drop of the green flag, Tony Stewart got a good start, and led for three laps before Jeff Gordon overtook him on the Long Pond straightaway.

Over the first fifteen laps, there was a significant amount of shuffling further back in the field as Gordon led.

[12] On lap 34, Dale Earnhardt Jr. got loose in turn 2 but saved his car, and the green flag stayed out.

On lap 128, Jeff Gordon overtook Biffle in turn 2, then on the Short Chute was overtaken by Denny Hamlin.

Juan Pablo Montoya stayed out and assumed the lead when the field restarted on lap 150.

Sam Hornish Jr. received the free pass,[12] and Gordon continued to lead when the race restarted on lap 162.

Elliott Sadler was spun by A. J. Allmendinger, and took a very extreme ride: his car went face-first into the inside wall (effectively the same as hitting the side of a building) at 160 miles per hour, at a nearly perpendicular angle.

Amazingly, Sadler got out of the car and walked away under his own power, though he needed to lie down to get his breath again afterwards before taking the mandatory ambulance ride to the infield care center.

[13] Due to rain that started to fall during the red flag, NASCAR decided to run the field under yellow for several laps to allow the track to dry.