Carl Edwards races during the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan Internatioal Speedway. ( Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Photo) » More Photos

The green came out on Lap 102, and Edwards was able to hold sway out front. At the Lap 120 mark, his lead over Busch was 4.006 seconds, with Vickers third, followed by Biffle and Ragan.

The next round of green-flag pit stops began on Lap 137, when Elliott Sadler was the first to come in. Edwards and Busch both pitted on Lap 141, as did Earnhardt. After the stops cycled through, Busch was right on Edwards’s tail, and he took the lead for the first time on Lap 143. Behind Busch and Edwards, were Biffle, Vickers, Earnhardt and Ragan.

And once out in front, Busch was untouchable as he has been so often before, opening a lead of 3.623 seconds on Lap 155 and 6.622 seconds on Lap 160.

A debris caution came out on Lap 166, with Busch leading by 7.321 seconds and only 16 cars on the lead lap. The leaders all came down pit road on Lap 167, with Vickers taking the lead over Busch, Edwards, Biffle, Ragan and Earnhardt. Vickers gained the lead by taking two tires, while the rest took four.

The track went green on Lap 170, with Busch immediately blowing by Vickers for the lead. Edwards took over second on Lap 173 and began closing on Busch.

Caution No. 5 for debris flew on Lap 180. David Ragan and Dale Earnhardt Jr. stayed out to take the lead, while Busch, Edwards and Vickers pitted and took two tires. That made the order Ragan, Earnhardt, Edwards, Busch, Biffle, Vickers, Kenseth, Harvick, Burton and Hamlin.

The green flew on Lap 183, with Edwards taking second as Earnhardt bounced off the wall. By the end of the lap, Edwards was out front and Earnhardt was in the pits with a torn-up car.

A debris caution flew on Lap 188, with the restart on Lap 191, Edwards leading Ragan, Busch, Biffle and Vickers. Busch took second on the restart and set out after Edwards.

The race appeared over at this point, but Denny Hamlin blew a motor with six laps to go, bringing out another caution.

The restart came with two laps to go, and Edwards got a great restart to win.

3M PERFORMANCE 400 RESULTS

Tom Jensen is the Senior NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. Jensen is the 1997 National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year and has won numerous national and state awards for news reporting, columns and feature writing. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to