As expected, the debut Craftsman Truck Race at Talladega was a wild one. (Photo: Getty Images) » More Photos

Naturally, Bodine saw it differently. "From where I was, it was a clean pass," Bodine said. "That's the problem with having a rule that's an interpretation of a rule. When I got alongside Mark, I was above the yellow line. He turned and pulled me below the yellow line."

Although the penalty sent Bodine to the pits, the battle for the lead cost Martin momentum as he fell to third behind Musgrave and rookie A.J. Allmendinger, who again was impressive in his second truck race.

A caution on Lap 87 for Boston Reid's crash in Turn 4 bunched up the field, and it appeared that Martin's chance for victory might be dashed. When the track went green on Lap 90, Musgrave led, followed by Allmendinger, Martin, Mike Wallace and Johnny Benson.

Martin immediately took the lead on the backstretch after the restart, taking Wallace with him as Musgrave's truck had too much drag to hold on up front. "Martin went by me about 20 miles per hour faster than I was," lamented Musgrave, the reigning series champion. "I got eaten up real bad when I was up front. I could not lead the pack."

Martin could lead, however, and did. With just four laps remaining, Martin held the point, with Wallace tucked in tight behind his bumper. And that's the way the stayed until nearly the end. "I'll tell you what, without Mike Wallace's help there, I knew we were in trouble because of all those Toyotas," Martin said. "I knew Mike Wallace would help me some and I knew he'd try to beat me, too. The race was going to get interesting."

A.J. Allmendinger discusses the nuances of drafting at the superspeedway. (Photo: Getty Images) » More Photos

At the end of the backstretch on the final lap, all hell broke loose, as simultaneously Mike Skinner spun out second place Mike Wallace and Bodine turned Derrike Cope, whose truck nearly turned over in the ensuing scrum.

Once the wrecking starting at the end of the backstretch and into Turn 3, the caution flew immediately and that made Martin a winner ahead of Skinner, Musgrave, Bodine and Allmendinger.

Skinner was crestfallen at wrecking his close friend Wallace. "I might have wrecked him to win the race, but not for second or third place," Skinner said. "It was absolutely not intentional."

Also caught in the wreck was Johnny Benson, who ended the race in 11th as he saw a sure top five and a chance to wrest the points lead away from Bodine go out the window. Bodine meanwhile, charged all the way from 27th to fourth, a miraculous turn of fortune for the points leader.

Bodine now leads the series points by 121 over Benson with sixth-place race finisher David Reutimann third in points, 255 behind Bodine. Musgrave (-281) and Rick Crawford (-381) round out the top five in points.

RESULTS: JOHN DEERE 250