View source for 2010 Irwin Tools Night Race

{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{NASCAR race season infobox
| Type           = NAS
| Race Name      = Irwin Tools Night Race
| Details ref    =<ref name="fx" >{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/schedule/_/year/2010|title=Sprint Cup Series Schedule|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=August 14, 2010}}</ref><ref name="johnsonpole">{{cite news|title=Jimmie Johnson wins pole for Bristol night race|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2010-08-20-3262065327_x.htm|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|access-date=August 21, 2010|date=August 20, 2010}}</ref><ref name="raceinfo">{{cite web|title=Race Information|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/raceTrax?gameId=20100821016&state=RACE|access-date=August 21, 2010|work=Fox Sports|publisher=MSN|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100824013531/http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/raceTrax?gameId=20100821016&state=RACE|archive-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name=kylesbroom />
| Fulldate       = {{Start date|2010|8|21}}
| Year           = 2010
| Race_No        = 24
| Season_No      = 36
| Image          = 2010_Irwin_Tools_Night_Race_program_cover.jpeg
| Official name  =
| Location       = [[Bristol Motor Speedway]], [[Bristol, Tennessee]]
| Course_mi      = 0.533
| Course_km      = 0.858
| Distance_laps  = 500
| Distance_mi    = 266.5
| Distance_km    = 428.89
| Weather        = Isolated thunderstorms with a high around 86; wind out of the SW at 6&nbsp;mph. Chance of precipitation 30%.<ref name="weather">{{cite web|title=The Night Race at Bristol|url=http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NAS&columnid=229&articleid=35955|access-date=August 21, 2010|work=[[Rotoworld]]|publisher=[[NBC Universal]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100819091705/http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NAS&columnid=229&articleid=35955| archive-date= August 19, 2010}}</ref>
| Avg            = {{convert|99.071|mi/h}}
| Pole_Driver    = [[Jimmie Johnson]]
| Pole_Team      = [[Hendrick Motorsports]]
| Pole_Time      = 15.540
| Most_Driver    = [[Kyle Busch]]
| Most_Team      = [[Joe Gibbs Racing]]
| Most_laps      = 282
| Car            = 18
| First_Driver   = Kyle Busch
| First_Team     = Joe Gibbs Racing
| Network        = [[American Broadcasting Company]]
| Announcers     = [[Marty Reid]], [[Dale Jarrett]] and [[Andy Petree]]
|Caption=The 2010 Irwin Tools Night Race program cover, celebrating the 100th [[NASCAR Cup Series|NASCAR Sprint Cup Series]] race held at [[Bristol Motor Speedway]]. Artwork made by [[Sam Bass (artist)|Sam Bass]]. "100!"}}
The '''2010 Irwin Tools Night Race''' was a [[NASCAR]] [[Sprint Cup Series]] [[stock car]] race that was held on August 21, 2010 at [[Bristol Motor Speedway]] in [[Bristol, Tennessee]]. Contested over 500&nbsp;laps, it was the twenty-fourth race of the [[2010 Sprint Cup Series season]]. [[Kyle Busch]] of [[Joe Gibbs Racing]] won the race, while [[David Reutimann]] finished second, and [[Jamie McMurray]] clinched third.

[[Pole position]] driver [[Jimmie Johnson]] maintained his lead on the first lap to begin the race, as [[Carl Edwards]], who started in the second position on the [[List of motorsport terminology#G|grid]], remained behind him. Afterward, [[Kyle Busch]] became the leader, and would eventually lead to the race high of 282 laps. On lap 163, early race leader Johnson had collided with [[Juan Pablo Montoya]]; when he returned to the track he was seventy-seven laps behind the leader. [[David Reutimann]] led after the final [[pit stop]]s, ahead of Kyle Busch and [[Jamie McMurray]]. With seventy-one laps remaining, Kyle Busch passed Reutimann, holding the lead through to the race win.

There were seven cautions and seventeen lead changes among nine different drivers throughout the course of the race. It was Kyle Busch's third win of the season and the nineteenth of his career. The result moved him up five spots to third in the Drivers' Championship, 351 points behind of leader [[Kevin Harvick]] and fifty-seven ahead of [[Carl Edwards]]. [[Chevrolet]] maintained its lead in the [[List of NASCAR Manufacturers' champions|Manufacturers' Championship]], twenty-seven ahead of [[Toyota]], sixty-three ahead of [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and seventy-four ahead of [[Dodge]] with twelve races remaining in the season. A total of 155,000 people attended the race, while 5.842 million watched it on television.
[[File:Irwin Tools Night Race logo 2010.jpg|thumb|The race logo used for the 2010 Irwin Tools Night Race.]]
With the win, Kyle Busch completed a historic Triple Threat sweep, winning in all three of the top NASCAR national series on the same weekend, winning the [[2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series#Schedule|O'Reilly Auto Parts 200]] in the [[Camping World Truck Series]], the [[2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series#Food City 250|Food City 250]] in the [[NASCAR Nationwide Series|Nationwide Series]] and finishing with this win in the Sprint Cup Series.

== Report ==
=== Background ===
[[File:Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Bristol Motor Speedway]], the race track where the race was held.]]
[[Bristol Motor Speedway]] is one of five [[Short track motor racing|short tracks]] to hold [[NASCAR]] races; the others are [[Dover International Speedway]], [[Phoenix International Raceway]], [[Richmond International Raceway]], and [[Martinsville Speedway]].<ref name="tacksnascar">{{cite web|title=NASCAR Race Tracks|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/|access-date=August 17, 2010|work=[[NASCAR]]|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100815005030/http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/| archive-date= August 15, 2010}}</ref> The standard track at Bristol Motor Speedway is a four-turn short track [[Oval track racing|oval]] that is {{convert|0.533|mi|km}} long.<ref name="bristoltrack">{{cite web|title=NASCAR Tracks—The Bristol Motor Speedway |url=http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/track_info/track_facts/ |publisher=Bristol Motor Speedway |access-date=August 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809234259/http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/track_info/track_facts/ |archive-date=August 9, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The track's turns are [[Banked turn|banked]] from twenty-four to thirty [[Degree (angle)|degrees]], while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked from six to ten degrees. The [[Straight (racing)|back stretch]] also has banking from six to ten degrees.<ref name="bristoltrack" />

Before the race, [[Kevin Harvick]] led the [[List of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions|Drivers' Championship]] with 3,400 points, and [[Jeff Gordon]] stood in second with 3,107 points. [[Denny Hamlin]] was third in the Drivers' Championship with 3,047 points; [[Tony Stewart]] was fourth with 3,020 while [[Jimmie Johnson]] was in fifth with 3,014.<ref name="driver">{{cite web|title=Driver's Championship Classification|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/23/data/standings_official.html|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|access-date=August 17, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100819130339/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/23/data/standings_official.html| archive-date= August 19, 2010}}</ref> In the [[NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship|Manufacturers' Championship]], [[Chevrolet]] was leading with 167 points, thirty points ahead of their rival [[Toyota]]. [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], with 106 points, was ten points ahead of [[Dodge]] in the battle for third.<ref name="manufacturer">{{cite web|title=Manufactures' Championship Classification|url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2010/manu2010.htm|work=[[Jayski's Silly Season Site]]|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=August 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813071907/http://jayski.com/stats/2010/manu2010.htm|archive-date=August 13, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Practice and qualifying ===
Two practice sessions was held before the Saturday race—both on Friday. The first session lasted 120&nbsp;minutes, while the second session lasted 45&nbsp;minutes.<ref name="eventsch">{{cite web|url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2010/24bms2010.htm|title=The Race: Irwin Tools Night Race|work=Jayski's Silly Season Site|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=January 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119230315/http://www.jayski.com/next/2010/24bms2010.htm|archive-date=January 19, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the first practice session, [[David Gilliland]] was fastest, ahead of [[Robby Gordon]] and [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]] in second and third respectively.<ref name="prac1">{{cite web|title=Practice One Speeds|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/practice1_speeds.html|access-date=August 20, 2010|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100821231954/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/practice1_speeds.html| archive-date= August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Jeff Gordon]] was scored fourth, while [[A. J. Allmendinger]] was placed fifth, even though the latter had spun sideways twice in the session.<ref name=prac1 /><ref name="ajwrecks">{{cite web|title=Double trouble for A.J.|url=http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2010/highlights/08/20/cup_bri2_prac_allmendinger.nascar/index.html|access-date=August 20, 2010|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100823054014/http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2010/highlights/08/20/cup_bri2_prac_allmendinger.nascar/index.html| archive-date= August 23, 2010}}</ref> In the second and final practice session, [[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]] was scored quickest, as [[Carl Edwards]] and Gilliland followed in the second and third positions.<ref name="prac2">{{cite web|title=IRWIN Tools 500 Final Practice Speeds|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/practice2_speeds.html|access-date=September 19, 2010|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100912111203/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/practice2_speeds.html| archive-date= September 12, 2010}}</ref> [[Jimmie Johnson]] was scored in the fourth position, while his teammate Jeff Gordon followed in fifth.<ref name=prac2 />
[[File:JimmieJohnsonAugust2007 cropped.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jimmie Johnson]], shown here in 2007, clinched his twenty-fourth career [[pole position]] with a time of 15.540.]]
50 cars were entered for qualifying,<ref>{{cite web|title=Qualifying Order|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/qual_order.html|access-date=August 20, 2010|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100823043505/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/qual_order.html| archive-date= August 23, 2010}}</ref> due NASCAR's [[Go or Go Home|qualifying procedure]], only 43 could race. Johnson clinched his twenty-fourth career [[pole position]], with a time of 15.540&nbsp;seconds.<ref name="lineup">{{cite web|title=Qualifying Results|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/raceTrax?gameId=20100821016&state=QUALIFYING|access-date=August 20, 2010|work=[[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]]|publisher=[[MSN]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100823043704/http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/raceTrax?gameId=20100821016&state=QUALIFYING| archive-date= August 23, 2010}}</ref> He was joined on the front row of the [[List of motorsport terminology#G|grid]] by Edwards.<ref name=lineup /> [[Joey Logano]] qualified third, [[Tony Stewart]] took fourth, and [[David Reutimann]] started fifth.<ref name=lineup /> Six drivers did not qualify because one team, the second car for [[Tommy Baldwin Racing]], withdrew from qualifying. They were [[Dave Blaney]], [[Joe Nemechek]], [[Kevin Lepage]], [[J. J. Yeley]], [[Brian Keselowski]], and [[Mike Bliss]].<ref name="morequal">{{cite web|title=More Qualifying Information|url=http://jayski.com/stats/2010/grids/24bms2010grid.htm|access-date=August 20, 2010|work=Jayski's Silly Season Site|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100821232033/http://jayski.com/stats/2010/grids/24bms2010grid.htm| archive-date= August 21, 2010}}</ref> Also during qualifying, Jeff Gordon spun sideways and flattened his tires, but after changing tires, he qualified twenty-sixth.<ref name=morequal />

=== Race summary ===
The race, the twenty-fourth out of a total of thirty-six in the [[2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series|season]], began at 7:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]] and was televised live in the United States on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref name=fx /> The race was preempted in [[Southeast Michigan]] due to that year's [[Woodward Dream Cruise]], broadcast on [[Scripps Networks Interactive|Scripps]]-owned [[WXYZ-TV]] in [[Southfield, Michigan]]. Before the race. conditions were with light rain showers and temperature of {{convert|75|°F|°C}}.<ref name="summary">{{cite web|title=Race Summary|url=http://www.nascar.com/2010/races/lapbylap/08/21/lap.by.lap.bristol.2/index.html|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|access-date=August 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824102630/http://www.nascar.com/2010/races/lapbylap/08/21/lap.by.lap.bristol.2/index.html| archive-date= August 24, 2010}}</ref> Ruth Graham daughter of evangelist [[Billy Graham]], began pre-race ceremonies by giving the [[invocation]]. Next, children of the drivers and [[pit stop|pit crews]] from Motor Racing Outreach performed the [[United States National Anthem|national anthem]], and Irwin Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge winner Delwyn Thorton gave the command for drivers to start their engines.<ref name=summary />

[[Jimmie Johnson]] held the lead going through the first corner with [[Carl Edwards]] behind him. After starting fourth, [[Tony Stewart]] passed Edwards for the second position. [[David Reutimann]]'s fourth position was filled by [[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]] on lap 4. By lap seventeen, Johnson and Stewart were ahead of Edwards by 1.8&nbsp;seconds. On lap 22, [[Paul Menard]] moved into the tenth position, after passing [[Matt Kenseth]]. [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] moved into the sixth position by lap 27. After twenty-nine laps, [[Robby Gordon]] and [[Michael McDowell (racing driver)|Michael McDowell]] had driven to the garage as [[start-and-park]]s. Two laps later, Menard had moved into the ninth position. On lap 38, Montoya moved into the fifth position, after passing Reutimann.<ref name=summary />

After starting twentieth, [[Kurt Busch]] had moved up to the twelfth position by lap 51. Seven laps later, the first caution came out because [[David Gilliland]] collided with the [[SAFER barrier|wall]]. After the drivers had finished their [[pit stop]]s, Johnson led to the green flag. Stewart moved into the first position one lap later, but he could not maintain it for the second consecutive lap. On lap 65, [[Kasey Kahne]] received a [[List of motorsport terminology#D|drive-through penalty]] after driving too fast on pit lane. Nine laps later, [[Kyle Busch]] moved into the eighth position, as his brother Kurt followed. Afterward, Montoya moved into the sixth position. By lap 81, Johnson had a 0.60&nbsp;second lead over Stewart. Two laps later, [[Jamie McMurray]] passed Kenseth for the tenth position.<ref name=summary />

On lap 96, Kyle Busch passed Montoya for sixth, as Stewart was gaining ground on Johnson. Two laps later, Edwards caught Stewart for the second position. After 107 laps, Johnson had a 0.65&nbsp;second lead over Stewart. On lap 127, [[David Ragan]] had spun sideways, which prompted the second caution to come out. During the accident, [[Tony Raines]] collided in the back of Stewart's race car.<ref name="dustupforstewart">{{cite web|title=Stewart receives damage in dust-up|url=http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2010/post_race/highlights/08/21/cup_bri2_high_two.nascar/index.html|access-date=August 24, 2010|location=NASCAR| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100824104006/http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2010/post_race/highlights/08/21/cup_bri2_high_two.nascar/index.html| archive-date= August 24, 2010}}</ref> Following the caution, Johnson led to the green flag on lap 130. One lap later, the third caution was given because [[Regan Smith (racing driver)|Regan Smith]] collided with the wall. On lap 140, Johnson led the drivers to the green flag. After starting twenty-first, [[Greg Biffle]] had moved into the eleventh position by lap 142. On lap 153, [[Kevin Harvick]] said, "We don't know what we're doing. Leave the air alone.", after being frustrated that his crew could not fix the [[car handling]].<ref name=summary />

On lap 161, there were twenty-eight cars on the lead lap (not a lap down). Eleven laps later, Kyle Busch emerged in the first position, after passing Johnson. By lap 187, Kyle Busch had a 0.96&nbsp;second lead over Johnson. On lap 192, one of [[Scott Speed]]'s tires deflated, prompting the fourth caution. Johnson became the leader after pit stops, and led the drivers back to the green flag. On lap 202, Busch reclaimed the lead, as Reutimann passed Johnson for second. Eleven laps later, Stewart collided with the wall, but was able to continue racing. On lap 215, Johnson reclaimed second, after passing Reutimann. Twenty-one laps later, [[Clint Bowyer]] passed Kurt Busch for the ninth position. By lap 239, Kyle Busch had a 2.5&nbsp;second lead over Johnson.<ref name=summary />

On lap 253, the fifth caution came out because [[Bobby Labonte]] collided with the wall. On lap 261, Kyle Busch led the drivers to the green flag. One lap later, Johnson spun sideways and collided with the wall, after making contact with Montoya. Johnson and [[Denny Hamlin]] drove to garage during the caution, both with repairs. Kyle Busch, once again, led the drivers to the restart on lap 267. By lap 279, Kyle Busch had a 1.48&nbsp;second lead over Reutimann. Ten laps later, Hamlin returned to the track, as Kyle Busch had a 1.75&nbsp;second lead over the second position. On lap 302, Gordon passed [[A. J. Allmendinger]] for the tenth position. Eight laps later, [[Matt Kenseth]] passed [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]] for the seventh position. On lap 339, McMurray moved into the third position. Four laps later, McMurray passed Reutimann for second. Kyle Busch maintained a 1.57 lead over McMurray, as Kenseth, who was running eighth, drove to pit lane because of tire issues.<ref name=summary />
[[File:Kyle Busch August 5, 2009 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|[[Kyle Busch]] won the race, leading a race high of 282 laps, and became the first driver to win in all three major NASCAR divisions in a single weekend.]]
On lap 350, Kahne moved into the sixth position. Eight laps later, McMurray had closed on Kyle Busch. By lap 380, Kyle Busch had claimed the most laps led. Three laps later, Kahne came to pit lane because of a flat tire. On lap 388, McMurray became the leader, after passing Kyle Busch. On lap 399, green flag pit stops began, as McMurray and Kyle Busch came to pit lane for fuel and tires. Afterwards, [[Jeff Gordon]] became the leader, but one lap later he was passed by [[Mark Martin]]. On lap 404, Reutimann became the leader, as [[Joey Logano]] was given a drive-through penalty for speeding on pit lane. Four laps later, the seventh caution came out because of debris on the track. Reutimann led on the restart during lap 414.<ref name=summary />

Four laps later, Kahne reclaimed the sixth position, as Kyle Busch caught Reutimann. On lap 429, Kyle Busch became the leader, after bumping Reutimann. Kahne moved into the fourth position, after passing Bowyer two laps later. By lap 434, Kyle Busch had a 1.5&nbsp;second lead over Reutimann. Fifteen laps later, Kurt Busch passed Jeff Gordon for the tenth position. After 467 laps, there were only fourteen cars on the same lap as the leader. By lap 490, Kyle Busch had a 2.49&nbsp;second lead over the rest of the drivers. Kyle Busch crossed the finish line in first to make history by becoming the first to win in all three major NASCAR divisions in the same weekend: the [[Camping World Truck Series]], the [[Nationwide Series]], and the [[Sprint Cup Series]].<ref name=summary /> David Reutimann followed in second, ahead McMurray in third, Bowyer in fourth, and Kahne in fifth.<ref name="results">{{cite web|title=Official Race Results|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/results_official.html|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|access-date=August 25, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100912164452/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/results_official.html| archive-date= September 12, 2010}}</ref> The race had a total of seven cautions and seventeen lead changes among nine different drivers.<ref name=raceinfo />

=== Post-race ===

{{quote box|quote=To sweep a weekend, that's awesome, I don't know what to think. I've been trying to do this since I got to NASCAR. Fortunately tonight, I was able to get it done and be the first one to do it. I'm the first of a lot of things.|source=[[Kyle Busch]], speaking after the race.<ref name="buschwins">{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Nate|title=Kyle Busch completes sweep of three NASCAR races at Bristol|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2010-08-21-kyle-busch-sprint-cup-bristol_N.htm|access-date=August 25, 2010|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|date=August 15, 2010}}</ref>|width=29%|align=right}}

Busch appeared in victory lane after his [[victory lap]] to start celebrating making history, and his third win of the season,<ref name="kylesbroom">{{cite news|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Kyle Busch takes a broom to Bristol|newspaper=News Observer|date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> in front of a crowd of 155,000 people.<ref name="irwin2010tool">{{cite web|title=2010 Irwin Tools Night Race|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2010_Irwin_Tools_Night_Race/W|access-date=August 25, 2010|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=Fox Sports Digital}}</ref> Busch also earned $331,731 in race winnings.<ref name="results"/> "It's great. We knew we'd run well here and were really looking forward to capitalizing and getting jumped in front of the bubble spot (for the Chase)," said Busch.<ref name=buschwins />

Although Reutimann was leading near the end, Busch passed him with seventy-one laps remaining.<ref name=summary /> McMurray, who finished third, said, The balance was too tight at the end. It was a really good night for us. I know most of these fans don't like Kyle Busch, but it's remarkable what he's been able to do this weekend."<ref name=buschwins /> In the subsequent press conference, Reutimann stated, "My team did a good job, because I was only in the second half of practice, and they had to work with two different drivers, so the credit all goes to my team."<ref name="sundaynews">{{cite news|title=Three-for-three: Kyle Busch sweeps Bristol week|url=http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/08/21/1649284/three-for-three-kyle-busch-sweeps.html|access-date=August 25, 2010|newspaper=The Sun News|date=August 21, 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> "At one point, I thought we were going to have the car to beat, but at the end, we just didn't have the speed we needed," McMurray added.<ref name=sundaynews /> Johnson, who was involved in an accident on lap 263, said, "I thought I left [Montoya] enough room on the outside lane there. We're on the straightaway for a little bit, and then all of the sudden, I got hooked with force. It's not like we bumped and banged, and I squeezed him. I thought we were on the straightaway and everything was fine, and then around I went."<ref name=sundaynews /> Following the race, Busch would add,
"This [car] was awesome today. What a great race car. It's the second time I've run it this year."<ref name=sundaynews />

The race result left Harvick leading the Driver's Championship with 3,521 points. Jeff Gordon, who finished eleventh, was second with 3,242 points, which assured him a position in the [[Chase for the Sprint Cup]].<ref name="points">{{cite web|title=Point Standing|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/standings_official.html|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|access-date=August 25, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100909132535/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/standings_official.html| archive-date= September 9, 2010}}</ref> He was seventy-two points ahead of race winner Kyle Busch and 129 ahead of Edwards.<ref name="points" /> Hamlin was fifth with 3,108 points.<ref name="points" /> Chevrolet maintained their lead in the Manufacturers' Championship with 173 points.<ref name=manufacturer /> Toyota placed second with 146 points, and Ford followed with 110 points, eleven ahead of Dodge in fourth.<ref name=manufacturer /> 5.842 million people watched the race on television.<ref name="tvrate">{{cite web|title=2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup TV Ratings|url=http://www.jayski.com/pages/tvratings2010.htm|access-date=January 5, 2015|work=Jayski's Silly Season Site|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201140154/http://jayski.com/pages/tvratings2010.htm|archive-date=December 1, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The race took two hours, forty-one minutes and twenty-four seconds to complete, and the margin of victory was 0.677 seconds.<ref name="results"/>

== Results ==
=== Qualifying ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Qualifying results
|-
! scope="col" | Grid
! scope="col" | Car
! scope="col" | Driver
! scope="col" | Team
! scope="col" | Manufacturer
! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Time|Time in seconds}}
! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Speed|Speed in MPH}}
|-
! scope="row" |  1
|48 ||[[Jimmie Johnson]] ||[[Hendrick Motorsports]] ||[[Chevrolet]] ||15.540 ||123.475
|-
! scope="row" |  2
|99 ||[[Carl Edwards]] ||[[Roush Fenway Racing]] ||[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] ||15.608 ||122.937
|-
! scope="row" |  3
|20 ||[[Joey Logano]] ||[[Joe Gibbs Racing]] ||[[Toyota]] ||15.630 ||122.764
|-
! scope="row" |  4
|14 ||[[Tony Stewart]] ||[[Stewart-Haas Racing]] ||Chevrolet ||15.653 ||122.584
|-
! scope="row" |  5
|00 ||[[David Reutimann]] ||[[Michael Waltrip Racing]] ||Toyota ||15.664 ||122.497
|-
! scope="row" |  6
|39 ||[[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]] ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Chevrolet ||15.680 ||122.372
|-
! scope="row" |  7
|1 ||[[Jamie McMurray]] ||[[Earnhardt Ganassi Racing]] ||Chevrolet ||15.691 ||122.287
|-
! scope="row" |  8
|42 ||[[Juan Pablo Montoya]] ||Earnhardt Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||15.696 ||122.248
|-
! scope="row" |  9
|56 ||[[Martin Truex Jr.]] ||Michael Waltrip Racing ||Toyota ||15.705 ||122.178
|-
! scope="row" |  10
|43 ||[[A. J. Allmendinger]] ||[[Richard Petty Motorsports]] ||Ford ||15.708 ||122.154
|-
! scope="row" |  11
|9 ||[[Kasey Kahne]] ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Ford ||15.711 ||122.131
|-
! scope="row" |  12
|98 ||[[Paul Menard]] ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Ford ||15.711 ||122.131
|-
! scope="row" |  13
|5 ||[[Mark Martin]] ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||15.725 ||122.022
|-
! scope="row" |  14
|17 ||[[Matt Kenseth]] ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||15.728 ||121.999
|-
! scope="row" |  15
|12 ||[[Brad Keselowski]] ||[[Penske Racing]] ||[[Dodge]] ||15.728 ||121.999
|-
! scope="row" |  16
|31 ||[[Jeff Burton]] ||[[Richard Childress Racing]] ||Chevrolet |||15.732 ||121.968
|-
! scope="row" |  17
|11 ||[[Denny Hamlin]] ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||15.734 ||121.952
|-
! scope="row" |  18
|83 ||[[Reed Sorenson]] ||[[Red Bull Racing Team]] ||Toyota ||15.742 ||121.890
|-
! scope="row" |  19
|18 ||[[Kyle Busch]] ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||15.745 ||121.867
|-
! scope="row" |  20
|2 ||[[Kurt Busch]] ||Penske Racing ||Dodge ||15.752 ||121.813
|-
! scope="row" |  21
|16 ||[[Greg Biffle]] ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||15.755 ||121.790
|-
! scope="row" |  22
|47 ||[[Marcos Ambrose]] ||[[JTG Daugherty Racing]] ||Toyota ||15.773 ||121.651
|-
! scope="row" |  23
|82 ||[[Scott Speed]] ||Red Bull Racing Team ||Toyota ||15.791 ||121.512
|-
! scope="row" |  24
|33 ||[[Clint Bowyer]] ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||15.796 ||121.474
|-
! scope="row" |  25
|77 ||[[Sam Hornish Jr.]] ||Penske Racing ||Dodge ||15.797 ||121.466
|-
! scope="row" |  26
|24 ||[[Jeff Gordon]] ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||15.803 ||121.420
|-
! scope="row" |  27
|88 ||[[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]] ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||15.808 ||121.382
|-
! scope="row" |  28
|29 ||[[Kevin Harvick]] ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||15.820 ||121.290
|-
! scope="row" |  29
|78 ||[[Regan Smith (racing driver)|Regan Smith]] ||[[Furniture Row Racing]] ||Chevrolet ||15.822 ||121.274
|-
! scope="row" |  30
|09 ||[[Bobby Labonte]] ||[[Phoenix Racing (NASCAR team)|Phoenix Racing]] ||Chevrolet ||15.843 ||121.113
|-
! scope="row" |  31
|26 ||[[Jeff Green (racing driver)|Jeff Green]] ||[[Latitude 43 Motorsports]] ||Ford ||15.858 ||120.999
|-
! scope="row" |  32
|66 ||[[Scott Riggs]] ||[[Prism Motorsports]] ||Toyota ||15.864 ||120.953
|-
! scope="row" |  33
|34 ||[[Travis Kvapil]] ||[[Front Row Motorsports]] ||Ford ||15.869 ||120.915
|-
! scope="row" |  34
|38 ||[[David Gilliland]] ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||15.869 ||120.915
|-
! scope="row" |  35
|55 ||[[Michael McDowell (racing driver)|Michael McDowell]] ||Prism Motorsports ||Toyota ||15.869 ||120.915
|-
! scope="row" |  36
|64 ||[[Todd Bodine]] ||[[Gunselman Motorsports]] ||Toyota ||15.882 ||120.816
|-
! scope="row" |  37
|07 ||[[Robby Gordon]] ||[[Robby Gordon Motorsports]] ||Toyota ||15.889 ||120.763
|-
! scope="row" |  38
|6 ||[[David Ragan]] ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||15.896 ||120.710
|-
! scope="row" |  39
|37 ||[[Tony Raines]] ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||16.033 ||119.678
|-
! scope="row" |  40
|7 ||[[Kevin Conway (racing driver)|Kevin Conway]] ||Robby Gordon Motorsports ||Toyota ||16.045 ||119.589
|-
! scope="row" |  41
|19 ||[[Elliott Sadler]] ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Ford ||16.071 ||119.395
|-
! scope="row" |  42
|71 ||[[Landon Cassill]] ||[[TRG Motorsports]] ||Chevrolet ||16.072 ||119.388
|-
! scope="row" |  43
|13 ||[[Casey Mears]] ||[[Germain Racing]] ||Toyota ||15.902 ||120.664
|-
|colspan="8"|{{center|'''Failed to qualify'''}}
|-
! scope="row" |  44
|36 ||[[Dave Blaney]] ||[[Tommy Baldwin Racing]] ||Chevrolet ||15.952 ||120.286
|-
! scope="row" |  45
|87 ||[[Joe Nemechek]] ||[[NEMCO Motorsports]] ||Toyota ||15.958 ||120.241
|-
! scope="row" |  46
|4 ||[[Kevin Lepage]] ||[[Morgan-McClure Motorsports]] ||Chevrolet ||16.088 ||119.269
|-
! scope="row" |  47
|46 ||[[J. J. Yeley]] ||[[Whitney Motorsports]] ||Dodge ||16.143 ||118.863
|-
! scope="row" |  48
|92 ||[[Brian Keselowski]] ||[[K-Automotive Motorsports]] ||Dodge ||16.267 ||117.957
|-
! scope="row" |  49
|32 ||[[Mike Bliss]] ||[[Braun Racing]] ||Toyota ||16.981 ||112.997
|-
|colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|''Source:<ref name="morequal"/><ref name="nascar.comlineup">{{cite web|title=Race Lineup|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/lineup.html|access-date=August 21, 2010|work=NASCAR|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821231949/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/24/data/lineup.html|archive-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref>''}}}}
|}

=== Race results ===
{| class="sortable wikitable" border="1"
|-
|+ Race results
|-
! scope="col" | Pos
! scope="col" | Grid
! scope="col" | Car
! scope="col" | Driver
! scope="col" | Team
! scope="col" | Manufacturer
! scope="col" | Laps Run
! scope="col" | Points
|-
! scope="row" | 1
|19 ||18 ||Kyle Busch ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||500 ||195{{smallsup|2}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2
|2 ||00 ||David Reutimann ||Michael Waltrip Racing ||Toyota ||500 ||175{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 3
|7 ||1 ||Jamie McMurray ||Earnhardt Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||500 ||170{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 4
|24 ||33 ||Clint Bowyer ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||500 ||165{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 5
|11 ||9 ||Kasey Kahne ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Ford ||500 ||155
|-
! scope="row" | 6
|6 ||39 ||Ryan Newman ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Chevrolet ||500 ||150
|-
! scope="row" | 7
|8 ||42 ||Juan Pablo Montoya ||Earnhardt Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||500 ||146
|-
! scope="row" | 8
|21 ||16 ||Greg Biffle ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||500 ||142
|-
! scope="row" | 9
|20 ||2 ||Kurt Busch ||Penske Racing ||Dodge ||500 ||138
|-
! scope="row" | 10
|14 ||17 ||Matt Kenseth ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||500 ||134
|-
! scope="row" | 11
|26 ||24 ||Jeff Gordon ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||500 ||135{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 12
|2 ||99 ||Carl Edwards ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||500 ||127
|-
! scope="row" | 13
|27 ||88 ||Dale Earnhardt Jr. ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||500 ||124
|-
! scope="row" | 14
|28 ||29 ||Kevin Harvick ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||499 ||121
|-
! scope="row" | 15
|18 ||83 ||Reed Sorenson ||Red Bull Racing Team ||Toyota ||499 ||118
|-
! scope="row" | 16
|16 ||31 ||Jeff Burton ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||499 ||115
|-
! scope="row" | 17
|9 ||56 ||Martin Truex Jr. ||Michael Waltrip Racing ||Toyota ||499 ||112
|-
! scope="row" | 18
|3 ||20 ||Joey Logano ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||499 ||109
|-
! scope="row" | 19
|15 ||12 ||Brad Keselowski ||Penske Racing ||Dodge ||499 ||106
|-
! scope="row" | 20
|22 ||47 ||Marcos Ambrose ||JTG Daugherty Racing ||Toyota ||499 ||103
|-
! scope="row" | 21
|12 ||98 ||Paul Menard ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Ford ||499 ||100
|-
! scope="row" | 22
|33 ||34 ||Travis Kvapil ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||498 ||102{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 23
|13 ||5 ||Mark Martin ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||498 ||99{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 24
|31 ||26 ||Jeff Green ||Latitude 43 Motorsports ||Ford ||497 ||91
|-
! scope="row" | 25
|25 ||77 ||Sam Hornish Jr. ||Penske Racing ||Dodge ||497 ||88
|-
! scope="row" | 26
|34 ||38 ||David Gilliland ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||495 ||85
|-
! scope="row" | 27
|4 ||14 ||Tony Stewart ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Chevrolet ||494 ||87{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 28
|39 ||37 ||Tony Raines ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||492 ||79
|-
! scope="row" | 29
|41 ||19 ||Elliott Sadler ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Ford ||491 ||76
|-
! scope="row" | 30
|29 ||78 ||Regan Smith ||Furniture Row Racing ||Chevrolet ||489 ||73
|-
! scope="row" | 31
|10 ||43 ||A. J. Allmendinger ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Ford ||488 ||70
|-
! scope="row" | 32
|38 ||6 ||David Ragan ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||486 ||67
|-
! scope="row" | 33
|23 ||82 ||Scott Speed ||Red Bull Racing Team ||Toyota ||486 ||64
|-
! scope="row" | 34
|17 ||11 ||Denny Hamlin ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||473 ||61
|-
! scope="row" | 35
|1 ||48 ||Jimmie Johnson ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||415 ||63{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 36
|40 ||7 ||Kevin Conway ||Robby Gordon Motorsports ||Toyota ||212 ||55
|-
! scope="row" | 37
|42 ||71 ||Landon Cassill ||TRG Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||129 ||52
|-
! scope="row" | 38
|30 ||09 ||Bobby Labonte ||Phoenix Racing ||Chevrolet ||118 ||49
|-
! scope="row" | 39
|43 ||13 ||Casey Mears ||Germain Racing ||Toyota ||58 ||46
|-
! scope="row" | 40
|37 ||07 ||Robby Gordon ||Robby Gordon Motorsports ||Toyota ||50 ||43
|-
! scope="row" | 41
|36 ||64 ||Todd Bodine ||Gunselman Motorsports ||Toyota ||47 ||40
|-
! scope="row" | 42
|32 ||66 ||Scott Riggs ||Prism Motorsports ||Toyota ||32 ||37
|-
! scope="row" | 43
|35 ||55 ||Michael McDowell ||Prism Motorsports ||Toyota ||16 ||34
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|''Source:<ref name=raceinfo /><ref name=results /><ref name="mrnraceresults">{{cite web|title=MRN Race Results|url=http://www.motorracingnetwork.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Season-Stats/Statistics.aspx?SubSeriesID=1&RaceID=1182&YearID=2|work=Motor Racing Network|publisher=International Speedway Corporation|access-date=August 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126190342/http://www.motorracingnetwork.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Season-Stats/Statistics.aspx?RaceID=1182&SubSeriesID=1&YearID=2|archive-date=November 26, 2010}}</ref>''}}}}
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|{{smallsup|1}} Includes five bonus points for leading a lap}}}}
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|{{smallsup|2}} Includes ten bonus points for leading the most laps}}}}
|}

== Standings after the race ==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Drivers' Championship standings
|-
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col" | Driver
! scope="col" | Points
|-
! scope="row" | 1
| Kevin Harvick
| style="text-align:center;"|3,521
|-
! scope="row" | 2
| Jeff Gordon
| style="text-align:center;"|3,242
|-
! scope="row" | 3
| Kyle Busch
| style="text-align:center;"|3,170
|-
! scope="row" | 4
| Carl Edwards
| style="text-align:center;"|3,113
|-
! scope="row" | 5
| Denny Hamlin
| style="text-align:center;"|3,108
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|''Source:<ref name=points />''}}}}
|}
{{col-2}}
[[File:Kevin Harvick at Zanesville Ohio 2006.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kevin Harvick]] remained the Drivers' Championship leader after finishing fourteenth in the race]]
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Manufacturers' Championship standings
|-
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col" | Manufacturer
! scope="col" | Points
|-
! scope="row" | 1
| Chevrolet
| style="text-align:center;"|173
|-
! scope="row" | 2
| Toyota
| style="text-align:center;"|146
|-
! scope="row" | 3
| Ford
| style="text-align:center;"|110
|-
! scope="row" | 4
| Dodge
| style="text-align:center;"|99
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|''Source:<ref name=manufacturer />''}}}}
|}

* <small>'''Note''': Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.</small>
{{col-end}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{NASCAR next race|
Series        = Sprint Cup Series|
Season        = 2010 |
Previous_race = [[2010 Carfax 400]] |
Next_race     = [[2010 Emory Healthcare 500]] |
}}

{{2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup |state=collapsed}}
{{NASCAR on ESPN|state=collapsed}}
{{Irwin Tools Night Race}}

[[Category:2010 in sports in Tennessee|Irwin Tools Night Race]]
[[Category:2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series|Irwin Tools Night Race]]
[[Category:NASCAR races at Bristol Motor Speedway]]