Linnea Galetano
Special to the Sun

When the "Smoke" finally cleared, Tony Stewart was awarded the win after taking the checkered flag second. You read it right. Second.

After two "big ones", always a given when they race at the Talladega Superspeedway, blown tires in the first half of the race that caused enough chaos to embarrass Goodyear and NASCAR yet again this year. Jeff Gordon was involved in one incident that knocked him out of contention, (and dropped him two places back in the group of 12 Chasers), only 53 laps into the race, and another tire issue caused an eight car crash that, miraculously, involved no Chasers.

Carl Edwards, caused the bigger of the two "big ones", taking out six Chasers, including his teammates, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth.

'Degas favored son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., was also involved in the 11 car pile-up with only 14 laps to go.

" Carl didn't mean to do it, it really wasn't his fault," teammate Greg Biffle explained after the race, "He caused it, but he was just trying to help and pushed me all the way down the track and did everything he could do to help. We knew we were probably going to wreck here, because we've been in so many wrecks before."

Dejected, Carl was all apologies, however Kenseth was sullen. Greg Biffle was sympathetic, but no less upset.

 But it was the confusion after the race, when rookie Regan Smith, had beaten Smoke to the checkered flag but was denied the win because he made the pass below the yellow line. The NASCAR rules for the restrictor-plate tracks is, "That a driver may not improve his position by passing below the yellow line."

Most drivers are of the belief that on the last lap, anything goes. Smith maintained that he was, "Forced down there" by Stewart, wherein Tony countered, "You're darn right I did! I made a legal block heading towards the finish line!"

Finally, NASCAR's vice- president for corporate communications, Jim Hunter, settled the argument. "We do not feel [Smith] was forced below the yellow line. We respect Regans view, but we made the call, we think it's the right call, and the finish is final."

Johnson, who remains in first, 72 points ahead of Edwards, summarized the race at the AMP Energy 500 best of all. " It's been a looooong, eventful day!"

 On Saturday the Chase continues at Charlotte.