Something must be wrong. Kyle Busch has been absent from a Sprint Cup Series winner’s circle for three weeks. In fact, his last two finishes were 15th and 36th. But while some began speculating — or hoping — that Busch’s dominant season was beginning to crumble, he knew better, and on Sunday at Watkins Glen International, he reminded those doubters that he isn’t done yet.

Busch was given the pole after rain knocked out qualifying on Friday and once the green flag fell on the Centurion Boats at the Glen, it was clear he was back in contending form. Busch’s No. 18 Toyota dominated the race, leading 52 laps, en route to his second road course victory of the season and eighth overall.

With eight laps remaining a jaw-dropping 10-car wreck broke out on lap 84 of the 90-lap race, forcing a suspense-building 43-minute red flag period.

The final restart fell five laps from the finish with Busch leading four-time Watkins Glen winner Tony Stewart, Saturday’s Nationwide Series winner Marcos Ambrose and 2007 Infineon victor Juan Pablo Montoya.

Busch jumped out to a lengthy lead and though Martin Truex, Jr. was able to mix things up within the top 5 by battling temporarily with Montoya, nobody had anything for the point leader, as he sailed to his second road course win of the season by 2.275-seconds over his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Stewart.

“I knew getting a good start was going to be good and once I got that then it changed all my worries of how to run turn one so then I just had to concentrate on getting off of turn one and getting up through the S’s,” Busch said.

Stewart hasn’t won in a year and for the second week in a row, settled for the second spot.

“When you know that your car was really close … if we were off then I think we would be more disappointed,” Stewart said. “I'm pretty happy with the run today. I know that we were just a little off, but the guy that won never made a mistake and didn't bobble. It's hard to be disappointed with that because the good thing is that we're back on track and it's not all about wins. There's a bigger prize at the end of the year than an individual race.”

In only his third Cup start Marcos Ambrose finished third. On Saturday, he claimed his first career Nationwide race win at Watkins Glen. Sunday’s run, however, was more than a challenge for the Australian racer. With rain canceling qualifying, he just barely made the field, sliding into the 43rd and final spot based on the Wood Brothers’ position in the owner point standings.

“It’s just a great weekend all around,” Ambrose said. “I thought yesterday was great, but when I wound up there on that red flag, I realized where I was. I was behind Tony and in front of all those other great drivers.

“I’m just really excited that I’ve been given an opportunity and I’ve able to be making the most of it. You know, you don’t get many chances in life to do something special like this, and today I’m going to look back at very fondly – the whole weekend, to be honest with you.”

Montoya and Truex closed out the top 5.

Kevin Harvick was sixth and two-time reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson, who was forced to pit on lap 43 after suffering a flat left rear tire, rallied to finish seventh. After the stop he was marred in traffic but a rotation of pit stops and a caution flag on lap 64 put Johnson back into play.

Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch rounded out the top 10.

On lap 83 the fourth yellow of the day was displayed following a devastating10-car wreck off of Turn 11.

Michael McDowell and David Gilliland made contact sending Gilliland sideways and into a tire barrier. Bobby Labonte slammed into Gilliland and the guardrail adjacent to the road course. Sam Hornish, Jr. slid driver’s side into the water barrels at the end of pit road sending debris from the barrels and his car scattering. The carnage only built up as the damaged machines sat parked, blocking oncoming traffic and collecting more victims.

Labonte was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. He climbed from his battered Dodge under his own power and walked gingerly to the ambulance before being transported.

McDowell and Gilliland were both summoned to the NASCAR hauler following the race to discuss what may have sparked the incident although the sanctioning body said no action would be taken against either driver.

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