DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The pack is back. And so is the Big One.
Kyle Busch edged Tony Stewart in a thrilling finish to the first race of 2012, using a sling-shot pass Saturday night on the last lap of the exhibition Budweiser Shootout to beat the defending NASCAR champion to the checkered flag.
It gave Busch a victory in a wild race that included two incredible saves by the eventual winner to stay in contention in the 75-lap sprint around Daytona International Speedway.
"I don't know how many times I spun out, but I didn't spin out, you know?" smiled Busch, who gave Toyota its first Shootout victory.
The event was a preview of next weekend's season-opening Daytona 500.
It was obvious at the start that the new rules worked as the drivers were lumped into a big pack and raced two and three wide for almost the entire race. Although it led to two big accidents - including an accident that sent Jeff Gordon skidding on his roof for what he said was the first time in his career.
