KANSAS CITY, KS -- This one had it all.

Greg Biffle won it, a twice red-flagged, wreck-marred, rain-plagued event that was eventually shortened because of darkness.

Biffle was ahead at 210 laps when Juan Pablo Montoya blew a Goodyear tire bringing out the day's final caution.

Six of the 12 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship contenders were sidelined by accidents in a wild and wooly event that started shortly after 1 p.m. local time and ended after sundown at 7:10.

Trailing Biffle, who led the final 32 laps, was Clint Bowyer, a Kansas native and favorite son at this 1.5-mile speedway, and defending series champion Jimmie Johnson.

Johnson took over the points lead with Jeff Gordon, who finished fifth in the race, in second spot.

Casey Mears had another good run, finishing fourth.

It was a heartbreaking day for Chase contender Tony Stewart, who was leading when the race was red-flagged the second time. On the restart after a two-hour wait, a seven-car pileup included Stewart, who suffered front end damage.

Nursing an ill-handling car, Stewart had a flat, was waving to let the guys behind him know he was slowing down, and was punched from behind by Kurt Busch. The wreck ended Stewart's day.

Busch was running behind Tony Raines, who was right behind Stewart. When Raines swerved to miss Stewart, Busch had no time to react and drove into the rear of Stewart's car, sending him into the outside retaining wall.

Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Reed Sorensen, Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

With the third-place finish, Johnson took the points lead, followed by Gordon (six points behind) and Bowyer (14 points behind).

Matt Kenseth streaked away at the start after pole winner Jimmie Johnson had to start from the rear. Johnson wrecked his pole-winning Chevrolet in the final practice session. NASCAR rules allow drivers to use backup cars but they forfeit their starting position in the process.

Kenseth led before rain stopped the race with 15 laps complete. NASCAR red-flagged the race with Dave Blaney out front. Kenseth and other leaders pitted when the caution came out for the rain.

The field had barely gotten underway after a 40-minute delay when Earnhardt bumped Kyle Busch from behind, sending Busch into the outside retaining wall.

On the restart, Kurt Busch took the point with Gordon, Kenseth and Stewart right behind. Kenny Wallace spun to bring out another caution at lap 60.

Kenseth went back in front after the caution and Johnson had charged through the field into sixth spot behind Kenseth, Gordon, Busch, Stewart and Hamlin.

Both Ryan Newman and Chase contender Jeff Burton had mechanical problems during this part of the race.

Stewart raced to the front and 11 of the top 12 drivers at this point in the race were in the running for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship.

Busch went back in front a few laps later and you could have tossed a blanket over the top 10.

On this restart, with threatening weather once again moving towards the track, the drivers threw caution to the wind and raced as though there were 10 laps remaining.

Busch led with Kenseth, Johnson, Stewart, Hamlin, Truex, Harvick, Biffle, and Sorensen in hot pursuit.

A debris caution slowed the field again at 100 laps. Kyle Busch was back on track at this stage of the race, more than 40 laps behind after watching his team repair extensive damages from his earlier accident.

Results

* Denotes Rookie

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