Busch triumphs at Fontana

The 24-year-old Roush driver who won three of the last five races in 2002 hit the front with 12 of the 250 laps to go, passing Jamie McMurray. The rookie had been battling for the lead with Bobby Labonte when Dale Jarrett hit the wall and triggered a nine-car wreck on lap 230. Both Busch and veteran Rusty Wallace made the most of the moment and passed Labonte as they raced around to the flagstand where the yellow was hanging.

Wallace, keen to bring a 71-race run of races without victory to an end made a move on both McMurray and Busch as the green flag was displayed, but he drifted high on the banking and Busch picked that moment to make his move for the lead. It worked and the Ford driver raced away to victory as Wallace and Labonte tussled in his wake. At flagfall, Labonte was second in his Chevrolet, with Wallace third. Bille Elliott and McMurray made it three Dodges in the top-five.

Busch, who was edged back to second place here by Jimmie Johnson last year, was delighted with his crew: "This was an all-out effort by our team," enthused Busch. "Every time I came in (for pit stops) we picked up positions."

Dale Earnhardt Jr, Michael Waltrip, John Andretti, Matt Kenseth and Sterling Marlin completed the top 10. Pole sitter Steve Park's form didn't carry into the race, as he veered into Ryan Newman, knocking him into the wall before spinning down the track. He was able to continue for another 100 laps but later retired. Reigning champion Tony Stewart also failed to go the distance, pulling off with engine failure.

Kenseth continues to head the championship table, with 1473 points to the 1429 of his closest rival, Earnhardt Jr with Jeff Gordon (11th on Sunday) ranking third overall just ahead of Busch