Charlotte NASCAR: Carl Edwards claims first win with Joe Gibbs

Edwards was foremost among a group of seven drivers who dived in for fuel during a yellow when Ricky Stenhouse Jr hit the wall with 62 of the 400 laps left.

The leaders after the restart all had to subsequently come in under green and try to fight their way back through the fuel-conserving drivers ahead.

Long-time leader Martin Truex Jr headed this pack, but could only make it through to fifth, finishing right on the tail of the battling Dale Earnhardt Jr and Matt Kenseth.

Edwards was comfortably out of reach in the lead, extending his advantage over fellow fuel gambler Greg Biffle to win by 4.8 seconds.

Truex was among several drivers who had enjoyed long stints in the lead earlier in the marathon race then found themselves out of position as the strategies unfolded.

Kurt Busch, like Truex, led over 100 laps but was only 10th at the finish.

Last week's All-Star race winner Denny Hamlin led the field ahead of Truex after the final yellow, before a loose wheel forced him to pit earlier then planned. He ended up eighth, behind Ryan Newman and Brad Keselowski and ahead of Kevin Harvick.

In his first points race back since his leg-breaking Daytona crash, Kyle Busch was a frontrunner all night but lost out in the late strategy choices and finished 11th.

Last year's winner Jimmie Johnson had two spins, the second taking him into the wall and forcing a long pit visit for repairs.

RESULTS - 400 LAPS:

PROVISIONALLY IN THE CHASE: Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Carl Edwards

LEADING CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: