Race stopped again due to more rain

The rain arrived just after Waltrip took the lead from Jimmie Johnson. Waltrip benefited from assistance from DEI Chevrolet team-mate Dale Earnhardt Jr, who had earlier lost the lead due to a failing battery. Little E got to start alongside Johnson at a restart, as he was a number of laps behind, and was able to help Waltrip draft past Johnson into the lead.

"Don't ask me if I care if it keeps raining," said Waltrip, who will be declared the winner if the race is unable to be restarted due to the weather. "I don't mind if I win this race come rain or shine."

The red flag appeared soon after, with Waltrip leading Kurt Busch (Ford), Johnson (Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet), Mark Martin (Ford) and Robby Gordon (Chevrolet).

Last year's winner Ward Burton was the latest casualty of the race, spinning into the wall at Turn 4. Also in trouble there was poleman Jeff Green, who appeared to suffer a puncture which caused him to slam into the barriers.