Big One victim Bowyer able to keep finish streak alive (cont'd)

While one crewman worked to remove the transmission, another was on the right side of the car, using a torch to cut away some of the damaged frame. Three others were under the engine, feverishly working to replace oil and water lines. Yet others were replacing wheel assemblies and standing by with a new radiator. And Bowyer acted as a go-fer, helping chase down needed parts and tools.

With the new radiator in place, the crew thought they were ready to see if the engine would fire with 30 laps remaining, but oil began to spray onto the asphalt, necessitating more oil line repairs. Five laps later, the lines were deemed tight and the tires were bolted on, as Bowyer began to prepare for his return to the driver's seat.

“

I don't think that wreck was caused by overaggressive driving. Looking back on it, I wish I would have stayed behind Matt. But that is always hindsight.

”

JEFF GORDON

As Kyle Busch crossed the start/finish line on Lap 166, Bowyer flipped the switch -- and amazingly, the engine coughed a couple of times and rumbled back to life. The team quickly checked tire alignments as well as they could, given the bent frame, and the radiator -- hanging periliously low to the ground -- was jacked up and lashed securely into place.

Then as Bowyer prepared to take the car for a leak check around the garage area, a Sprint Cup official came up to the front of the car and waved his arms. Officials from the team descended, explained the situation, and he relented.

"I knew what he meant," Bowyer said. "We just wanted to make a lap around the garage, make sure everything was going to be OK. We were just going to go out, complete the race and be done."

And on Lap 186, just as the rest of the field was preparing to take the white flag, the No. 33 Chevrolet returned to the track, ran the final two laps and kept Bowyer's streak alive. He's now at 82, which sets the modern record for races running at the finish, just two races behind the record held by Kevin Harvick. Harvick's streak was broken earlier this season when he crashed out of the Auto Club 500 in California.

"If we are able to beat that record, it's all about that," Bowyer said. "I'm really proud of them. I hate that the car got torn up that early but the guys worked their a--es off and they got it back out there."

The accident, involving more than a quarter of the field, sent many of the top contenders to the garage with heavy damage, including the cars of Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne and Harvick. In addition, many other cars suffered minor damage while avoiding the crash.

The accident occurred heading into Turn 3 when Gordon and Matt Kenseth touched in the middle of the main pack, sending Gordon up the track into David Gilliland. The cars directly behind had no way to avoid the incident, which quickly blocked the racing surface. In all, at least 13 cars suffered significant damage, and several others were damaged enough to need pit service during the extended caution period.

"I was actually working well with Matt getting up to the front through the middle," Gordon said. "I am not really sure what happened. I was just kind of cruising along there in the middle. Matt got up there, I think behind maybe [Denny Hamlin] and he went low and so I was just cruising on up the middle.

" .... There just wasn't enough room. [Martin Truex Jr.] got underneath Matt, Matt came up and I was already there."

The cars of Martin, Gilliland, Jamie McMurray and Scott Riggs were officially listed as out. Gordon, Kahne, Harvick and A.J. Allmendinger were able to return to competition, many laps down.

There were no injuries reported. All of the drivers involved were seen and released from the infield medical center.

Gordon didn't think the accident was caused by impatience.

"I didn't see anything out of line," he said. "I don't think that wreck was caused by overaggressive driving. I mean, every race and every wreck, I look to see what I could have done different. Looking back on it, I wish I would have stayed behind Matt. But that is always hindsight.

"We're sitting here. It's unfortunate. It is not obviously going to be the day we were looking for."