Some solidfy Chase berth while others fall behind (cont'd)

Another great decision on the pit box helped Bowyer turn a potentially devastating day into an outstanding one. Needing to stop on Lap 158 to make repairs after contact with Ryan Newman, crew chief Shane Wilson opted to top off the tank and gamble on fuel mileage, especially when Bowyer wound up with the lead less than 10 laps later when most of the lead-lap cars came in for service.

Two multi-car accidents that required major cleanup made sure that Bowyer had more than enough fuel to go the distance, and even with old tires, he was able to lead 23 laps, hang on for third place and move up to 15th in the standings, now 115 points out of a Chase berth.

"We had to make a call," Bowyer said. "We were losing way too much time on pit road every time we'd go in. We had to do something. We couldn't go back down pit road. We gambled on fuel mileage.

"I didn't think I'd lead that much. I was prepared to try to get it back up and have a top-five or maybe even a top-10, was what I was thinking."

A top-10 finish was also Reutimann's goal, and he seemed well-positioned to do just that when it all came apart with 25 laps to go. Coming out of Turn 3, Hamlin tapped the rear end of the No. 00 Toyota, sending Reutimann spinning into teammate Marcos Ambrose. Both cars suffered heavy damage but were able to continue. However, Reutimann wound up 29th and lost three places in the standings. He's now 121 points behind Biffle with just five more races before the Chase field is set (watch video).

An obviously frustrated Reutimann climbed from his car at the conclusion of the race and refused to comment, but Hamlin tried to explain what happened in his post-race comments.

"I got to him coming off Turn 1," Hamlin said. "I drove into Turn 2, got to him, nudged him actually in the middle of the corner. I let go of him. He pulled away about a car-length, but then he slammed on the brakes obviously to let me know he was upset. I plowed him off of [Turn] 2 really hard.

"In Turn 3, I got to him again. He got really loose off. When I got to him and pushed him, I was hoping he was just going to come off the corner and straighten up. Instead, I kept my throttle on him and when I did, I spun him into his teammate."

Hamlin said the emotions of the weekend, and impatience at needing to get back to the front, played a major role in the incident.

"I've got to make it up to those guys somehow, cut them some breaks on the track or something."

• Press Pass: Hamlin | Montoya | Bowyer