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Bowyer: Celebrating victory

Clint Bowyer may have won the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway, but it was Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr who stole the headlines.

When Busch, racing hard for the lead with Earnhardt Jr, appeared to wreck 'Little E', Bowyer snuck in to take the lead and then hold off Busch for victory.

"As mad as I am about that situation and as much as is going to be made of it in the coming week, the real injustice is this team didn't get what they deserved," Earnhardt Jr said after the race - although he couldn't resist a comment about Busch's aggressive driving.

"If I want to talk to Kyle about that I've got to get in line."

One person who didn't get in line was Rick Pidgeon, a member of Earnhardt Jr's crew, who confronted Busch seconds after he had brought his car into pit lane after the race.

The move - which seemed a little ironic bearing in mind that Earnhardt Jr wrecked Busch twice last season-- ended Earnhardt's bid for his first Championship trip to Victory Lane in two years.

However it must be noted that neither had the best car of night.

Controversy

Hometown hero Denny Hamlin was dominant for 381 laps, but a cut tire meant that he had to pull in.

Even that wasn't without controversy, though, as his car was stalled by NASCAR officials for two laps because he should have come in earlier.

His decision to stumble on meant a caution flag was pulled out with ten laps to go, and with Busch and Earnhardt Jr battering each other a crash looked on the cards.

"It was pretty wild out there. It was bound to happen. I was watching it and (owner Richard Childress) was on the radio saying, 'It's going to happen,' and sure enough it did happen,"said Bowyer.

Following Bowyer in the top ten was Busch, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne.

Earnhardt managed a 15th placed finish while Hamlin was credited with 24th spot - although he also gained ten extra points for leading a lap and leading the most laps.