DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Kyle Busch eked out a close win over Tony Stewart Saturday, overcoming two near-crashes to claim the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.
Busch pulled off an amazing recovery after being nudged by Jimmie Johnson midway through the race and also survived a multicar crash in the late going that forced a green-white-checkered finish.
He passed Stewart on the final turn of the last lap, finishing 0.01 seconds in front to take the preseason Sprint Cup tuneup contest.
Among the race's three crashes was one in which Jeff Gordon flipped upside down and slid hundreds of feet before emerging from the wreck unhurt.
Marcos Ambrose claimed third place and Shootout newcomer Brad Keselowski placed fourth.
Denny Hamlin rounded out the Top 5.
