Monitoring a dwindling fuel tank and powerful cars in his rearview mirror, Kurt Busch held off Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski for his first win of the 2016 season in Monday's Axalta 'We Paint Winners' 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Busch took the lead at Lap 128 and immediately began playing a fuel-milege game -- holding in his clutch throughout the turns to save fuel -- as all the leaders worked to conserve fuel.
"It's going to be a game over who can go the fastest and save the most," No. 24 crew chief Alan Gustafson said via in-car radio around Lap 134 of 160.
Earnhardt stretched his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet across the start/finish line for a runner-up spot, while polesitter Keselowski passed rookie Chase Elliott in the final 20 laps for third in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford. Elliott, who led 51 laps, finished fourth, while Joey Logano rounded out the top five in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford.
Keselowski ran into trouble early at The Tricky Triangle: The No. 2 Team Penske Ford was black-flagged at Lap 24 for unapproved body adjustments and thus, was forced to pit under caution and serve a pass-through penalty under green. The penalty caused Keselowski to drop back to 38th in the field.
WATCH: Keselowski forced to pit for body modifications
Keselowski's teammate and outside polesitter Logano also encountered hurdles early in the 400-miler, as Ryan Newman hit the No. 22 from behind several times, crunching in Logano's bumper and causing him to fall back in the field momentarily.
WATCH: Newman bumps Logano out of the way
Tony Stewart's day at The Tricky Triangle ended prematurely, as the No. 14 got loose at Lap 92, hit the wall and teammate Danica Patrick, who then collided with Landon Cassill. Stewart returned to the track after a trip to the garage, finishing 34th.
RELATED: Stewart, Danica wreck at Pocono
The Sprint Cup Series returns to the track next weekend at Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400 (June 12, 1 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
