Rain delays are something that Nascar fans hate. I’ve been there. But every once in a while, a rain delay will set up a fantastic race. Such was the case in this year’s Food City 500. Not only was the race held under the lights, but a spectacular finish unfolded, with beating, banging, and wrecking happening all the while.

The race began with Matt Kenseth on the pole, but he was quickly overtaken by this two drivers, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch. These two drivers have had the some of the fastest cars all year, and neither was planning to slow down in this race. The race was just 19 laps into the going when the first caution came out, taking two top drivers with it. Brad Keslowski and Joey Logano, teammates at Penske Racing, were running into turn four when Brad spun, and collected Joey in the process.

The race didn’t resume for another seven hours. Rain started falling after the caution came out, and for hours the teams sat, waiting for the rain to cease. It finally stopped, right about when people where finishing dinner. Before the caution, driver Denny Hamlin suffered a neck spasm. He sat out the remainder of the race, and was replaced by Truck Series driver Eric Jones.

When the race began the Sun was setting. Bristol has lights for a night race, so that is what this race became. A classic night race at Bristol. Throughout the race there were multiple wrecks, but one wreck that happened after the midway point really shook things up. Jimmie Johnson, who was mired a lap down, was impatiently racing rookie Jeb Burton and finally wrecked him. In the process two other drivers were wrecked out of contention. David Ragan, and the races top lap leader Kevin Harvick. Kevin had nowhere to go to avoid Ragan, and slammed into the no. 18 car.

With Harvick gone, the race was totally different. For once, it appeared that the seasons dominate drivers, Logano, Keslowski, Johnson, and Harvick, were not there to steal the show. And even though Jimmie was still on the lead lap, his damage seemed to be enough to keep him out of contention.

The race was fast paced, with cautions coming and going. However, leaders came and went to. Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards wrecked with only 25 laps left. Jamie McMurray, who had been having a solid run, was taken out of contention by a blown tire. So when a late caution set up a green-whit-checkered finish, here are the top five drivers. Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Tony Stewart.  Ricky Stenhouse Jr.? Tony Stewart? Jimmie Johnson? How did they get up there? That is an excellent question. They were just in the right place at the right time.

As the green flag flew Kenseth shot ahead, quickly followed by Johnson and Gordon. Jimmie cleared Jeff coming to the white flag, and as they entered turn two he put every once of energy he had into trying to pass Kenseth. However, Matt had a determination that none of the other two had. He hadn’t won in 51 races. As they entered the final corner Matt pushed ahead of the two teammates trailing him, and crossed the finish line first.Jeff nearly wrecked Jimmie trying to pass him, but Johnson held on for second. Also, when all the drivers crossed the finish line, a new record had been set. Danica Patrick, who finished ninth, had just set the record for the most top tens for a woman in Sprint Cup Series history. So far she has six, but she will undoubtedly claim more. And soon.