On lap 181, McMurray was leading a single-file line of cars on the outside lanes, duelling with the drafting pair of Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. On lap 182, the sixth caution came out for a three car crash in the tri-oval. It started when Jimmie Johnson blocked Jeff Gordon in turn 3, forcing Gordon onto the apron, which bunched up a number of cars, causing Jeff Burton to slow down, at which point Burton was pushed into the SAFER barrier in the tri-oval by Kasey Kahne, taking Gordon and Scott Speed with him as his car came back across the track.
