16. Kyle Busch wins Coke Zero at Daytona International Speedway

Courtesy photo. Kyle Busch bests Carl Edwards to take the 2008 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- After finishing second twice two previous times, Kyle Busch finally won the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, eking out Carl Edwards to victory under a checkered-caution ending in the July 5 race flag under the lights.

Busch, racing for Joe Gibbs, also claimed his sixth victory of the 2008 season with the win at Daytona, which was also the 50th annual summer race here.

The 10th caution sent the race went to a green-white-checker finish with four laps remaining, with Busch was just ahead of Carl Edwards.

“I did see the yellow light come on,” Busch said. “I could barely see the nose of the 99 car up my right front fender. I was hoping we were the winners and it ended up being that way.” The mid-summer classic produced 21 lead changes at the start/finish line and 49 green flag passes for the lead according to the Loop Data gathering, the speedway said in a press release.

Matt Kenseth finished third, followed by Kurt Busch, David Ragan, Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin rounding out the top 10.