Carl Edwards came into the 5-Hour Energy 500 with a 40 point lead on Jimmie Johnson - a difference of 40 positions with NASCAR's new point system.
He'll likely retain the lead, but it will be significantly shorter. The driver of the No. 99 Ford is in the garage area with apparent engine troubles. Edwards has not had a DNF since crashing at Texas last April. Johnson currently runs fifth.
Denny Hamlin has dominated the race so far, leading all but four laps thus far. Kurt Busch held the lead for the opening circuit, while Scott Wimmer and Jimmie Johnson each led during cycles of pit stops. Hamlin currently has a lead of just over 2.5 seconds over Montoya as another cycle of green flag pit stops commences.
NASCAR put a stop to the antics of Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch, telling them to "just race." Busch and crew chief Dave Rogers took exception to that, according to audio played by TNT, as Harvick had been the aggressor for most of their "incidents" in the race's early stages.