Before the race, most drivers complained about a loose condition, possibly due to the drastic temperature change from their last practice session on Friday. 

Much to the surprise of fans and fellow drivers, Jimmie Johnson could be seen suiting up to run in the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. “The goal of today is to get some seat time. This gives me a chance to find my marks for tomorrow’s race” said Johnson in a pre-race interview on the pit lane.

Ambrose commented that his car was not very good in qualifying but hoped that the car would come to him in the later stages of the race. 

Mike Wallace, Sam Hornish Jr., and Chris Cook were all sent to the rear of the field before the drop of the green flag for unapproved impound adjustments.

Lap 1- Dario Franchitti leads Robby Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson into turn 1 and the field gets through clean.

On lap 3, Jeff Burton spins into the gravel trap at the entrance of the inner loop directly in front of eventual  race winner Marcos Ambrose.

Kyle Busch passes Ryan Newman on lap 11 in the carousel turn to take over the 4^th position. Meanwhile, the #29 of Jeff Burton moves from 36^th to 29^th.

The caution is posted for the first time on lap 13, as Burton tags Wheeler Boys in turn 10 sending him into the inside retaining wall. The #29 has minimal damage to the right front. Denny Hamlin, Marcos Ambrose, Dario Franchitti, Ryan Newman all come to pit road for four tires and fuel.  Kyle Busch in the #92 Zippo Blue machine stays on the circuit to gain the lead. Road course specialists Boris Said and Robby Gordon both receive penalties for exiting the pit lane too quick.

The green flag comes back out on lap 16 with Kyle Busch in the lead over Jason Leffler, Max Papis, and Sam Hornish Jr.

On the restart the 27 car of Brad Coleman runs up the rear end of Mike Bliss’s Chevrolet sending his car airborne across the line. Patrick Carpentier also sustains some damage to the right rear of his Dodge Charger.  In turn 1 the 88 of Brad Keselowski hits Denny Hamlin, sending Hamlin spinning.

Caution flag number 2 is posted on lap 17 due to debris on the front stretch from the #1.

When the green comes back out, Kyle Busch is still the race leader with Leffler and Burton trailing.

Contact between Steven Wallace and P.J. Jones attracts the attention of NASCAR officials and both are warned, the 81 is sent to the rear of the field for aggressive driving. 

After a pit on lap 42, Jimmy Johnson is sent to the rear for exiting the pit lane too quickly. 

Franchitti Regains the lead through pit strategy on lap 42 with Newman, Ambrose, and Dale Jr. trailing.

On lap 54 Carl Edwards Dives under Clint Bowyer in turn 1 and the two make contact, sending both cars off the course.  Later that lap, Kyle Bush tags Matt Kenseth in turn 9, Busch makes the pass down the short chute and moves into 2^nd.

On lap 57, the #55 of Robby Gordon is brought down the pit lane with a water temperature over 250 degrees. The 55 was seen running consistently in the top 10 all day.

Under green on lap 61, Kyle Busch running 2^nd runs underneath the leader, Jeff Burton n turn 11 sending both cars for a 360 degree spin. Both cars are undamaged and Busch retains the lead.

Around lap 70 both the Leader (Burton) and second place Jimmie Johnson are questionable whether they can make it the full length on fuel.

On lap 78, Johnson  slows down the short chute and is out of fuel.

With 4 laps to go, leader Jeff Burton runs out entering turn number 10. Marcos Ambrose takes the lead over the #92 of Kyle Busch by 3.286 seconds.

Checkered flag flies over the #59 STP Ford of Marcos Ambrose winning the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International.

Second is Kyle Busch, Third Matt Kenseth, Fourth Kevin Harvick, and Dario Franchitti rounds out the top 5.