Burton scored his first win at Bristol, the first win of the season for Chevrolet and led teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer across the finish line in the first podium sweep in RCR history.

In doing so, the team stole a race that was dominated by JGR drivers Tony Stewart, Hamlin and Kyle Busch. The trio combined to lead 372 of the 500 laps, but Hamlin's sixth-place finish was the best of the group.

Stewart led a race-high 267 laps -- 10 more than he did in this event last year -- but again fell short of the win. Mechanical problems ruined it for him last season, but it was questionable strategy and contact with Harvick that wrecked his chances this time around.

Stewart was chugging along toward the victory, trying to hold off the hard-charging Harvick and Hamlin, when Brian Vickers crashed to bring out a caution with 11 laps to go. Stewart thought he should pit for tires, but was overruled by crew chief Greg Zipadelli, who wasn't sure there were enough laps left to warrant changing the tires.

So Stewart stayed out -- along with Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- while everyone else on the lead lap headed to the pits. Zipadelli instantly questioned the call.

"I don't know if that was right or wrong," he radioed Stewart, "but it's in your hands now.''

Stewart jumped out to a huge lead on the restart with five laps to go, but Hamlin quickly chased him down and moved into first. Harvick, who restarted in fourth with fresh tires, also closed quickly on Stewart's bumper. But as he moved in for the pass, the cars made contact and Stewart went spinning into the wall.

"I just lost it there underneath of Tony. Just made a mistake," he said. "They can take it for what it's worth, and move on."

Stewart, who finished 14th, was livid on his radio after the accident but had calmed by the time he climbed from his car and was taking partial responsibility for the contact.

"I thought I left him enough room," Stewart said. "I'm sure somehow it was my fault. I'm sorry I got in his way."

Stewart's accident set up a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish, with Hamlin now out front and Burton in second. Burton raced past him on the high side of the bullring, and his teammates followed.

Busch, the series points leader and defending race winner, had a strong car most of the day but lost his power steering shortly after moving into the lead. Unable to steer the car as it seemed headed straight for the wall, he instead navigated it into a spin that allowed him to finish the race.

He wound up 17th, but retained his hold atop the standings. He now leads Greg Biffle by 30 points.

Dale Jarrett finished 37th in the final start in a points race of his 24-year career. The former series champion is retiring this season, and will race one last time in the all-star race in May.