Embattled Busch wins Sharpie 500

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Kurt Busch avoided any post-race punches, but was in the middle of the usual bumping and banging in yet another win at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

Busch, punched in the face by Jimmy Spencer after last week's race in Michigan, kept his head held high amid a flood of criticism from his competitors, raucous booing from the fans -- and of course, the chipped tooth and swollen nose Spencer gave him.

He instead put his focus on the Sharpie 500, running away from Kevin Harvick to score his fourth win of the season and third in the last four races at Bristol.

But it didn't come without controversy.

Busch spun-out Sterling Marlin midway through the race as he tried to pass Marlin for second place, and knew immediately it didn't help his cause.

"I look like an idiot again," he sighed.

Maybe so, but it didn't really matter how he looked once he got to Victory Lane.

"Kurt went through a tough week and he came out strong, he's a tough guy," crew chief Jimmy Fenning said.

Busch didn't celebrate with the usual doughnuts, instead simply driving the No. 97 Ford to Victory Lane, few smiles on his face.

If he heard the thundering boos showered on him from the crowd of 160,000, he didn't let on.

"This is by far the biggest win, this beats all of my wins," Busch said. "It is so sweet to come here with all of the things that dragged me down to get here."

Harvick finished second in a Chevrolet, never able to challenge Busch after he passed him for the lead 120 laps from the finish.

"I hate losing to Rubberhead," Harvick said, not bothering to mask his disdain for Busch.

Rookie Jamie McMurray was third in a Dodge, Winston Cup points leader Matt Kenseth was fourth in a Ford and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five in a Chevrolet.