With battles growing through the field, the front leaders of Butler and Peters gain an even larger stretch on the field. Johnson, still not giving up, gains inches on the Pontiac of Sawyers through out the turns. The Timberwolf Ford waits for the Pontiac to slip up just once, to gain the fourth position. On lap 27, the Richmond Packaging Chevrolet of Oakley comes in to the pits, with a flat spotted right side. Once again, Johnson looks to the inside of Sawyers, but is not quite strong enough to pass the Pontiac.
Sellers watches the two behind in fifth.
Owen Miller, on lap 30, has smoke exiting the exhaust of his Sadler Auto Center Chevrolet. Miller reports to the pits for the rest of the day. The Timberwolf Ford tries once again to clench the third position on lap 33, when Johnson gets the run he needs to come door to door with Sawyers in one and two. A couple of laps later Johnson pushes Sawyers up the track in three and four. On lap 37, Johnson running side by side with Sawyers, gets sideways in the middle of three and four, causing Sellers to bring his Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet to a halt to avoid the action in front of him.