Kurt Busch led a career-high 234 laps, but had to pass Carl Edwards for the top position on a green-white-checkered restart and then hold off a hard- charging Jeff Gordon on the final lap to capture his 19th career victory in the Sprint Cup Series and his second at the 1.54-mile track.

"This was an incredible race," Kurt Busch said. "Good things come to those who wait. We waited over a year and a half with this (Car of Tomorrow) to find a good package, and we have that to start off 2009."

Debris from Robby Gordon's blown tire set up the overtime finish. Kurt Busch ran in front when the 11th caution flag waved, but Edwards captured the lead after he took two tires and was the quickest off of pit road during the final round of stops.

Kurt Busch, the 2004 Cup Series champion, quickly chased down Edwards on the restart and then dove underneath him to take the lead for the final time. He then crossed the finish line 0.332 seconds ahead of Jeff Gordon.

"This DuPont Chevrolet team has been unbelievable this year," Jeff Gordon said. "The fire in their eyes and the things they've been working on back at the shop...these guys have been stepping it up."

Jeff Gordon has finished in the runner-up position for the second time in the last three races.

For the Busch brothers, it was back-to-back victories for the second year in a row. In 2008, Kurt won the rain-shortened race the last weekend in June at New Hampshire, his only one of the season, while Kyle scored the victory the following week at Daytona. The duo also won consecutive races in September 2005 at California and Richmond.

"That's neat," Kurt Busch said. "I got to hold my end of the bargain, because Kyle is on the gas right now. I got to thank guys like Carl Edwards for racing me clean at the end, and Jeff Gordon was strong all day. When you beat those two kind of guys here at Atlanta, especially on a day when it reminded you of Darlington, because this place will chew you up and spit you out, we had the handle."

Kurt Busch made slight contact with the wall twice throughout the race, but did not suffer any damage to his No.2 Dodge.

Edwards finished third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Brian Vickers.

Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. completed the top-10.

Truex turned in an impressive performance after he was treated at a local hospital Saturday for kidney stones. He passed the stone a few hours after his release from the hospital. NASCAR cleared him to race earlier Sunday.

Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon expanded his points lead to 43 over Bowyer, while Kurt Busch moved up four positions to third in points (-46). Edwards climbed five spots to fourth (-87).

After driving from the back of the field to win last week at Las Vegas, Kyle Busch struggled at Atlanta as he finished three laps behind in 18th. He is now seventh in point standings (-120).

Pole-sitter Mark Martin cut a right-rear tire and spun, with the back end of his car smacking the wall on lap 214. Martin sustained major rear sheet metal damage and spent 10 laps behind the wall. He finished 31st. Martin suffered engine failure the past two weeks at California and Las Vegas with a pair of 40th-place finishes.

In an another incident, Scott Speed got loose coming off of turn four on lap 267, as he made contact with David Ragan and slammed into the wall. Greg Biffle spun and also crashed after being caught up in the accident. Biffle ended up with a 34th-place finish.

Bobby Labonte and Travis Kvapil suffered engine failure in the early stages, as the Yates Racing teammates finished 40th and 42nd, respectively.

Last week, Roush Fenway Racing had its engine woes at Las Vegas as the motors expired in the Fords of Matt Kenseth, Ragan and Edwards during the 427-mile race there.

The series is off next weekend before heading to Bristol Motor Speedway for the March 22nd Food City 500.