Vocalist Catina Mack from Orlando performed the national anthem, and country music singer Dierks Bentley commanded the drivers to start their engines. During the pace laps, Burton fell to the rear of the field because he changed his car's engine, and Logano did the same for missing the mandatory pre-race drivers' meeting due to him participating in the track's ARCA Re/Max Series race, which ended later than scheduled. Menard held the lead going into the back stretch on lap one. On lap two, the top seven cars were in a single file until side-by-side racing began at the conclusion of the lap. Hamlin received assistance from Sadler to pass Menard for the lead on the third lap. On lap four, Earnhardt turned left to overtake Hamlin and move into first place. On the next lap, Ragan appeared to slow behind Johnson; Robby Gordon made contact with his rear, sending him into the right-hand barrier. Speed, Logano and Mears were collected, causing the first caution. Biffle's car sustained minor cosmetic damage as the involved cars slid down the track, and Jeff Gordon avoided the multi-car accident. Logano and Speed immediately retired from the race because of the significant damage to their cars. The race restarted on lap nine, with Earnhardt leading and Sadler in second. Three laps later, Sadler passed Earnhardt to retake the lead. He and Kurt Busch were first and second as the field began lap 13, but Stewart and Kahne moved into the first two positions exiting the first turn. Approaching the 14th lap Kahne slid up the circuit and narrowly avoided going into Hamlin's side, while Vickers and Harvick made contact with each other, but no caution was needed in both cases. On lap 17, Hamlin temporarily took the lead from Stewart, but it was Edwards who held the first position at the conclusion of the lap. Stremme separated the field into two with his advance through it. Harvick slowed because he was forced into the right-hand wall, removing his front left fender, and fell five seconds behind the pack. At the end of the 22nd lap, Hamlin slid and regained control of his car in the turn-four tri-oval. Hamlin turned left on the back straight leaving turn two, but he hit Reutimann, who then clipped the front-right quarter of Stremme's car, spinning both drivers into the grass in the field, and causing the second caution.