"We finally get one, we finally get one,'' Busch said. "It means a lot.'' Busch celebrated the win and then joined 19 other drivers in retreating to their motorhomes to rest up for the Nextel Cup event scheduled about nine hours later -- a rare day-night doubleheader created when rain washed out the Busch race Friday night.

NASCAR officials reviewed the move, but decided not to penalize Busch. They warned him, though, telling him not to do it again.

Busch obliged and picked up his eighth career series win, his first since March 26, 2006 at Bristol -- ending a 36-race drought.

"If we can't get the job done, I don't think anybody can,'' Busch said.

Busch, who will lose his Nextel Cup ride with Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this season to make room for Earnhardt, has become NASCAR's top free agent, and his victory at Daytona could make him even more sought after.

He could have won both races here in February.

Busch dominated the early part of the last Busch race at Daytona, leading 46 laps before a fuel pressure problem ended his day.

He was strong again in the Cup race the following day, but then caused a massive wreck on the final lap that helped Harvick edge Mark Martin at the finish line.

Several cars had a shot at Busch in the final laps Saturday, but no one had the speed to get by him.

Juan Montoya spun with two laps remaining, bringing out a caution, closing up the field and setting up a green-white-checkered finish.

But Busch was perfect on the restart, holding off Blaney and Stewart and making the final two laps look easy. Blaney also gave Toyota a second-place finish in the Busch race at Daytona in February.