Concord, N.C. ? Mike Bliss used a gutsy three-wide pass to take the lead, then held off a charging Matt Kenseth over the final few laps to win his first Busch series race Friday night.

Bliss sat back and watched a side-by-side battle between Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson when the SpongeBob 300 restarted with 19 laps to go at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. As Kenseth and Johnson fought for the lead, Bliss pulled up next to them and coasted by in a three-wide pass coming out of turn 4. He drove away to a sizable lead as Kenseth and Johnson continued to waste time racing each other.

Bliss would have coasted to victory, but Dave Blaney wrecked 14 laps from the finish to bring out a record-tying 12th caution.

The race restarted with 11 laps to go with Bliss leading, Kenseth second and Johnson in third. The three fanned out in a single file line and Bliss held off Kenseth over the final two laps for his first Busch series victory in 70 tries.

“I didn’t care about second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth,” he said. “I wanted to win. I just drove my heart out.”

The victory was special for Bliss, who currently drives for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Busch series, but has been told he won’t be back next season.

Kenseth, who finished second, saluted Bliss’ effort and pass for the lead.

“I was doing everything I could to hold off Jimmie, and Mike just drove by us down the frontstretch,” Kenseth said. “I know he’s looking for next year so this a great win. He earned it.”

Johnson, making his first Busch series start since 2001, finished third.