Gordon masters Martinsville again
Jeff Gordon proved he is the master of Martinsville Speedway, taking his second win of two races this season at the oldest and shortest NASCAR track
Gordon held off in the final stage of the 500-lap race some fierce competition from points leader Tony Stewart, who dominated the first half of the race and led a total of 283 laps.
But Stewart's second place finish, along with his laps lead, were enough to place him along at the top of the standings, after he held a tie total of points with Jimmie Johnson prior to this round.
Johnson, who finished today's race in third, remained in second place, only 15 points behind Stewart.
With only four races left in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, the battle at the top of the standings remains tight, as all of the ten runners remain in contention for the title.
But the Martinsville race was a disappointment to Chase runners Carl Edwards, Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace. Edwards finished 26th, Martin 34th and Wallace crashed out of the race while running fifth. He was classified as 19th.
But the race was all about Gordon's mastery of the half-mile tight oval, as the four-time NASCAR Champion - who is outside of the Chase for the Cup this season - assumed the lead on lap 343 with a smart gamble not to pit while others elected to stop during the 23th caution of thew race.
With Stewart behind him, expecting Gordon to pit, the latter continued setting faster pace than the former, despite Gordon's tyres having run 50 laps more than Stewart's.
Later, at Victory Lane, Gordon dedicated his 73rd career win to the ten killed one year ago, when a Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed on its way to Martinsville.
Pos Driver Make Laps 1. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 500 2. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 500 3. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 500 4. Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 500 5. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 500 6. Kurt Busch Ford 500 7. Jamie McMurray Dodge 500 8. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 500 9. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 500 10. Ryan Newman Dodge 500 11. Ricky Rudd Ford 500 12. Matt Kenseth Ford 500 13. Ken Schrader Dodge 500 14. Kyle Petty Dodge 500 15. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 500 16. Dave Blaney Chevrolet 500 17. Kasey Kahne Dodge 500 18. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 500 19. Rusty Wallace Dodge 500 20. Greg Biffle Ford 500 21. Travis Kvapil Dodge 500 22. Casey Mears Dodge 499 23. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 499 24. Scott Riggs Chevrolet 499 25. Scott Wimmer Dodge 499 26. Carl Edwards Ford 499 27. Michael Waltrip Chevrolet 498 28. Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 497 29. Elliott Sadler Ford 497 30. Bobby Hamilton Jr. Chevrolet 494 31. Dale Jarrett Ford 492 32. Hermie Sadler Ford 489 33. Derrike Cope Chevrolet 488 34. Mark Martin Ford 468 35. Mike Wallace Chevrolet 448 36. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 425 37. Jeff Green Dodge 409 38. Sterling Marlin Dodge 370 39. Bobby Hamilton Dodge 339 40. Jimmy Spencer Dodge 235 41. Mike Bliss Chevrolet 173 42. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 115 43. Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 110 Chase for the Cup - standings: Pos Driver Points Change 1. Tony Stewart 5957 = 2. Jimmie Johnson 5942 -1 3. Ryan Newman 5894 +1 4. Greg Biffle 5874 -1 5. Carl Edwards 5808 +1 6. Rusty Wallace 5791 +1 7. Mark Martin 5787 -2 8. Kurt Busch 5785 +2 9. Matt Kenseth 5785 = 10. Jeremy Mayfield 5741 -2
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