Jarrett pips Rudd in Robert Yates one-two

Jarrett had been fifth, but falling off the leading pace when the caution flags flew for the 12th and final time and his crew chief Todd Parrott decided that win or bust, it was better to change all four tyres. It was a gamble which cost time in the pits, but would hopefully make it up - and more - on the track.


At the restart, with 88 laps to go, Jarrett was in the 12th spot, but managed to reel him in and pass under the Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus with seven laps to spare.

In the end, Jarrett's UPS Ford took the flag 1.091s to the good, landing his third win of the season, his second on the trot, and extending his Winston Cup points lead over pole-sitter Jeff Gordon, who dropped out of the top 10 in the closing stages.

"This is great, I've been racing here a long time," Jarrett said. "Todd Parrott made a great call to come in and change tyres.

"We were really struggling," he added. "It was pushing [understeering] in the centre of the corner and loose [oversteering] off. We knew we could come in and make it better - that's what makes Todd Parrot invaluable. But I hated it that it was Ricky I had to pass there at the end, because I know those guys need a win."

Rudd headed home another Virginian, Jeff Burton, whose Roush Racing Ford has not shown well so far this year, despite being tagged as a pre-season favourite.

Fourth was Bobby Hamilton's Chevrolet, ahead of Sterling Marlin's Dodge and another Roush Racing Ford, this time of Matt Kenseth.

The lead changed 15 times over the 500 laps, with 11 different drivers taking a turn at the front.

Click here for the race result.