Sports / Motor Racing |
Gordon gets first win at Phoenix(Reuters)Updated: 2007-04-23 09:01 Jeff Gordon pushed his way past Tony Stewart on lap 300 and held on to win his first NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the Phoenix one mile oval on Saturday. Four-times NASCAR champion Gordon became the first driver to win from pole position at the track. It also reduces to two the number of active tracks where he has not had a victory -- Texas and Miami Homestead speedway. "I can't believe we finally won in Phoenix," Gordon said. "It means the world to me, just to get a win at a track we never won before. We didn't lead a ton, but we had a good car." With the victory, Gordon's 76th, he ties the late Dale Earnhardt for sixth place in the all-time win list. Stewart took second, Denny Hamlin finished third and Jimmie Johnson was fourth as Chevrolet swept the first four places. A crash on lap 283 changed the complexion of the race. Stewart had a 1.26 second lead when some backmarkers collided at the pit entrance just when the leaders were in the final pit cycle. Gordon, who had the first pit box, was able to complete his final service and not lose track position. "We got lucky getting on pit road when that caution came out," he said.
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