Jeff Gordon broke a 66-race winless streak in convincing style leading the most laps and stopping the Kyle Busch express.
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| Photo: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR |
Kyle Busch, who won the Truck and Nationwide race in Phoenix, had a very strong car despite an early collision with pole sitter Carl Edwards.
Gordon’s joy at ending the drought was obvious as he radioed his crew “Damn, we just beat Kyle Busch!” Car owner Rick Hendrick said “it was like our first win.”
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| Photo: nascar.com |
With a 1.137 second margin of victory it was his 83rd NASCAR Sprint Cup win putting him tied for fifth on the all-time winner’s list (with Cale Yarborough) and first win with new crew chief Alan Gustafson.
He led six times for 138-laps taking the lead for good from Busch on lap 304. Jimmie Johnson, Gordon’s former garage-mate finished third. Kevin Harvick finished fourth.
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| Trevor Bayne hit the wall in Turn 1 on lap 50. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) |
