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Gordon edges over Labonte to win Virginia 500
Virginia, Apr 14: Jeff Gordon edged out Bobby Labonte on the 487th lap for his first Nascar win of the year with victory in the Virginia 500 on Sunday. The pair had been nose-to-tail since they went clear after a restart with 48 laps to go, but Gordon`s efforts to pass were blocked by Labonte until Gordon made the breakthrough with 13 laps remaining.
Virginia, Apr 14: Jeff Gordon edged out Bobby Labonte on the 487th lap for his first Nascar win of the year with victory in the Virginia 500 on Sunday. The pair had been nose-to-tail since they went clear after a restart with 48 laps to go, but Gordon's efforts to pass were blocked by Labonte until Gordon made the breakthrough with 13 laps remaining.
"Bobby and I were having a lot of fun there at the end, bumping and rubbing," said Gordon. "He was doing everything he could. I didn't want to knock him out of the way too hard, but I did push him around a little."
After a caution ended with eight laps to go, Gordon easily pulled away from the field, proving he had the strongest car. Labonte, who won this race last year, held on for second.
"We held Jeff off as long as we could," Labonte said. "That was hard racing and good clean fun!"
Early leader Dale Earnhardt Jr finished third, giving Chevrolet the top three spots in the field. Ford drivers Jeff Burton and Elliott Sadler were fourth and fifth and series champion Tony Stewart was sixth in his Chevy.
Bureau Report
"Bobby and I were having a lot of fun there at the end, bumping and rubbing," said Gordon. "He was doing everything he could. I didn't want to knock him out of the way too hard, but I did push him around a little."
After a caution ended with eight laps to go, Gordon easily pulled away from the field, proving he had the strongest car. Labonte, who won this race last year, held on for second.
"We held Jeff off as long as we could," Labonte said. "That was hard racing and good clean fun!"
Early leader Dale Earnhardt Jr finished third, giving Chevrolet the top three spots in the field. Ford drivers Jeff Burton and Elliott Sadler were fourth and fifth and series champion Tony Stewart was sixth in his Chevy.
Bureau Report