RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Matt Kenseth overcame two flat tires and a two-lap deficit Saturday night to win the NASCAR Winston Cup Chevy Monte Carlo 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
Kenseth's first flat tire on lap 67 dropped him two laps behind the leaders. But he passed rookie Ryan Newman on lap 293 and drove to his Winston Cup-leading fourth victory of the season and fifth of his career.
Newman settled for his fifth runner-up finish this year and gave Ford Taurus the top two spots. Jeff Green was third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Todd Bodine.
Series points leader Sterling Marlin was the first one out of the race after an accident on the ninth lap in which he suffered a chest contusion.
Coming off back-to-back wins, Jeff Gordon appeared on his way to taking the points lead but retired on lap 53 after his Chevrolet Monte Carlo developed camshaft problem. Gordon fell from second to fourth in the standings, 82 points behind Marlin.
Mark Martin closed within nine points of Marlin following a sixth-place finish. Rookie Jimmie Johnson started from the pole but finished 13th, improving two spots to third in the Winston Cup standings.
