MARTINSVILLE, Va., April 13 (UPI) -- Pole-sitter Jeff Gordon tapped Bobby Labonte and took the lead with 14 laps remaining Sunday and recorded his first win of the Winston Cup season at the NASCAR Virginia 500.
Driving a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Gordon nudged Labonte's Chevrolet to move inside for the final lead change. He held on for his fourth win at Martinsville Speedway and the 62nd of his career.
The race ended under caution after Kurt Busch crashed with three laps to go.
Gordon, Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. exchanged the lead in the latter part of the 500-lap race. Labonte, who started 39th with a provisional spot, finished second and Earnhardt made it a top-three sweep for Chevrolet.
It was the third straight top-five finish at this .526-mile track for Earnhardt, who led 195 laps. Gordon was in front for 190.
Jeff Burton was fourth in a Ford Taurus for his first top-five of the season and Elliott Sadler took fifth after defending Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart sustained a flat left rear tire before the yellow flag came out.
Only 12 cars finished on the lead lap.
