LOUDON, N.H., July 17 (UPI) -- Tony Stewart led 232 of 300 laps Sunday and captured the New England 300 at the New Hampshire International Speedway.
His No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet crossed the finish line 0.851 seconds ahead of defending champion Kurt Busch.
The victory was Stewart's third of the season and 22nd of his Nextel Cup career.
Pole-winner Brian Vickers and Kasey Kahne led the way at the start of the race. Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Joe Nemechek all moved up in the field.
Bobby Labonte, Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle completed the top-five. Last week's winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished 12th.
Nextel points leader Jimmy Johnson finished 13th and maintained a 77-point margin over Greg Biffle (2,672-2,595). The win puts Stewart within 85 points of the leader.
The next scheduled event is July 24 at the Pocono Raceway.
