LONG POND, Pa., June 12 (UPI) -- Jeff Gordon grabbed the lead with 41 laps remaining Sunday and hung on to claim the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway.
Gordon sped by Juan Pablo Montoya after a restart and didn't look back, taking the top spot for good after a round of green-flag pit stops with 20 laps to go for his 84th career win.
With the victory, Gordon tied Darrell Waltrip and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison for third on the Sprint Cup Series' all-time race winners list and greatly enhanced his chances to make this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
Second place went to Kurt Busch and third place went to Kyle Busch, while Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick rounded out the Top 5 finishers.
Carl Edwards, who wound up in 37th after engine trouble, saw his points lead over Johnson narrowed to just six points.
Sixth-place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr., meanwhile, moved to within 10 points of the lead.
