RIDGEWAY, Va., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Jeff Gordon notched his first win of the year Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, while Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson tied for the Sprint Cup championship lead.
Gordon grabbed the lead from Kenseth with 12 laps left and held on for an 0.6-second triumph in the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.
The win was the 88th career Sprint Cup title for Gordon but his first since the 2012 event at Homestead. It was also his first win at Martinsville since 2005.
Kenseth used his second-place finish to forge a tie with Johnson atop the Chase standings with three races left. Each driver has 2,294 points.
Gordon vaulted from fifth to third, finishing the day 27 points behind the co-leaders.
Third place in Sunday's race went to Clint Bowyer while Brad Keselowski claimed fourth.
