LOUDON, N.H., Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Clint Bowyer broke an 88-race winless streak Sunday, claiming a victory at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.
It was especially good timing for Bowyer because New Hampshire is the first event in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
Bowyer was running second to Tony Stewart when Stewart ran out of gas with less than two laps to go. He took advantage of that miscue to gain the lead and finished 0.48 seconds ahead of Denny Hamlin, notching his first win since May 2008 at Richmond, Va.
Hamlin retained the Sprint Cup points lead with the second-place finish, posting a 35-point advantage over Bowyer.
Finishing third was Jamie McMurray, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick followed to round out the top five.
Stewart ended up finishing 24th, one ahead of four-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson.
