Race Review, Race 1 of the Chase for the Championship

Race review - Race 1 of the Chase for the Championship - Loudon, New Hampshire

Clint Bowyer won his first career race and he did it in convincing fashion beating Jeff Gordon by 6.5 seconds. He led six times for 222 of the 300 laps and with the race going green the last 109 laps, he lapped all but 16 cars. His best finish in 63 career starts had been third, on two occasions, and he led more laps today than he did previously in all those races combined. His best finish in three starts here had been 24th. Bowyer made the Chase with only two top five finishes, and now finds himself fourth in the standings.

Tony Stewart finished 3rd, two seconds behind Gordon. Stewart, Gordon and Newman led the restart at lap 73 after two-tire pit stops, but Bowyer passed Stewart for the lead on lap 107. Stewart's teammate J.J. Yeley finished 10th, but Denny Hamlin finished 15th and only ran in the top ten for nine laps.

Kyle Busch finished 4th, but he didn't get into the top ten until halfway thru the race. He credited his Crew Chief, Alan Gustofsen for getting him the lead for the restart on lap 167, but he was passed on lap 187 by Bowyer, who didn't have any threats from there.

Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson ran in the top ten the majority of the race and finished 5th and 6th.

Matt Kenseth started 30th, and was 22 seconds down in 28th place when the competition caution waved at lap 35, but somehow restarted in 9th. He finishing 7th by races end.

Casey Mears finished 8th, but didn't get into the top ten until the last third of the race. That put all four Hendrick drivers in the top eight.

Ryan Newman ran in the top ten all day and finished 9th. His last win was two years ago at this track.

J.J. Yeley finished 10th after running mid-pack the first half of the race.

The chase contenders finished in the first seven slots, Carl Edwards finished 12th, Hamlin 15th, Kevin Harvick 17th, Jeff Burton 18th and Kurt Busch 25th.

Kurt Busch was 2.5 seconds behind Bowyer at the first caution and he ran there for most of the first 100 laps, but around lap 110 he started having carburetor problems. No one had anything for Bowyer the whole race.