Talladega Race Report FINAL RESULTS: 1. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet 2. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 3. Dave Blaney, Toyota 4. Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet 5. Ryan Newman, Dodge 28. Kyle Petty, #45 Marathon Dodge 35. Bobby Labonte, #43 Pillsbury Dodge OVERVIEW: Bobby Labonte and the #43 Pillsbury Dodge team started Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway in the eighth position, but by lap two was leading 42 other drivers to the line. Labonte showed his strength early by showing the field he could lead at ease. In fact, Labonte and the #43 Pillsbury Dodge team were at the front two more times leading a total of three laps in Sunday’s race. Labonte ran in the top 10 for the majority of the time all day. He fell back when the situation looked bleak, but otherwise was one of the strongest cars on the track. For Labonte and the team, the day turned sour when they were involved in an 11 car accident on lap 146. Labonte was running in the top 10 when the accident happened. It ended the team’s day. Labonte remains 18th in driver points. “It surprised me (about the start of the accident),” said Labonte. “We didn’t have trouble all day so I’m not sure really what happened. The rear tires are up. There was no issue all day with anything. So, no, I’m not sure what happened. I went into the corner and the back went out from under it. We had a good car and I hate that it happened.” In April it was Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson pushing each other on the final lap. That day Gordon won. Sunday afternoon he beat Johnson again sweeping the Talladega Superspeedway events in 2007. Gordon’s win helps him in his pursuit for the championship. He is now leading the chase by nine points over Johnson. It’s Gordon’s 12th career win with a restrictor plate on his car. Sunday’s race was full of unknowns. It was the first with the Car of Tomorrow using a restrictor plate on a superspeedway. The race was full of anticipation as teams and drivers guessed what the makeup of the race might look like. As it turned out, it was more single-file racing at Talladega than seen in many years. “When I was behind Dale Jr.," said Labonte. "It was just go single file and make it to the end of the race. That is what it is all about. All the cars are so equal you can’t really do anything so you just settle in and go single file.” Drivers lined up single-file and followed each other until the 100-lap mark when guys started making their moves. The cars still put on a great show, racing three and four-wide at ease. The major difference, however, was the cars needing a major bump or push from another driver to overtake someone. In the end, the Dodge drivers of Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Elliott Sadler and Juan Montoya all formed one line while the Chevrolets of Gordon, Johnson, Hamlin, and Tony Stewart formed another. They shook up in the final three laps, but Johnson and Gordon never lost control of the front spots. Gordon, who hadn’t led a lap all day, got a push to lead the only lap he needed to win. Petty Enterprises had two very strong cars on Sunday. In April both entries finished in the top 20. Sunday, the team looked as if top-10 runs were nearly guaranteed. Both Petty and Labonte were strong all day and just waiting to make their moves in the final laps. Unfortunately both cars ended their day in the garage. Kyle Petty and the #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge team started Sunday’s race in the 12th position. Petty waited until lap 100 before making a charge back to the front. By lap 100 he was 23rd after sitting back to avoid any potential problems in front of him. He was 13th on lap 150 with only 33 laps to go. Petty was looking strong and was preparing for that final 10 lap charge before a cut tire ended his day. Petty’s Dodge slammed the wall on lap 163 in Turn Three. He was unhurt in the crash, but it ended the team’s day. Petty finished 28. They remained 34th in owner points. “We had trouble all day with the tires,” said Petty. “I had sets that weren’t in balance. I hate what happened with Dale Jarrett out there. You just can’t see out of the back of these cars. I apologize for having that happen.” The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series heads to the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord (N.C.) for Saturday night’s Bank of America 500. The race will be televised live by ABC and broadcast on PRN Radio.