Highlights

Gordon wins his third NASCAR race of season

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-05-15 09:33

Jeff Gordon survived an overheating engine to win his third NASCAR race of the year at Darlington, South Carolina, on Sunday.

Points leader Gordon held off a late charge by Denny Hamlin to take the checkered flag. It was his third win in four races.

"I can't believe that thing lasted," Gordon told reporters after his 78th NASCAR career victory and seventh win at the historic Darlington Raceway.

"There's no way that thing should have ever made it," Gordon said of his engine, which spewed steam for the second half of the race.

Gordon got away from the field after a restart with 13 laps remaining.

Hamlin tried to chase down the fellow Chevrolet driver, making up two seconds of a three-second deficit, but he could not overtake Gordon.

Jimmie Johnson was third in another Chevrolet with Ryan Newman taking fourth in a Dodge.

Former Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya was 23rd in a Dodge. Rain forced postponement of the race on Saturday.