Stewart grabs Atlanta spoils.

In the best race of the season thus far Tony Stewart opened his 2002 victory account as he led 143 of 325 laps to win the MBNA American 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

After dominating last weekend's race at Las Vegas only to miss out on a trip to victory lane, Tony Stewart and the Joe Gibbs Racing team made amends on Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway as the driver of the No.20 Home Depot Pontiac scored his first AMS win.

Stewart led the final 24 laps of the 325-lap event, as he held off Dale Earnhardt Jr in a 30-lap dash to the flag. Earnhardt Jr spent much of the final 30 laps glued to Stewart's rear bumper but did not have the front end to make a decisive move and eventually fell half a second back when the chequered flag fell.

The race was marred by seven caution periods but was run at a searing pace with several breathtaking battles for the lead. After rain on Saturday the 1.54-mile Atlanta circuit developed three distinct racing grooves early in proceedings and that meant the packed grandstands witnessed some of the best racing this season.

Jimmie Johnson provided his own share of highlights en-route to third place while Matt Kenseth went from last to first after changing an engine post-qualifying before finishing fourth. Ricky Craven was most impressive in the PPI Motorsports Ford and finished fifth.

MBNA America 500 - Leading finishers

1.Tony Stewart
2.Dale Earnhardt Jr
3.Jimmie Johnson
4.Matt Kenseth
5.Ricky Craven
6.Rusty Wallace
7.Ward Burton
8.Mark Martin
9.Sterling Marlin
10.Ryan Newman