Nemechek wins Pontiac Excitement 400.

Joe Nemechek notched the third win of Winston Cup career by guiding the #25 Hendrick Motorsport's Chevy to victory lane in the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

Along with Robby Gordon, who lost several laps early on in the evening, Nemechek - who had survived and earlier pit-scare when he missed a call from his crew chief - gambled for victory by staying out during a caution with 100 of the scheduled 400 laps to go. When the race went back to green, the UAW/Delphi car was fifth in line, but with those that had stopped for fuel and tyres all queuing anxiously for a shot at the lead.

Nemechek decided not to wait for the scrap and, on lap 331, passed Gordon for the lead, before attempting to pull away. He had built an advantage of almost two seconds over the field - and was still inching away - when Dale Jarrett crashed out on lap 363, bringing out the yellow flags and scratching the gap once more.

Despite the pressure from behind, however, Nemechek somehow held onto his lead through three more restarts, taking advantage of a growing scrap for second as Bobby Labonte gradually reeled in crowd favourite Dale Earnhardt Jr. With the second and third placed cars otherwise engaged, Nemechek was able to inch away again, and was then rewarded for his endeavours when the races was flagged to a close seven laps short of the 400.

Labonte managed to find away past Earnhardt before the chequer appeared, leaving the Bud car to fend off Gordon for the final podium spot. Points leader Matt Kenseth was seventh in the DeWalt Ford.

Full report and results to follow....

Leading finishers - Pontiac Excitement 400:

1. Joe Nemechek UAW/Delphi Chevrolet
2. Bobby Labonte Interstate Batteries Chevrolet
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr Budweiser Chevrolet
4. Robby Gordon Cingular Wireless Chevrolet
5. Mark Martin Viagra Ford
6. Kevin Harvick GM Goodwrench Chevrolet
7. Matt Kenseth DeWalt Ford
8. Kurt Busch Rubbermaid Ford
9. Jeff Burton CITGO Ford
10. Rusty Wallace Miller Lite Dodge