Motor Racing

Harry Gant took advantage of pole-sitter Davey Allison’s self-inflicted woes to win the Southern 500 at Darlington, S.C., extending his own mark as the oldest driver to win a NASCAR Winston Cup race.

Gant, 51, driving an Oldsmobile, took the lead on Lap 298 of the 367-lap race after a caution period and coasted to an 11.05-second victory over Ernie Irvan’s Chevrolet.

Gant averaged 133.508 m.p.h. and earned $179,450 for the 13th victory of his career and fourth at Darlington.

Allison, who wound up 12th, led 151 laps, including 88 of the first 133. He was leading when he bumped Michael Waltrip in the rear on the 297th lap, sending Waltrip spinning in Turn 2.

That brought out a caution flag, and Allison and Gant headed to the pits. Gant was in and out quickly, but Allison wasn’t. His crew had to open the hood on his Ford to secure a motor mount and the air cleaner. Then Allison was slapped with a 15-second penalty for eight men over the pit wall--one more than allowed.