Points Leader Gordon Dominates MBNA 500

Jeff Gordon led 400 of 500 laps, including the final 198, on the way to an easy victory Sunday in the MBNA 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Del. Gordon has finished in the top 10 in his last 12 races.

Gordon’s only challenge in the race on the one-mile concrete oval came from Bobby Hamilton, who came up short by 2.34 seconds--about 10 car-lengths--but did give car owner Richard Petty the team’s best finish since Petty himself drove to a second place in 1987.

Dale Earnhardt, who came into the 25th event of the 31-race season trailing Gordon by 279 points in the Winston Cup standings, finished fifth, but lost another 30 points.

Rusty Wallace, who had to start from the back of the field after wrecking his primary car Saturday in practice, drove his backup Ford Thunderbird to third place, followed by the Chevys of Joe Nemechek, Earnhardt and Sterling Marlin, the only other drivers on the lead lap.

Gordon, who started alongside pole-winner Rick Mast, took the lead on lap three and dominated through the first 200 laps of the grueling race.

Then Hamilton chased down Gordon and took the lead on lap 217. It was a battle between those two most of the way.

Hamilton mounted a strong challenge after a restart on lap 424, getting the nose of his Pontiac Grand Prix ahead of Gordon’s Chevy for a moment before Gordon, who led the final 198 laps, resumed control. There were no more challenges.