Fresh Tires Work for Gordon

Eight days after making a losing call, Jeff Gordon’s crew redeemed themselves with a winning one in NASCAR’s longest race.

Giving their driver four fresh tires while the rest of the leaders gambled on two during the final pit stop, Gordon’s crew set up their driver to charge through the pack and win a 16-lap sprint to the finish in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night.

Gordon’s 32nd career Winston Cup victory and his third in the Coca-Cola 600 broke up strong bids by Rusty Wallace and Bobby Labonte to collect a $1-million bonus from the series sponsor.

Wallace, who finished second, and Labonte, who came in third, were two of five drivers eligible for the bonus by virtue of their top-five finish in the circuit’s first so-called No Bull 5 race, the season-opening Daytona 500.