Gordon’s 50th Win Is Sweet

Jeff Gordon showed that he’s still a force to be reckoned with Sunday, winning the DieHard 500 at Talladega, Ala.

It was Gordon’s 50th NASCAR Winston Cup victory but first since October.

Gordon took the lead with five laps to go in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo and edged Mike Skinner by about two car lengths.

Gordon became the ninth different winner in as many Winston Cup races this year.

In victory lane, Gordon, who was mired in a 13-race losing streak, looked as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He high-fived crew members and was doused with champagne by crew chief Robbie Loomis.

“It was emotional for us,” Gordon said. “I know it hadn’t been forever, but it had been a while. I know how hard we’ve worked and we’ve had to listen to a lot of things, a lot of criticism. That’s tough. It does take a toll on you.”

Gordon, booed when he dominated the Winston Cup circuit, heard nothing but cheers this time. On his way to the postrace news conference, his car was surrounded by hundreds of fans.

“Everybody likes a winner,” Gordon said. “But no one likes someone who wins too much. I understand that.”

Dale Earnhardt tried to get into the mix on the final lap of the 2.66-mile track. But he drifted high in turn four while Gordon pulled away from Skinner for a 0.189-second victory.

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Bob Gilbertson, Larry Dixon, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Randy Daniels won their divisions in the O’Reilly Nationals at Baytown, Texas, the fifth of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Gilbertson got his first Funny Car victory of the season, beating Jerry Toliver in the final with a quarter-mile run of 5.067 seconds with a top speed of 304.25 mph.

Dixon got his first Top Fuel victory, driving his Don Prudhomme-owned Miller Lite dragster to a pass of 4.665 seconds at 316.90 mph to hold off Tony Schumacher.

Coughlin won his fourth Pro Stock title of the year, defeating Jim Yates with a run of 6.905 seconds at 199.29 mph.

Daniels won his second Pro Stock Truck race of the year, beating Bob Panella with a run of 7.538 seconds at 179.59 mph.