Jeff Gordon used the savvy of a veteran to make a late race pass on the leaders to win the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Speedway Sunday afternoon.

The race had been stopped with six laps remaining when the yellow flag came out, setting up a two-lap dash. When the green flag dropped, several cars were involved in an accident, giving the win to Gordon.

Jimmie Johnson finished second, Kurt Busch third, David Gilliland fourth and Jamie McMurray fifth.

With the win, Gordon passed the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. in career victories with 77.

Fans pelted Gordon's car with debris as he took the victory lap, prompting an early exit from the track to the winners circle.

Gordon has extended his points lead over Jeff Burton by 203 points. Matt Kenseth is third, 229 behind the leader.

The Nextel Cup Series travels to Richmond Raceway for a Saturday night race. The Crown Royal Jimmy Stewart 400 gets under way at 7 p.m. on the three-quarter mile D-Shaped Oval.

Lernerville SpeedwayThreatening skies resulted in a sparse crowd at the Action Track Friday night. The competition was hot and heavy, however.Kevin Schaeffer bested Brian Ellenberger and Ed Lynch Jr. in the Sprint feature. Sam Stile held off Alex Ferree to win the Late Model feature. Brian Swartzlander led wire-to-wire to pick up top honors in the Modified A-Main.Joe Kelley has returned to Pure Stock racing with a vengeance, leading all laps of the feature race. Kelley won six championships in the Pure Stock division from 1998 to 2004.Fab 4 racing is slated for Friday night. The World of Outlaws Sprint division is scheduled for May 15.

Tri-City SpeedwayTri-City opened the 2007 season Sunday evening with five divisions of race cars.Rod George, coming off a win Saturday at Mercer Raceway, took the lead on Lap 13 and cruised to his 41st career win in the Sprint feature at Tri-City. George is behind the wheel of the Dr. John Crawford III-owned sprinter. Crawford is known for providing his drivers with the best equipment.Jeremiah Shingledecker of Polk held off Kevin Bolland to win the Big Block Modified feature.Shawn Shingledecker won the E-Mod A-Main, Rod Laskey of Seneca, Pa., came home the winner in the Pro Stock class and Charlie McMillen, an Oil City native, took top honors in the Thundercars feature race.

Inside the Loops• Robbie Blair won the 50-lap feature Spring Fest special at Challenger Raceway Saturday evening, picking up $5,000 for his effort. Davey Johnson was second, Alex Ferree third, Steve Casebolt fourth and Justin Rattliff fifth.• Rod George and Ed Lynch Jr. battled to the wire in the Sprint feature at Mercer Saturday night before George prevailed to notch his eighth career win at the track.• Both Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway and Roaring Knob were rained out Saturday. Both tracks have a full card slated for this weekend.• Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, sustained heave damage from a fire last Saturday night and will be closed at least two months for repairs. The fire destroyed the concession stand, office complex and the electrical system.Jim Lokhaiser is the racing columnist for the Butler Eagle.