We all remember our first car, our first real date and the joy of finishing 12 years of school.

Martin Truex, Jr. can add the thrill of winning his first Nextel Cup race.

Truex won the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway Monday by a wide margin over Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth, who finished second through fifth, respectively.

Rain forced the Dover race to be moved from Sunday to Monday, but that didn't bother Truex, who predicted his win.

Truex notched the first victory for Dale Earnhardt Inc. since Dale Jr. won in the spring of 2006 at Richmond.

The Nextel Cup points standings changed very little. Jeff Gordon continues to lead the chase, and Jimmie Johnson is in the second slot, 152 points in back of Gordon. Matt Kenseth is third, 190 behind the leader, Denny Hamlin is fourth and Jeff Burton is fifth in the standings.

The Cup Series remains in the east with the running of the Pocono 500 at the Pocono Speedway Sunday afternoon.

Nextel Notes: The racing community learned of the death of NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. shortly before the start of the Dover race. France was credited with taking NASCAR from a southern states attraction to the heights it now enjoys. ... Tommy Baldwin Jr. will take over the crew chief responsibilities on the Dave Blaney car, replacing Kevin Hamlin.

The rain held off long enough Friday night to complete the race program.Kevin Bolland won the BRP Modified Tour 2007 feature, Dave Hess Jr. took home top honors in the Late Model division, and Bob Lipinski captured the Pure Stock A-Main.A regular Fab 4 race program is on tap Friday night. On June 15, the popular holiday fireworks display will be featured.The track is taking reservations for the two-day World of Outlaws Late Model show scheduled for June 29 and 30.

• Challenger Raceway, located in Indiana County, has a special Late Model show scheduled for Sunday evening. The Mega-Blitz 2007 50-lap feature will pay $5,000 to the winner and $400 to start the race.• Frankland Racing Supplies has a special event planned at its facility in Valencia before to the two-day Firecracker 100 at Lernerville. RaceFest '07 is set for noon to 8 p.m. June 28. Drivers will be on hand to sign autographs, tech seminars are scheduled, and games for kids, food and free gifts for everyone also are part of the event.• Mercer Raceway got one feature in the record book before the rain wiped out the remainder of the program Saturday evening. Brian Booher won the Stock Car feature.• Sharon Speedway fell to the wet weather Saturday night. Seven feature races will be on the card this Saturday.• Tri-City Speedway also was a victim of the wet weather Sunday evening.Jim Lokhaiser is the racing columnist for the Butler Eagle.