KEY POINTS:
NEW YORK - Clint Bowyer won his first NASCAR race in 64 starts with a convincing victory at Loudon, New Hampshire on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Chevrolet driver started from pole at New Hampshire International Speedway and dominated the opening event of the season-ending, 12-driver, 10-race NASCAR Chase for the Championship.
"I knew we could do it," Bowyer told reporters. "This was an unbelievable day."
But it made for some anxious moments for Bowyer, who beat fellow Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon to the finish line by more than six seconds.
"I won't kid you, I was about to throw up those last 30 laps," Bowyer said. "You hear every rattle and squeak in it and I was praying that no caution would come."
Tony Stewart finished third, followed by Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, all driving Chevrolets.
- REUTERS
