AJ Allmendinger earned the first Sprint Cup Series win of his career by out-dueling Marcos Ambrose over the final two laps to claim Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International.
Allmendinger, 32, was winless in the first 212 Sprint Cup Series races of his career; he led 30 of the 90 laps over the 2.45-mile road course.
Ambrose won at Watkins Glen in 2011 and 2012, and made a hard charge to do it again. He ran among the top three throughout the day and led 19 laps.
Kurt Busch placed third, rookie Kyle Larson was fourth and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five.
Polesitter Jeff Gordon led the first 29 laps. Gordon was running second on Lap 50 when he lost power. He had to be pushed off the track and never got back in the race, finishing 34th.
The race was delayed for 1 hour and 21 minutes because of a major wreck on Lap 57 that started when Ryan Newman hit the guard rail between Turns 5 and 6. Newman spun back onto the track where he immediately collected Michael McDowell.
Eight cautions were issued, which tied the course record.
