HAMPTON, Ga. -- Bobby Labonte dominated the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 on Sunday as he won at Atlanta for the sixth time in his career.

Jeff Gordon was second for his top run of 2003. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third, and Matt Kenseth took the points lead with a fourth-place finish. Tony Stewart was fifth.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C.-Dale Jarrett scored one for the old drivers Sunday, outfoxing Kurt Busch during the final laps to win the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., his teammate, had a miserable day. He made contact with Jeff Gordon early in the race, causing him to eventually blow his left front tire.

But the timing was perfect: The tire gave way just as NASCAR threw a planned caution 45 laps into the race for teams to make adjustments on their cars.

It saved Earnhardt from going a lap down, which was eventual anyway. He was involved in three of the seven cautions for spinning out and ended up 33rd, three laps down.

DAYTONA BEACH,Fla-Under dark clouds, Waltrip raced past leader Jimmie Johnson after a restart on lap 106 Sunday to win the rain-shortened Daytona 500 for the second time in three years.

Pre-race favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., done in by a dead battery, helped his friend and teammate take the lead on the last green-flag lap.

"I had a plan," Waltrip said. "I knew what I had to do. I had to get behind Junior. I did that and I was able to squeeze out the win.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. is making this look easy.

Junior got out front early and simply stayed there Saturday en route to winning the Koolerz 300 Busch Series race for the second straight year.

It was his third victory at Daytona International Speedway in eight days, including the Bud Shootout and a 125-mile qualifying race for Sunday's Daytona 500.

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s win in Thursday's 125-mile qualifying race bolstered his status a heavy favorite in the Daytona 500.

At the end, the only driver with a shot at Earnhardt's powerful No. 8 Chevrolet was Dale Earnhardt Inc., teammate Michael Waltrip, the 2001 Daytona 500 winner. But Waltrip couldn't get close enough to make a run at the leader.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.-- Dale Earnhardt Jr. powered past Jeff Gordon five laps from the end Saturday night and held off the four-time Winston Cup champion to win the Budweiser Shootout.

Earnhardt appeared able to wheel his red No. 8 Chevrolet to the front any time he wanted, staying at or near the lead throughout the 70-lap made-for-TV event at Daytona International Speedway.