Denny Hamlin overcame a blown tire early and solidified his spot as NASCAR’s top rookie, surging late to win his first career Nextel Cup race Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Hamlin held off the challengers — including teammate Tony Stewart - on the final five tenuous laps of the Pocono 500 after the caution came out late after Jeff Gordon’s scary accident.

Gordon’s brakes failed, sending his car hard into the wall with 10 laps left and destroying his No. 24 Chevrolet.

Gordon was never able to turn, cutting through the grass and mud, leaving parts of his car like brake pads strewn across the track. After several tense moments, he climbed out — but did not finish the race and was knocked out of the top 10 in the points standings.

The race was red-flagged and delayed for 13 minutes as the foam SAFER barrier blocks were put back together. The hood of Gordon’s car flew back as it was driven off the track.

Gordon was checked and released at the infield medical center and said he was fine other than a minor headache.

“That was one of the hardest hits I’ve ever taken,” Gordon said. “One of the worst things you can ever ask for is the brakes to go out in turn one of Pocono.”

Nothing slowed down Hamlin in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Chevrolet — not even tire woes — winning a race in his 21st career start and jumping from 11th to ninth in the points standings. He’s the third driver to win from the pole this season.

“We’re trying to get into the Chase and this is a great way to do it,” Hamlin said.

Results Sunday from the Pocono 500 race for NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series at Pocono Raceway with starting position in parentheses, driver, car, laps completed with reason out if not running at finish, and money won:

1. (1) Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet, 200, $220,100.
2. (2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 200, $193,258.
3. (18) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 200, $182,311.
4. (4) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 200, $117,850.
5. (25) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 200, $141,641.
6. (7) Greg Biffle, Ford, 200, $106,425.
7. (3) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 200, $117,189.
8. (17) Scott Riggs, Dodge, 200, $80,125.
9. (5) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 200, $104,520.
10. (10) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 200, $123,761.
11. (14) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 200, $114,933.
12. (23) Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 200, $110,911.
13. (12) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 200, $109,661.
14. (11) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 200, $104,966.
15. (24) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, 200, $104,500.
16. (31) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, 200, $68,275.
17. (20) Mark Martin, Ford, 200, $82,275.
18. (8) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 200, $110,900.
19. (38) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 200, $85,683.
20. (13) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 200, $97,908.
21. (42) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 200, $79,875.
22. (9) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 200, $81,175.
23. (26) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 200, $97,266.
24. (15) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 199, $90,258.
25. (40) Carl Edwards, Ford, 199, $82,775.
26. (32) David Stremme, Dodge, 199, $87,783.
27. (30) Dave Blaney, Dodge, 199, $77,033.
28. (36) Michael Waltrip, Dodge, 198, $74,672.
29. (21) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 198, $91,320.
30. (29) Ken Schrader, Ford, 197, $92,039.
31. (41) Kevin Lepage, Dodge, 197, $61,675.
32. (34) Jimmy Spencer, Chevrolet, 197, $61,525.
33. (37) Chad Chaffin, Ford, 196, $62,275.
34. (6) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 189, crash, $109,461.
35. (28) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 186, $60,975.
36. (35) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 183, $68,750.
37. (19) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, 181, rear gear, $68,575.
38. (27) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 181, $92,525.
39. (39) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 118, brakes, $60,325.
40. (33) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 68, crash, $68,175.
41. (43) Mike Garvey, Chevrolet, 67, suspension, $60,035.
42. (16) Sterling Marlin, Chevrolet, 18, engine, $59,885.
43. (22) Casey Mears, Dodge, 1, crash, $94,255.

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