The Race Report.(Racing)(Protection One 400 automobile race)(Brief Article)

Looks like Jeff Gordon is making his move. After going winless for much of the year, the defending Winston Cup champ scored his third win in six races at the Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway. In the season points contest he is now fourth, with a bullet.

Gordon led 112 of the 267 laps, then beat Ryan Newman to the checkered flag in a three-lap dash after a red flag on lap 263 caused by a wreck in Turn One that collected Jimmy Spencer, Jeremy Mayfield, Johnny Benson and Ricky Rudd.

Gordon's win was a repeat of his performance in the inaugural Kansas race last year, as was Newman's second-place finish. Meanwhile, the 11 caution periods nearly equaled last year's 13 on the touchy 1.5-mile oval. The newest track on the NASCAR schedule, Kansas hasn't yet developed a full top lane-call it a groove and a half. The going is iffy on the high side, and cars running up there can also make those racing alongside on the bottom go loose. Yes, there was some blocking as drivers tried to defend their lanes. And with passing relatively difficult, track position is precious at Kansas. Pit strategy, and the decision to take two tires, four tires or none and whether to mount scuffed tires or stickers to suit the tricky surface, can be key.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole with a lap of ...