Penske Racing drivers Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman earned top-10 finishes for the second straight week Sunday, placing fifth and sixth, respectively, in the rain-delayed Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
Busch’s second consecutive top-five finish in his Miller Lite Dodge allowed him to gain another position in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. The Las Vegas native is now ninth in the standings, five points out of eighth and 493 in arrears to standings’ leader Jeff Gordon.
Newman, who drove his Alltel Dodge Avenger to his second straight top-10 finish, has now gained seven positions in the standings the last two weeks. His five position gain at the 0.75-mile Richmond track was the largest of the week. Newman is now 19th in the standings, 120 points out of 12th, this year’s cutoff for the Chase for the Championship.
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