Reed Sorenson celebrates his victory as fireworks explode in Victory Lane. Credit: AP

Sorenson wins Gateway; points race tightens

MADISON, Ill. (AP) -- Rookie Reed Sorenson took control with 33 laps to go and pulled away to win the NASCAR Busch Series Wallace Family Tribute 250 on Saturday night.

Mike Wallace, one of three racing brothers from the St. Louis area family, finished second at the 1.25-mile Gateway International Raceway oval. Rusty Wallace, honored during his final year of racing before retiring, led for 17 laps in the middle of the 200-lap race before crashing on lap 137 and finishing 37th, and Kenny Wallace was 24th.

WALLACE FAMILY 250 •   Results •   Standings

"The car was very quick," Rusty Wallace said. "I'm disappointed right now because the car was easily a top-five car. It's just really tough right now because I really wanted to win this race in my hometown."

Reed Sorenson celebrates his second career Busch Series win Mike Wallace finishes second on Wallace tribute night Truex, Stremme struggle late and Sorenson streaks to a win Rusty, Kenny Wallace suffer damage on their tribute night Michael Waltrip slides up the track and hits Kenny Wallace Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

The event drew a crowd estimated at 60,000, largest ever at the raceway.

The 19-year-old Sorenson, of Concord, N.C., won his second career Busch Series race after qualifying second behind Martin Truex Jr. earlier Saturday and starting on the outside pole. He also won the Pepsi 300 on March 26 and is one of five drivers to win two or more races in the series this season, ranking him third in the point standings behind Truex and Clint Bowyer.

Mike Wallace was unable to mount a challenge after a restart before the final three laps, with Sorenson winning by 0.71 seconds. Carl Edwards was third, rallying after starting in the rear of the 43-car field due to an engine change, followed by David Green and Paul Menard.

"We held off a great car on the restart," Sorenson said. "We had a strong car all night and some breaks went our way, which allowed us to win."

Mike Wallace said he was too caught up in the emotion of the event.

"To come back to St. Louis, a place where I've always struggled, and run well in a race named in my family's honor, is very rewarding," Wallace said. "I spun the tires on the restart, I screwed up. I was so geared up and so excited, I just wanted to do too much."

Truex survived an early tire problem that dropped him to the back the pack and two laps down, charging back to take the lead on the strength of a fast pit stop on lap 138 that enabled him to cut in front of David Stremme and Sorenson. But Sorenson passed Truex 29 laps later and steadily increased his margin the rest of the race.

Truex, the defending champion and series points leader, had an unscheduled pit stop on lap 181 with more excessive tire vibration and dropped out of contention to 28th.

Stremme was running second before a flat tire on lap 193 dropped him to 22nd.