Robby Gordon led just two laps Sunday, but cut his way through the field to finish second. Credit: Autostock

Ringers earn their nickname at Glen

Gordon, Said, Pruett in contention for victory most of day

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Tony Stewart prevented a road course ringer from winning a Nextel Cup event, but their showing on Sunday at Watkins Glen was arguably their best as a group.

Road-course specialists grabbed three of the top five spots at the Sirius at the Glen, and Robby Gordon, Boris Said and Scott Pruett each mounted late challenges.

Scott Pruett was fourth despite not leading a single lap. Credit: Autostock

Unofficial Results Sirius at the Glen Pos. Driver Make 1. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 2. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 3. Boris Said Chevrolet 4. Scott Pruett Dodge 5. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Complete results, click here Unofficial standings, click here Victory LaneTony Stewart celebrates a dominant day at the Glen Final LapsStewart survives a green-white-checker finish to win DeflatedGordon's Chase hopes take a hit with a flat tire at the Glen Heavy contactJeff Burton and P.J. Jones take hard hits at the Glen Early troubleSaid, Jarrett and Newman have problems early Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Gordon was second, Said was third and Pruett wound up fourth.

The finishes were remarkable because Nextel Cup regulars are making it tougher for the ringers to come in and run well.

"Five years ago, not everybody had the trick brake package and now everyone has the trick brake package," said Ron Fellows, who finished 22nd after a transmission problem. "The difference between now and five years ago is that there is just a lot more quality throughout the field. It's not just drivers. It's the quality of teams."

Both Gordon and Said were handicapped when qualifying was rained out on Saturday, but both men caught the lead pack before the race reached the halfway point.

Said was running right behind Stewart on a restart with 15 laps to go, but his shot at the win ended when he got a terrible restart. That allowed Gordon to sweep by for second.

"I had a really tall [first] gear, so Robby got a run," Said said. "I am still happy with third. Coming from 41st, that is a long way to go."

Said says starting in the rear of the field really hurt his chances.

"I don't think [Stewart's] car was any better," said Said, who got his first Nextel Cup top-five finish. "My car was just as fast as his. He just had track position."

Gordon agreed with Said.

"He had track position, and when you have track position you can run wide-open through the esses," Gordon said.

According to Gordon, Stewart also helped stack the field on the final two restarts.

"[Stewart] stabbed the brakes right at the last second, which got me checked up, and he took off," Gordon said. "That was the difference in him winning the race."

Pruett had to start in the back because he was substituting for Sterling Marlin, who was at home after the death of his father on Sunday.

Chip Ganassi Racing was able to change the seat on Marlin's Dodge to fit Pruett, and that change helped Pruett's comfort level considerably.

"I am glad I could do him [Sterling] proud today," said Pruett, who had three top-fives in four Watkins Glen starts. "We started dead last, but we kept digging and it paid off."

Watkins Glen was easily the season highlight for all three drivers. Gordon got his first top-15 of the year, and Said scored his career-best Cup run.

Other road-course specialists experienced disappointment. Ron Fellows, who drove from 43rd to second last year, finished 22nd after transmission problems put him a lap down.

Fellows shows up twice a year in the Nextel Cup Series but as he nears his 46th birthday, he badly wants to get a win before its too late.

"We got stuck in fourth gear. They got in there and unjammed it, never happened again," Fellows said. "We got back on the lead lap and we were in position for a top-10 before the transmission got stuck."

The remaining four road course ringers in the field also struggled.

Anthony Lazzaro scored a lead-lap finish in 28th in the No. 37 Dodge, one spot ahead of Johnny Miller in the No. 92 Chevrolet. .

Jorge Goeters, driving the No. 50 Dodge owned by Don Arnold, became the first native of Mexico to lead a Nextel Cup race when he paced the field on Lap 57, but he finished a lap down in 35th.

P.J. Jones, who finished fourth here in 2001, wound up 42nd after a brake failure caused him to crash on Lap 42.