Sunoco Pit Move: Talladega

Racing at Talladega Superspeedway is usually characterized by huge packs of cars running in multiple lanes, inches from each other at speeds in excess of 190 mph. However, with more than 50 laps remaining in Sunday's Aaron's 499, that all changed. Instead of who could make it to the front, it became who could make it to the end.

A fuel-mileage race at Talladega? Perish the thought, but that's exactly the situation with which Jeff Gordon, crew chief Steve Letarte and the No. 24 Chevrolet crew were faced. In fact, all of the lead-lap cars had a choice: Run hard and take a chance on running out of fuel, or pace yourself and hope to have something left in the tank.

The unusual situation was set up by the multi-car accident involving Kyle Busch, Joe Nemechek and Jeff Burton on Lap 132 -- just about the time the field was needing a caution for service.

"The caution fell at a really odd time, right around a fuel window," Letarte said. "It's a rare occurrence when you see everybody ride around until the end of the caution and then pit. That really set the tone for the whole race."

Could anyone make it the rest of the way without another stop? That became the key strategy as cars lined up single-file, lap after lap. Passing made way for patience, not something at which Nextel Cup drivers are noted.

Leading before the crash, Gordon's No. 24 was mired deep in the field once the race went back to green. However, he didn't dare try to make a move.

"The race got really unique and different there at the end," Gordon said. "The way those guys were lined up, nobody was able to pass and nobody seemed to want to get out of line.

"I kept asking Stevie to tell me how many laps there were to go. It was hard to have patience. I wanted to get out of that line. I knew how fast my racecar was. I thought if three or four of us could get together, I knew we could go up there. But it was really hard to be patient."

Suddenly, fuel strategy went out the window when debris from Juan Montoya's car brought out a much-needed yellow on Lap 162. While ten cars stayed out -- including leader Denny Hamlin and Jamie McMurray -- Gordon and the rest of the leaders ducked onto pit road for a fuel-only stop, one that would prove critical to the outcome.

Even though he was 22nd on the restart, Gordon knew he could go the distance. He began to pick off cars at an increased clip when a debris caution bunched the field again with 12 laps remaining.

"The caution with about 12 to go was ... the turning point for the whole race," Letarte said. "That forced everybody to show their hand and make their move."

Restarting 14th behind teammate Jimmie Johnson and fellow Chevy driver Tony Stewart, those three led a charge to the front once the race resumed. When David Reutimann's engine went up in smoke, Gordon was in perfect position to take advantage as he passed McMurray for the lead, then went on to hold off Johnson and Kurt Busch for his 77th career victory.