FONTANA, Calif. (AP) -- Elliott Sadler raced to his second victory of the season and all but wrapped up a spot in the NASCAR's new championship playoff Sunday night at California Speedway.

Sadler won for the third time in his Nextel Cup career, easily holding off rookie Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin at the end of the 250-lap Pop Secret 500 with the help of a couple of late caution flags that slowed the two challengers.

But Kahne, who finished second for the fifth time this season, and Martin both climbed into the top 10 in the points with only next Saturday night's race at Richmond Va., remaining before NASCAR pares the championship battle to the top 10 drivers for the last 10 races of the season. More