AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. pulled away from Jeff Gordon in a pair of overtime laps to win the NASCAR Nextel Cup race Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway and tighten the championship chase with two races to go.

Kurt Busch overcame a couple of mistakes to finish 10th and held on to the series lead. But the top four drivers are separated by just 48 points heading into next Sunday's event at Darlington with Busch leading Gordon by 41.

The victory came a week after Earnhardt lost ground in the title chase by crashing through his own carelessness late in the race at Atlanta Motorspeedway. This time, he was steady when it mattered most. More