Edwards gets surprise victory in Richmond

Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va.

Carl Edwards claimed an unexpected victory and the 2013 Chase for the Sprint Cup picked up some new championship contenders.

Edwards passed Paul Menard on a restart with three of 400 laps remaining and held off Kurt Busch to win Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

Once the dust settled, Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Joey Logano all claimed spots in the Chase by finishing the first 26 races in the Top 10 of the series standings.

Martin Truex Jr. and Kasey Kahne claimed the two wild card positions. When the Chase begins next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, Kenseth will be the top seed.

Ryan Newman finished third in the race, Jamie McMurray was fourth and Menard was fifth.

Pole-winner Jeff Gordon took early control of the race, leading the first 49 laps.

Brad Keselowski got around Gordon to take the lead on Lap 50 and remained out front until a round of green-flag pit stops got underway on Lap 91.

During the green-flag stops, Johnson was penalized for speeding on pit road and feel three laps down under green-flag conditions.

Once the cycle of stops were completed on Lap 98, Keselowski was back in the lead followed by Kenseth and Kurt Busch.

After 100 laps, Keselowski continued to hold a comfortable lead over Kenseth.

The first caution of the race was displayed on Lap 137 for debris.