LOUDON, N.H. (AP) - Brian Vickers pulled into the lead late and took off on the green-white-checkered finish to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The surprise winner snapped a 75-race losing streak in the series with his third career Sprint Cup victory. Vickers drives a part-time schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing and competed in just his eighth race of the season.
Vickers made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in 2009, only to be sidelined most of the next season with blood clots. He returned to drive a full schedule in 2011 but made only eight Cup starts last season.
Kyle Busch was second and Jeff Burton third. Pole winner Brad Keselowski was fourth and Aric Almirola fifth.
Jimmie Johnson brushed off his 43rd-place start to finish sixth. Tony Stewart was running inside the top 10 at the final caution until he ran out of fuel and plummeted to 26th.
