DOVER, Del. - Ryan Newman, who was critical of NASCAR's new policy allowing a lap back to the first car not on the lead lap when a caution is displayed, became the first beneficiary of the new policy to use it toward a win.
Newman, who fell a lap down early in Sunday's MBNA America 400 at Dover International Speedway after cutting a right-rear tire, received his lap back during another caution on Lap 288 of 400 by virtue of the new rule.
He then topped off on fuel twice and returned to lead lap on the restart on Lap 297.
When all the lead-lap cars pit for fuel on Lap 327, Newman stayed out and inherited the lead. He never pit again and held on for his seventh Winston Cup win of the season, holding off a spirited charge by Jeremy Mayfield.
Tony Stewart was third, Kevin Harvick fourth and Jeff Gordon fifth. Series points leader Matt Kenseth finished ninth.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was taken to a hospital after he spun and his No. 8 Chevrolet hit driver's side first while he battled to stay on the lead lap late in the race.
Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Stewart spent most of the first half of the race trading the lead.
Ryan Newman, who was strong early, fell a lap down when he pit under green after cutting a right-rear tire. He returned to the lead lap via NASCAR's new caution policy on Lap 288 when the fifth caution of the race came out for debris.
After the lead lap cars pit, Stewart took the lead, followed by Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Harvick and Jimmie Johnson when the race returned to green on Lap 297.
Stewart maintained a sizeable lead over Earnhardt Jr. before another caution on Lap 325 when Kenny Wallace hit the wall.
All the lead lap cars but Newman returned to pit a final time on Lap 327, with Earnhardt Jr. coming off pit road first, followed by Stewart, Harvick, Elliott Sadler and Jeremy Mayfield. Earnhardt Jr.'s team took only two tires on its stop.
Newman inherited the lead since he did not stop when the race returned to green on Lap 331.
Earnhardt Jr.'s two-tire gamble didn't work well as he began to lose spots on the track almost immediately.
He had fallen as far back as 19th when he hit the Turn 2 wall on Lap 365, bringing out the day's sixth caution. Newman remained out front on the restart on Lap 373.
