Marcos Ambrose of Tasmania, who started last in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, finished an amazing third a day after winning the Nationwide race. He was followed by Juan Pablo Montoya and Martin Truex Jr.

Kevin Harvick was sixth, followed by Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Edwards and Kurt Busch. Matt Kenseth finished 12th to move into 12th place in the standings, 22 points ahead of Clint Bowyer in the race for the final slot to make the postseason.

Jeff Gordon, a four-time winner at Watkins Glen, began the day sixth in points, but faded quickly after a strong start and finished 29th.

Earnhardt, who has never won a Cup race on a road course, took off to a big lead after passing Kyle Busch on the second lap and figured to be a strong contender. But poor pit strategy derailed his effort and he finished 22nd after leading 33 laps and fell two slots in the standings to fourth.

Running up front most of the day around the 2.45-mile, 11-turn course, Busch and Stewart made their final pit stop on lap 56 and regained the top two spots on lap 65 when Earnhardt gave up the lead and pitted under caution, losing all of his track position.

“He was fast,” Busch said of Stewart. “I knew that he was going to be good. We both came in together and left together, and that was probably the win right there, to be able to beat him off pit road.”

The JGR teammates stayed 1-2 until Ryan Newman, running third and hoping for a strong finish to enhance his chances of making the Chase, slid off course in turn 1 on lap 79, bringing out the third caution of the race.

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The big pileup came right after the race resumed. On the final turn of lap 82, Michael McDowell spun David Gilliland, who caromed off the wall and was slammed hard by Bobby Labonte, with both cars spinning violently around. Max Papis, Dave Blaney, and Sam Hornish Jr. also were unable to avoid the carnage, with Hornish slamming hard into the water barrier at the entrance to pit road.

Labonte was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and released. The other drivers involved were also taken to the care center and released.

“I know with nine to go, you get up on the wheel and push hard,” Papis said. “Pushing and shoving is OK, but that was crazy. They kept pushing and shoving.”