LOUDON, N.H. – Just how dominant was Clint Bowyer’s Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet during the Sylvania 300 Nextel Cup race on Sunday?

“I had to drive 100 miles an hour just to catch up to him and congratulate him,” quipped Jeff Gordon, who finished second, 6.469 seconds behind Bowyer.

It was the 28-year-old Bowyer’s first-ever Nextel Cup win and it came in the first event in the 10-race Chase for the Championship. It was Bowyer’s 64th career race.

Bowyer, a native of Emporia, Kan., led 222 of the 300 laps after starting on the pole. That was more laps than he had led in his previous 63 laps combined.

Tony Stewart finished third followed by Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Casey Mears, Ryan Newman and J.J. Yeley.

The top seven finishers are among the 12 drivers who had qualified for the Chase in the first 26 races.

Bowyer admitted he knew very early in the race he had a car that was good enough to win.

“I knew coming off the first corner,” said Bowyer, who was ecstatic about the win.

“This is unbelievable. I can’t believe it happened here. This has always been a good track for us. We just could never get the finish. I love short tracks because you can control your own destiny. You can move around. You can run the middle or move up top [whichever is fastest].

“It’s just incredible to even be a part of the Nextel Cup and to be able to drive these cars and have a team like Gil [crew chief Gil Martin] has put together. It’s an honor and a privilege and something I owe Richard [car owner Richard Childress] a lot. We finally got it done for him. We did our job and did what we were supposed to do. This says a lot about our team and the Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet.”

Martin said during practice on Saturday, he thought they had a contending car.

“We ran 38 laps and our 38th lap was good. We had a top 10 speed among guys who were making race runs on stickers [new tires]. So we knew right there the car was pretty good,” said Martin referring to the fact Bowyer’s car had already amassed 38 laps on its tires.

Martin said his confidence in the car was validated following a four-tire pit stop in the middle of the race.

“Tony [Stewart] and those guys took two tires and we had four. Left side tires aren’t that big a deal here. Once we were able to track those guys down, I felt pretty comfortable because it put us in the catbird seat,” explained Martin. “We knew those guys were going to have to take four tires on the next stop and we had the option of taking four or two. They were going to have 100 laps on their left side tires. We were one step ahead of them although we didn’t plan it that way.

“We knew that as the cautions went down at the end of the race right there, we were going to be in line to take two at the end with fresh lefts. So it worked out going green,” added Martin.

The last set of green flag pit stops took place between laps 231-252 and Bowyer had built a lead of 4.932 seconds over Gordon by lap 262. He continued to pull away.

“I’m real happy for Clint. Everybody is. If you’re going to win for the first time, this is the time to do it,” said Gordon. “He was dominant. He was so strong today. Once he got the lead, he was incredible.”

Kyle Busch agreed, saying, “He was, by far, the class of the field. Those guys really had it figured out.”

Gordon said he was “very happy” with his finish.

“I’ll never complain about a second-place finish. Our team did exactly what we came here to do. We battled. We finished ahead of a lot of guys we’re battling in the Chase,” said Gordon.

Could Gordon have challenged Bowyer with a late caution?

Gordon said no.

“I didn’t want to see a caution come out. The car was terrible on short runs with cold tires,” said Gordon.

Kyle Busch and Truex were satisfied with their finishes.

“This track doesn’t fit my driving style and to come out with a fourth-place finish means a lot to me,” said Kyle Busch. “The car was real, real bad early. I couldn’t get it to turn through the center of the corner. But the guys made adjustments and got it better.”

Truex said his car also fought a tight condition.

“It usually takes one or two pit stops to get it where we needed it. Today it took us all day. It was as fast as the leader at the end of the race but we were too far back [to challenge for the win],” said Truex.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 16th.

For the first time since NASCAR went to a 43-car field in 1998, all 43 cars were running at the end of the race.

There were seven cautions for 27 laps.

Johnson and Gordon are now tied for the points lead with Stewart 10 points back in third. Bowyer climbed to fourth, 15 points behind the co-leaders and Busch is 35 points back in fifth. Truex is sixth, 40 points behind.

Bowyer said the win certainly elevated his confidence concerning the Chase.

“I think we have a legitimate shot at this,” said Bowyer.