LaJoie

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Randy LaJoie won the Sam's Town 250 on Sunday after a one-day rain delay, slipping under leaders Jay Sauter and Jeff Green as they went high toward the wall with 1laps to go.

LaJoie, a Busch series veteran, had not won a race since Daytona on Feb. 17.

"It's one for the old guys," said LaJoie, who averaged 75.050 mph in his Chevrolet. "It's good to sneak up and win one."

He celebrated by spinning his car, but his car got stuck in the muddy grass because of a locked front brake and his pit crew had to push him out.

LaJoie watched Sauter and Green vie for first place and waited for them to make contact in Turn 4. As their cars went up the bank, LaJoie went under them and raced for the white flag and held off Green for the finish.

"I knew Jay wanted to win a Busch race bad and Jeff is a very aggressive racecar driver," LaJoie said. "And sure enough, they got together and it opened the door for me."

Busch points leader Kevin Harvick finished third and Sauter was fourth, followed by Jeff Purvis, Tim Fedewa and Jason Keller. Sauter has yet to win a Busch race.

Harvick led Keller by 186 points before the race and increased his lead to 203. Green overtook Keller by seven points for second place with three races to go.

Harvick chose to strengthen his lead in the Busch standings instead of driving in the Winston Cup Old Dominion 500 in Martinsville, Va.

However, the Winston Cup race was delayed a day because of rain, meaning Harvick will get to finish a double-race weekend Monday in Martinsville.

LaJoie started 16th in a lineup determined by points standings because Friday's qualifying was rained out. He spent most of the race contending with Keller in the middle of the lead pack and then got his chance during a late caution.

He had moved up to fourth and skipped a pit stop when the other leaders, including Green and Harvick, did likewise during a caution with 43 laps left.

LaJoie came out first with the green flag with Keller behind him and Green and Harvick pushed back to 15th and 16th.

Sauter made his move and passed LaJoie with 14 laps left. Green passed LaJoie for second eight laps later to set up Green's battle with Sauter that ended up giving LaJoie the checkered flag.

"I was doing everything I could to hold onto the win," Sauter said. "I thought it was foolish for him. He gave second up for second. He probably could have won the race and I could have finished second."