GLADEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Clint Bowyer raced to his first NASCAR Busch Series victory Sunday, beating Kenny Wallace by 2.386 seconds in the rain-delayed Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway.

“It’s great to finally get the deal sealed at Nashville,” said Bowyer, who has five top-five finishes in five starts on the 1.3-mile concrete oval. “It all started for me here two years ago in an ARCA race and Richard Childress saw me.

“I absolutely cannot believe it. I’ve been in position before where I thought we had it and I spoke too soon. But I didn’t speak too soon today.”

The 26-year-old driver for Richard Childress Racing became the sixth driver to race to his first series victory in nine races at the track.

There was a precarious moment on the final lap, with Johnny Benson spinning to bring out the yellow flag, but Bowyer had already taken the white flag, and easily held off Wallace for the victory.

Rookie Reed Sorenson, who raced to his first Busch Series victory at the track in April, finished third to take the series points lead.

Tony Raines was third, followed by Martin Truex Jr., David Stremme, Denny Hamlin, J.J. Yeley, Johnny Sauter and Paul Wolfe.

The field started according to owner points after qualifying was rained out Saturday, putting then-series leader Carl Edwards on the pole. However, he had to skip the race to run in the Nextel Cup race at Pocono in Pennsylvania, an event he won for his second victory of the season on NASCAR’s top series.

By rule, Edwards’ backup, Hank Parker Jr., had to start at the end of the field.

He finished a lap down in 20th place.

Sorenson has a 51-point lead over Bowyer and defending champion Truex. Edwards dropped to fourth, 96 points off the lead.

“It’s unfortunate for Carl, but he’ll be in contention and hopefully we’ll be there with him,” Bowyer said.

Bowyer averaged 122.141 mph in the race that was slowed by eight caution periods.