Auto Racing: Mears, Yeley, Petty steal show at Coca-Cola 600

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Kyle Petty looked at the placard on the podium and joked his name had been spelled wrong. It had been 10 years since Petty was last invited to a post-race news conference, and the drivers surrounding him weren't exactly regular attendees.

Also crashing the party was Casey Mears, who ended four-plus years of frustration with his first Nextel Cup victory, and J.J. Yeley, who put a firm grip on his seat with the highest finish of his career.

NASCAR's longest event of the season was a true race of attrition -- four former champions finished 30th or worse in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 -- leaving an odd cast of characters as the final five drivers standing.