Turns out auto sales aren't so different from football and other sports: finishing strong is the key to victory.

The Dodge Grand Caravan staged a come-from-behind win in the closing moments of 2007 to retain its long-held crown as the nation's top-selling minivan, surprising onlookers who expected that prize to go to Honda's Alabama-made Odyssey.

In year-end sales reported Thursday, Chrysler said it sold 176,150 of its Dodge brand Caravan models last year, a total boosted by a 51 percent rise in December sales.

Meanwhile, the Lincoln-built Odyssey finished the year with sales of 173,046, after a 7 percent sales decline last month.

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By Dawn Kent, News staff writer

Does this just include the Caravan, or also the Town & Country? Also, what kind of incentives was Dodge offering? I get a kick out of what the Big 3 will do to get people in the door.

The Caravans do have one cool addition, the in-floor table and the swivel seats. I wonder how many of the 176,000 people who bought a Caravan will still be happy at 60,000 miles.