Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson led 339 laps Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway en route to winning the Tums Quikpak 500, his sixth of the 2008 season.
More importantly, it gave Johnson -- yeah, that guy who's won two championships in-a-row -- a 149 point lead in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings after Jeff Burton was penalized for pitting outside the box late in the race.
Burton, who was 68 points behind Johnson coming into the short track event, dropped from second to third, while Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle moved into the runner-up spot by three points.
Johnson's win capped a stellar day for all of Hendrick Motorsports that saw the No. 48 find victory lane, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finish second, Jeff Gordon fourth and Casey Mears in sixth. Gordon tacked on 57 laps led to bring the team total to 396 -- nearly 80 percent of the 500 lap race.
Late in the event, Johnson didn't exactly have it easy thanks to two late cautions bunching the field together. David Ragan spun his No. 6 with three laps to go in turn one to bring out a yellow flag that forced a green-white-checkered two-lap finish.
Earnhardt Jr. struggled on restarts and had a car that was much better on long runs throughout the day and, as a result, wasn't able to match Johnson's pace over the final two circuits, handing Johnson his fifth-career Martinsville win.
The struggles for two-thirds of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers continued Sunday after both Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart had tires go down -- likely because of excessive brake heat melting the tire bead and causing the tire to come apart. Busch was penalized on lap 162 for stopping on the track to bring out a caution at one point thanks to a flat tire after NASCAR deemed he would have been able to continue without stopping.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-19-2008 @ 9:55PM
Kim said...
Hell ya he did!!!!! We're well on our way to number three in three years! Congratulations, Jimmie! I missed most of the race due to my son's football game, but made it home just in time to watch the final seven laps and watch my Jimmie win yet another race in the chase toward his third championship three years in a row!
Hey, Don.....Are you reading? What's your excuse now as to why Jimmie won this one? It can't just be luck now can it? It's finally time for you to admit that Jimmie is just one hell of a driver, period!
Stop the hate, embrace the 48!!!!!
Kim
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10-20-2008 @ 12:13AM
annaseitter said...
CONGRATULATION TO SAINT JIMMY.
BETTER HIM WINNING A 3RD CHAMP. THAN A ROUSH DRIVER WINNING ONE. Any grouches driver, i mean.
AFTER THE 3RD CROWN, the saint will stick to JJ like superglue. lol, lol.
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10-20-2008 @ 12:15AM
Kevin said...
greatest ever
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10-20-2008 @ 10:37AM
Ediberto Martinez said...
Jimmie Johnson is the best right now. He is my idol.A true racer.A giant in the tracks.Do I said three in a row? about four...Congratulations Mr.J.
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10-20-2008 @ 2:30PM
Jack Hall said...
Congrats to JJ and Chad. There is no better combination in Nascar and I see their domination to continue on for years to come. At this point no other team is in the zone these two are in and the only thing stopping them would be bad luck. This is bad news for the also rans.
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10-20-2008 @ 4:47PM
Priscilla said...
Congratulations Jimmie, that was an awesome race. I'm a very big fan of yours. #48 is on the back of my vehicle and I'm very proud of it.
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10-20-2008 @ 5:58PM
Rachel Miller said...
My station (KXLY-TV) didn't air NASCAR Countdown. Instead, it aired a news special on plastic surgery. As a result, I missed both the invocation and the national anthem. Any others who were affected by this?
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10-22-2008 @ 3:52PM
Don Emerson said...
Geez.....even Michael Waldrip could have won in Jimmie's ride. I don't hate Johnson, he's a decent driver, but he still bores me to tears. Have you ever noticed how much he and his wife favor. both in looks and personality. I'm a meat and potatoes man and prefer my drivers straight up and hammer down. Works for me......
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10-22-2008 @ 5:12PM
annaseitter said...
emerson hi, i just wanted to say, it's WALTRIP not waldrip.
You know TRIP, like taking a TRIP to WAL-MART-TRIP.
He takes a lt of trips every sunday, but i never seen anything DRIPPING out of his mobile. lol, lol.
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10-26-2008 @ 3:28PM
daphne_martin2001@yahoo.com said...
How come last week at Martinsville, Jeff Burton was penalized for pitting outside the box because it was illegal and this week when Jimmie Joshnson pitted outside the box it is legal? Could it be Nascar wants 3 championships in a roll for Jimmie?
Dugspur
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