Jimmie Johnson wins race at Dover, Martin Leads Championship, Logano BIG Crash

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Jimmie Johnson wins race at Dover, Martin Leads Championship, Logano BIG Crash

Johnson dominated Sunday afternoon's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway, where Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin maintained the points lead in the Chase for the Championship with his second-place finish.

Johnson led three times for 271 of the 400 laps around the 1-mile track. The only other leaders were Kurt Busch, twice for 99 laps, Ryan Newman once for 29 laps, and David Gilliland, one lap, as pit stops cycled through.

Johnson won by 1.970 seconds over Martin, with Matt Kenseth, Juan Pablo Montoya, Busch, Jeff Gordon, A. J. Allmendinger, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart and Newman completing the top 10.

Among that group, Johnson, Martin, Montoya, Busch, Gordon, Kahne, Stewart and Newman are championship contenders. Among the other Chase drivers: Carl Edwards was 11th, Greg Biffle was 13th, Brian Vickers was 18th and Denny Hamlin was 22nd, two laps down.

Sunday afternoon's win, before a crowd that fell far short of a sellout, was Johnson's fourth this year, the 44th of his career and his fifth at Dover. He now trails Martin by 10 points after two of the 10 championship-deciding playoff races. The series moves to Kansas City next weekend.

The race was slowed nine times for 38 caution laps and stopped for 23 minutes, 38 seconds after a six-car crash in turns three and four at lap 32. Rookie Joey Logano bumped into Bobby Labonte entering turn three and was bumped by Tony Stewart. Logano slid through the apron and up the track, where he was hit broadside by Reed Sorenson. That contact sent Logano flipping seven-and-a-quarter times, then rolled back on its tires. Robby Gordon and Martin Truex Jr. also were involved, but there were no injuries. (see picture below)

Later, Michael Waltrip, Kyle Busch, David Stremme and Sam Hornish Jr. were slowed or sidelined in separate one-car incidents. Truex, Regan Smith, Elliott Sadler and Stremme were involved in a front stretch crash at lap 340.


TOP 10 FINISHERS

1. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

2. Mark Martin, Chevrolet

3. Matt Kenseth, Ford

4. Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet

5. Kurt Busch, Dodge

6. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

7. A. J. Allmendinger, Dodge

8. Kasey Kahne, Dodge

9. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet

10. Ryan Newman, Chevrolet


POINTS STANDINGS

1. Martin 5,400

2. Johnson, - 10

3. Montoya, - 65

4. Busch, - 75

5. Stewart, - 106

6. Hamlin, - 108

7. Newman, - 110

8. Gordon, - 122

9. Biffle, - 138

10. Vickers, - 151

11. Edwards, - 153

12. Kahne, - 189

Next race: Kansas City, Oct. 3