Jimmie Johnson Takes Over Chase Lead With Texas Win

Jimmie Johnson left no doubt about his 2007 Chase intentions. Johnson took the win and the Chase point lead in Texas today. This was Johnson's third Chase win in-a-row. He now leads Jeff Gordon by 30 points with just two races remaining. At the rate he is going Jimmie Johnson could win the last two races of the season and shut out his Chase opponents.

Qualifying

Martin Truex Jr. and Jeff Gordon created an all-Chevy front row. Rookie Juan Pablo Montoya was third with Daytona 500 winner and Chaser Kevin Harvick starting fourth. Toyota's A.J. Allmendinger rounded out the top five.

Drop Of The Green

Martin Truex Jr. lead the field into turn one and Juan Pablo Montoya jumped up to the second spot. Jeff Gordon was cautious on the start and dropped back to fifth. <P> Juan Pablo Montoya took over the lead on lap six and maintained the top spot while the early focus of the race was Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon's battle for fifth.

An early caution allowed Jeff Gordon to take two tires during the pit stops and he lead a few laps before Martin Truex Jr. took over the top spot for the rest of the caution-littered early laps.

Storylines

During the first part of the race Tony Stewart was tucked up under Kevin Harvick looking for Kevin to give him a break. Stewart got a bit impatient and gave Harvick a push. Kevin was understandably upset and made a gesture out the window. ABC then showed it multiple times on the replay. The big question is, will that gesture cost Harvick some money and/or points when NASCAR announces penalties on Tuesday?

Chasing The Checkers

Greg Biffle's crash on lap 36 set up a sprint for the finish. Kyle Busch had lead the most laps during the race amd was out front when the teams headed for pit road for the final stop. Different pit strategies came into play and Kyle restarted in seventh after a slow pit stop.

Ryan Newman restarted out front over Matt Kenseth. He got a great jump on the restart and pulled away from the pack. Martin Truex Jr. was the first car with four fresh tires until Jimmie Johnson passed him for third. Johnson was the fastest car of the race track, but was there enough time?

Jimmie Johnson caught Kenseth with 18 laps to go. Kenseth got up on the wheel, changed his lane to take away Johnson's line and held Johnson at bay.

Johnson got along side with seven laps to go but Kenseth drove it hard on the outside and Kenseth retook the top spot. Johnson tried again with three laps to go but couldn't make the pass stick. Finally Johnson got past with a lap and a half remaining.

Johnson rolled home for his third Chase win in a row.

Top Ten

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Kyle Busch
5. Ryan Newman
6. Jeff Burton
7. Jeff Gordon
8. Kurt Busch
9. Jamie McMurray
10. Kevin Harvick

The Points

For the second year in a row Jimmie Johnson took over the Chase point lead during the Texas race. This year Johnson's third Chase win in a row gave him a 30 point lead in the Chase with just two races remaining.

The top twelve are now:

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Jeff Gordon -30
3. Clint Bowyer -181
4. Kyle Busch -339
5. Carl Edwards -357
6. Tony Stewart -373
7. Jeff Burton -431
8. Kevin Harvick -439
9. Kurt Busch -453
10. Matt Kenseth -454
11. Denny Hamlin -524
12. Martin Truex Jr. -524

Next Week

Next week the Chase heads out west to Phoenix International Raceway for the ninth of the ten race Chase. Jeff Gordon picked up the win when the NEXTEL Cup stars were here in the spring. Jimmie Johnson wasn't far behind as he managed a fourth place effort. With only two races remaining all eyes are on Johnson and Gordon as they will decide the 2007 Championship between them.