Jimmie Johnson Celebrates Hendrick Anniversary With Martinsville Win

Hendrick Motorsports is a NASCAR staple. 25 years ago this weekend they picked up their first career win. Today they celebrated that anniversary with a win in the 2009 Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Jimmie Johnson continued his impressive Martinsville streak with an aggressive late-race pass for the win.

Qualifying

Friday's qualifying was rained out so the starting lineup was set by the current car owner points. The top five on the grid were Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards.

Drop Of The Green

Jeff Gordon lead lap one as leaders jostled for a single-file line. Kurt and Kyle Busch were second and third.

Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson were also fast in the early going.

Storylines

Today was the 25th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports' first victory. In 1984 Geoff Bodine won the spring Martinsville race and unlocked a NASCAR dynasty. Eight NASCAR Championships later Hendrick Motorsports is still getting it done.

Between Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson they again dominated Martinsville. Jeff Gordon dominated the first 150 laps and Jimmie Johnson closed the deal at the end. What better way for Hendrick Motorsports to celebrate the anniversary than with a win?

Chasing The Checkers

Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin dominated most of the race but Jimmie Johnson lead for the first time with 67 laps to go with a great pit stop under caution.

Denny Hamlin jumped to the inside of Jimmie Johnson on a restart with 46 laps to go. This was a great restart for Hamlin as he muscled his way past Johnson for the lead.

With 16 laps to go Jimmie Johnson dove under Hamlin for the lead. He pushed up the track into Hamlin, nearly wrecking them both. Johnson recovered quickly and pulled away to a significant lead. He was able to hold on and claim the victory for Hendrick Motorsports.

Top Ten

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Tony Stewart
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Ryan Newman
7. Mark Martin
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
9. A.J. Allmendinger
10. Jamie McMurray

The Points

Jeff Gordon laid down yet another top five and extended his point lead again. Clint Bowyer moved back up to second ahead of Kurt Busch. The top twelve drivers remained consistent as Jeff Burton remains in 13th.

The top twelve are now:

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Clint Bowyer -89
3. Kurt Busch -132
4. Jimmie Johnson -142
5. Denny Hamlin -148
6. Kyle Busch -159
7. Tony Stewart -161
8. Carl Edwards -209
9. Kasey Kahne -214
10. Kevin Harvick -245
11. David Reutimann -249
12. Matt Kenseth -255