Jimmie Johnson’s mastery of 1.5-mile ovals in 2015 continued Saturday night, and into Sunday morning, at Kansas Speedway. After opting to remain on the track while others pitted during the race’s final caution, Johnson turned track position into a trip to Gatorade Victory Lane. The race was interrupted by a rain delay of more than two hours, with the 6-time champion finally taking the checkered flag just past midnight local time.
The race was the 4th this season contested on intermediate-sized ovals and Johnson has won three of them: in Atlanta, Texas and now Kansas City. He led just once all night but it came when it counted most, over the final ten laps. His margin of victory over runner-up Kevin Harvick was a half-second. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, teammates of Johnson’s at Hendrick Motorsports, also chose to remain on the track during that final caution and it paid off with finishes of third and fourth, respectively. Pole sitter Joey Logano completed the top five.
Martin Truex Jr. started 4th, led a race-high 95 laps and seemed poised to end a 66 race winless streak. However, he needed to pit for fuel during the final caution and wound up with a 9th place finish – one of 17 drivers on the lead lap with Johnson at the end of the night, or beginning of the morning.
The race was the third in a row in which Chevrolet has swept the top three positions. There were 16 lead changes among ten drivers, with 9 cautions for 49 laps.
[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2015/05/Jimmie-Johnson-Wins-SpongeBob-SquarePants-400.aspx” target=”blank” ]Full Story From MRN[/button]
[box type=”shadow” title=”Unofficial Points Standings” ] DRIVER POINTS BEHIND LEADER
1. Kevin Harvick (2) 437 —
2. Martin Truex Jr. 391 | -46
3. Jimmie Johnson (2) 389 | -48
4. Joey Logano (1) 375 | -62
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1) 360 | -77
6. Brad Keselowski (1) 343 | -94
7. Matt Kenseth (1) 331 | -106
8. Jamie McMurray 328 | -109
9. Jeff Gordon 317 | -120
10. Kasey Kahne 313 | -124[/box]
– written by John Singler
Motor Racing Network
Concord, NC
www.mrn.com
