News and Media Releases

Fourth Win Of The Season

27/09/2009

Three-Time Champ is on Track to Earn Record-Setting Fourth Consecutive Title

Jimmie Johnson dominated Sunday's running of the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway to claim his fourth win of the season and 44th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin finished in the runner-up spot with Jeff Gordon coming home sixth. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. struggled throughout the 400-mile race to finish 20th one lap down to the leaders.

Johnson started the weekend off by earning the pole for the 400-lap event.  He led the first 27 laps retaking the lead at lap 149. He took the top spot for the final time on lap 176 and ended up leading a race high 271 laps. His win also moved him closer to points leader Mark Martin trailing him only by 10 markers.

"It was just an awesome race car, awesome day," stated Johnson. "I can't thank all the Lowe's employees for all of their support. We had the race for relief program on the deck lid  and want to point out that Lowe's is going to donate more money now than we would.  So a lot of great things for us. The fans were great cheering me in when my engine was broken trying to get here to victory lane. I am just so happy we had a maximum points day today, that is what we needed to do."

Martin finished in the runner-up spot and maintained the points lead with only eight races remaining on the schedule. Jeff Gordon gained positions in the point standings moving up two spots to the eighth position with his sixth-place run.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had a rough outing in Dover going a lap down before regaining it late in the race with the "Lucky Dog" pass. However the Quaker State driver fell a lap down again and finished 20th for the day. Earnhardt lost a spot in the point standings and now sits in the 22nd position.

Following Johnson and Martin were Matt Kenseth and Juan Pablo Montoya. Kurt Busch rounded out the top-five in the race on Sunday.

Flag-to-flag coverage of the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods at Kansas Speedway will take the green flag Sunday, October 4 beginning at 1 p.m. (EDT) on ABC.  The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio beginning at 1:15 p.m. (EDT).