Johnson= 4th straight Series Championship, Hamlin=Ford 400 VictorWritten By: Matt "Night" Rider
HOMESTEAD, FL.- Jimmie Johnson added to his trophy case in a big way. On Sunday afternoon, Johnson picked up his 4th straight Sprint Cup Series Championship, with a fifth place finish at Homestead. The Ford 400 victory went to Joe Gibbs racer Denny Hamlin.
The rest of the top five shake out like this. Jeff Burton takes a solid second place finish, while RCR teammate Kevin Harvick comes home in third. Fourth goes to the blue deuce of Kurt Busch while Johnson ran a smart race, finishing fifth.
Behind Johnson in sixth was Hendrick teammate and long time friend Jeff Gordan. Seventh went to the always exciting Carl Edwards, while Kyle Busch stayed around the top ten all day to bring home an eighth place finish. Nineth was Martin Truex in his last ride with D.E.I. and that black #1 car. Racing a hard fought race was A.J. Allmendinger, who battled and came away with a tenth place finish on the day.
Other notable finishers include Mark Martin, who was chasing Johnson in the Championship points race, finished the day in 12th. "Awesome" Bill Elliot had a good run in his #21 Little Debbie sponsored machine, collecting a sixteenth place finish. Finishing behind Elliot in seventeenth was the always competitive Kasey Kahne.
Stewart Haas Racing teammates Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman took 22nd and 23rd respectively. Stewart bounced back to finish 22nd. Stewart was involved in an early race scuffle with Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya brushed the wall, collecting the "Rushville Rocket". Stewart spun out with a blown tire. This contact ended Montoya's day, saddling him with a DNF (Did Not Finish) and a 38th place finish.
The drivers and teams will be hard at work these next few months, dialing their cars in for February's Daytona 500. Until then, it was a pleasure taking you "Through the Gears". Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Goodnight everyone.
