Busch goes past Johnson late

Published 11:58 pm Saturday, July 12, 2008

Below are the official results from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway with starting positions in parentheses, car makes, drivers’ winnings and the top 15 drivers in the Chase standings.

1(1)-Kyle Busch-Toyota-$331,175

2(5)-Jimmie Johnson-Chevrolet-251,086

3(13)-Kevin Harvick-Chevrolet-219,436

4(11)-Greg Biffle-Ford-153,550

5(12)Tony Stewart-Toyota-164,011

6(15)-Brian Vickers-Toyota-119,875

7(9)-Matt Kenseth-Ford-152,291

8(14)-David Ragan-Ford-114,300

9(19)-Martin Truex Jr.-Chevrolet-135,583

10(17)-Ryan Newman-Dodge-143,400

11(6)-Jeff Gordon-Chevrolet-146,811

12(26)-Elliott Sadler-Dodge-124,870

13(39)-A.J. Allmendinger-Toyota-95,525

14(29)-David Reutimann-Toyota-95,700

15(8)-Kasey Kahne-Dodge-125,241

16(2)-Dale Earnhardt Jr.-Chevrolet-101,150

17(16)-Mark Martin-Chevrolet-126,608

18(22)-Juan Montoya-Dodge-119,658

19(3)-Jeff Burton-Chevrolet-132,958

20(38)-Scott Riggs-Chevrolet-115,958

21(24)-Jamie McMurray-Ford-98,100

22(10)-Clint Bowyer-Chevrolet-103,750

23(30)-Dave Blaney-Toyota-105,558

24(40)-J.J. Yeley-Toyota-96,050

25(31)-Robby Gordon-Dodge-109,708

26(27)-Paul Menard-Chevrolet-94,325

27(43)-Jason Leffler-Chevrolet-82,725

28(18)-Kurt Busch-Dodge-85,125

29(20)-Bobby Labonte-Dodge-121,361

30(42)-Patrick Carpentier-Dodge-83,675

31(32)-Reed Sorenson-Dodge-108,689

32(4)-Carl Edwards-Ford-128,700

33(25)-Casey Mears-Chevrolet-100,025

34(33)-Regan Smith-Chevrolet-88,875

35(37)-Bill Elliott-Ford-98,995

36(28)-Michael Waltrip-Toyota-92,108

37(35)-Sam Hornish Jr.-Dodge-125,800

38(36)-Terry Labonte-Dodge-89,547

39(41)-Joe Nemechek-Chevrolet-79,800

40(7)-Denny Hamlin-Toyota-114,571

41(21)-Travis Kvapil-Ford-106,594

42(23)-David Gilliland-Ford-79,210

43(34)-Michael McDowell-Toyota-79,377

Chase for the Sprint Cup

1-Kyle Busch-2,881 points

2-Dale Earnhardt Jr.-262 points behind

3-Jeff Burton-291

4-Carl Edwards-372

5-Jimmie Johnson-387

6-Jeff Gordon-497

7-Greg Biffle-563

8-Matt Kenseth-564

9-Kevin Harvick-573

10-Tony Stewart-576

11-Kasey Kahne-586

12-Denny Hamlin-598

13-Clint Bowyer-625

14-Brian Vickers-693

15-David Ragan-696

JOLIET, Ill. – Kyle Busch passed Jimmie Johnson after a restart on the next-to-last lap Saturday night to win his seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season.

Johnson had gone by Busch with 17 laps remaining in the LifeLock.com 400. But on the restart after the ninth caution, Busch went high on the track at Chicagoland Speedway and got by Johnson and held on for yet another victory.

Busch has 14 victories this season, spanning NASCAR’s three series. He won a Nationwide Series race on the same track Friday night.

And the 23-year-old Busch showed again why he leads the Sprint Cup points race with some great driving at the end.

“It didn’t matter which way he was going to go, I was going the opposite way,” Busch said of the pulsating finish.

“I pushed Jimmie Johnson to go and was like, `Let’s go man, here we go.’ I just had to go to the outside because he was going to block the bottom in Turn 1 and 2.”

But without the final yellow, Busch said he would have lost.

“Without that caution the race was over. Jimmy was going to lead us to the checkered flag,” Busch said.

Busch’s biggest problem came after the race when he got stuck in the mud as he tried to do a celebratory drive through the infield grass. That’s been plenty to feel good about all season.

“I don’t believe how good things are going. It’s just been a phenomenal year. Something just so special,” Busch said.

Johnson, the two-time defending Sprint Cup champion, took second and Kevin Harvick, who entered the race in 13th in points, was third.

“I thought I had such a good car, I thought I’d get away from him on the restart. He got a great start and was right there with me and just broke past that bumper plane through the center of one and two. And that was it,” Johnson said.

“If I could do it over again I’d play more defense on the restart.”

Busch, the pole sitter, led for the first 43 laps, fell off the pace and then got back in front on the 121st lap and held it for 80 more. He led for a total of 165 laps, Johnson was in front for 15.

Carl Edwards took the lead from Busch with 64 laps left. But Edwards’ lead was brief. He was forced to pit with a left front tire and moments later Busch was back in front.

Greg Biffle, who led for 43 laps, finished fourth. Tony Stewart, still looking for his first win this season, finished fifth. Stewart announced earlier this week that he would leave Joe Gibbs racing at the end of the season to become part owner and driver with a team that will be called Stewart-Haas Racing next season.

Saturday’s race was also the first Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland to start in the late evening and end up at night.

Busch added 195 points to his total with the victory.

“It was a great car out front all night,” he said. “I knew when Jimmie got us there that the clean air was going to be it. Luckily we got that caution and got back by him.”