The win is important for Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports for several reasons. It was Johnson’s 78th career victory. More importantly, Johnson clinched a spot in the next round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup — the first time the six-time Sprint Cup champion has advanced past the Round of 12 in the postseason format’s three years.
It also snaps a 24-race winless streak. It’s Johnson’s third win of the season, but first since March at Auto Club Speedway.
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But while Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick team celebrated, five Chase contenders left the track facing trouble. Joey Logano had tire issues, smacked the wall twice and finished 36th. Kevin Harvick (38th) had a problem that might have been electrical, might have been mechanical, but definitely hurt the 2014 Sprint Cup champion’s hopes of winning the series title this year.
Austin Dillon was running second during a restart on Lap 259 when he got bumped from behind by Martin Truex Jr., sending him hard into the inside wall and a 32nd-place finish. Chase Elliott (33rd) got snared in that same multicar crash.
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Finally, Denny Hamlin was running in the top five when his engine blew on lap 309. He finished 30th.
All five drivers find themselves in danger of falling out of the Chase’s Round of 12. Next up is Kansas Speedway, followed by the elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway.
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Johnson won’t have to worry about that, as his victory assures him a spot in the next round. He told NBC Sports after the race it feels great to snap his winless streak.
“I just knew it was taking way too long,” Johnson said. “This is something really special for our team.
“It wasn’t fun for us to experience what we’ve been through.”
Chase driver Matt Kenseth finished second behind Johnson, while Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Kyle Larson completed the top five. Chase drivers Kyle Busch, who finished sixth, Brad Keselowski (seventh) and Kurt Busch (eighth) all had good days. Chasers Carl Edwards and Martin Truex Jr. finished 12th and 13th, respectively, as the top seven drivers all put plenty of distance between themselves and the five less fortunate Chase contenders.
