Johnson rides gentle nudge to victory

Late-lap move leaves drivers slightly tangled

By David Poole | The Charlotte Observer • Published March 30, 2009

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MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin found a way to disagree without being disagreeable after the Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Johnson said the move that led to his victory in Sunday's Sprint Cup race was not a bump-and-run. Johnson, who won for the fifth time in the past six races at this .526-mile track, contended it was Hamlin who initiated the contact that sent Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota up the track in Turn 4 and allowed Johnson to take the lead.

"It was time to go," Johnson said after posting his 41st career victory. "It was just good, hard racing. He was just trying to protect his lead and I wanted to win, too."

Hamlin said he didn't feel that he'd "chopped" down on Johnson as they battled for the victory, but also said it didn't really matter.

"Your bumper is pretty big and the guy who's second and is hungry to win sees it," Hamlin said. "He took advantage of it. I know I would do the same thing. Nobody can sit here and tell me they wouldn't do the same thing he did. I would...and if it comes back around I will do the same."

The final 50 laps or so provided a big dose of drama in a race that Hamlin dominated after taking the lead from Jeff Gordon on Lap 158. Hamlin led the next 187 laps and 296 overall.

Johnson seemed to wrest away the upper hand on the final pit stop, getting back onto the track first for a restart on Lap 430, but Hamlin wasn't through fighting.

After Aric Almirola spun out to cause a caution, Hamlin lined up second behind Johnson for the restart on Lap 456. But Kyle Busch, in a lapped car, was to Johnson's inside and Busch is Hamlin's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Hamlin had his spotter talk to Busch's spotter and arranged for Busch to let Hamlin make a dive to the inside heading toward Turn 1 after the green flag flew. The move was executed flawlessly.

Johnson admitted he was surprised to see Hamlin get such a jump and by the time he reacted Hamlin had the inside lane and, in short order, the lead.

But Johnson would get two more chances on restarts, thanks to late cautions, to get the lead back. Johnson felt that his Chevrolet was better on long runs and Hamlin was worried his car seemed to get looser every time his tires went through a heat cycle.

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