Johnson Bumps Way To Another Martinsville Speedway Victory

Jimmie Johnson continued his domination of Martinsville Speedway Sunday afternoon, but his win in the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 didn't come easily.

 Johnson bumped past Denny Hamlin on lap 485 and held off Hamlin and Tony Stewart over the final 15 laps for his sixth career Martinsville win. Johnson's margin of victory in his Chevrolet was .774 seconds.

 Hamlin, the defending champion of the event, finished second in a Toyota while Stewart, also in a Chevy was third. Rounding out the top five were Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer, both in Chevys.

 Johnson bumped Hamlin going through the third and four turns on lap 485, moved him up the track and drove past last year's winner. Johnson had lost the lead on lap 456 when Hamlin eased past on the inside on a restart.

"I went into turn three and got inside of him and just started racing," Johnson said of the move that netted him the win. "I think he was trying to not leave me a lot of room which is what you do. Before I knew it I was up on the curve and we made contact and were sliding sideways.

"It certainly wasn't something intentional. I was just trying to get in there and get the win. I was there and he was coming down and made some contact. Thankfully neither one of us spun out and he was able to recover and finish second."

 Hamlin was not overly perturbed by Johnson's move.

"That was short-track racing. I would've done the same thing to him, and if it comes back around, I will do the same," said Hamlin, who posted his seventh top-10 finish in eight races at Martinsville Speedway. "It's just the way it is. In Martinsville, you have to battle for every inch and I was trying to protect a spot and he was trying to get it at the end of the race. That';s the way it goes."

 Racing action will continue at Martinsville Speedway at noon on Monday with the running of the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, postponed by rain on Saturday. The race is set to begin at noon. Gates will open at 9 a.m.