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Johnson Wins Classic Battle
Jimmie Johnson edged Jeff Gordon to win the Goody's Cool Orange 500. |
MARTINSVILLE, VA (April 1, 2007) - Teammates Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon duked it out over the final 18 laps of the Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday afternoon, with Johnson holding on for a .065-second win.
Gordon slammed Johnson's rear bumper in the third and fourth turns on the final lap, pulled halfway alongside his teammate before the two slammed together. Both kept their Chevrolets under control and Johnson edged ahead for the win.
"Jeff would give me a shot every couple laps and as the race went on the shots got harder," said Johnson. "It was hard racing. I don't know how he could have hit me any harder. I would just put my head back on the head rest and wait for it to come.
"The bottom line was Jeff couldn't get up inside of me outside of the turns. I don't know how we could have raced any harder."
Gordon was upset after the race, but not with his teammate.
"I would congratulate him," Gordon said after being asked what he would say to Johnson. "He did exactly what he should have done. I'm mad, but not at him. If I had hit him harder and wrecked him, it would have been an issue."
Denny Hamlin, who started on the pole and led 125 laps, finished third with Kyle Busch fourth. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who led a race-high 137 laps, finished fifth. Jeff Burton was sixth and Tony Stewart seventh. The top seven finishers all drove Chevys.
Scott Riggs, in a Dodge, was eighth, followed by Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth, both in Fords.
"At the beginning of the race, we had a great car," said McMurray, who started second. "I drove too hard at the beginning. I told myself to take it easy on the brakes, but I couldn't help it."
The race was red flagged for just over 31 minutes on lap 354 when the track was hit with a light rain shower.
There were 13 caution periods for 93 laps.
Twenty-one cars were running on the lead lap at the end and 42 of 43 starters were running at the end.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing returns to Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, October 21 with the running of the SUBWAY 500. Tickets are available and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or visiting www.racetickets.com on line.
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