Johnson Holds Off Late Charge From Edwards

Photo courtesy Hendrick Motorsports

Johnson Cruises To Victory and Points Lead

Jimmie Johnson seemed to have victory locked up in Camping World RV 400 at Kansas Sunday - until Carl Edwards rocketed past his No. 48 Chevrolet in turn 3 of the final lap.

“I planned on hitting the wall, but I didn’t plan on the wall slowing me down that much.” ~ Carl Edwards

Edwards had built up a head of steam coming down the backstretch and appeared to have never lifted his right foot off the accelerator.

Edwards’ pass was short-lived, however. He was carrying too much speed into the flat Kansas corner and drifted up to scrape the SAFER barrier with he right side of his No. 99 Ford - allowing Johnson to easily re-pass him on the way to the checkered flag.

I wondered out loud whether or not Johnson had seen the pass coming. “That car goes flying by,” Johnson said of Edwards’ pass. “I knew instantly, there was no damn way he’s making the turn.  Just stayed on the brake, tried to get redirected and turned down.  I was so in awe of how fast he drove it in, I watched him pound the wall and jump back on the gas.  I thought, Man, he’s serious about this win, I better get back on the gas myself.”

The win puts Jimmie Johnson back on top of the Sprint Cup point standings. Johnson looks poised to win his third straight title - a feat not seen since Cale Yarborough first did it exactly 30 years ago in 1978.

Carl Edwards was unapologetic for hitting the wall, however. “My number one thing was make this slide job a real deep one so I don’t collect Jimmie and then hope for the best.  You never know what’s going to happen.  He can go in there and get surprised and it can all work out, you know.” You have to hand it to Carl for giving it everything he had in order to try to win on his home track - even though he could easily have paid a big price in points had the move gone wrong.