They threw almost everything at Jimmie Johnson — caution flags, a red flag, an assortment of pit strategies, tight racing — in feeble attempts to halt his march through the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Everything was fruitless.
Johnson, winning the 600 for the second straight year turned in one of the most dominant performances in the long history of NASCAR’s marathon, leading 334 of the 400 laps and slapping away all pretenders over the race’s closing miles.
Johnson won $426,350 and missed the record for most laps led in the 600 — set by Jim Paschal in 1967 — by only one lap. He led 501 of the evening’s 600 miles, an overwhelming performance by any standard.
If there had been any doubt, Johnson, twice a winner this year and owner of eight top-five finishes in 12 races, clearly established himself as a favorite for the Nextel Cup title.
Entering this week’s race at Dover, Del., he is in second place in the point standings, only five points behind Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and has scored six straight top-10 finishes.
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