Jimmy Johnson at the trade

Exempted from qualifying by rain, the Sprint Cup drivers presented themselves at the start of Martinsville in the order of the general classification, taking advantage of a mainly blue sky.

Jeff Gordon used his pole to lead the start of the race before letting Denny Hamlin take control at the end of the first third.

Behind the two leaders, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart are positioned perfectly to prepare for the money-time.

With one hundred laps to go, only twenty drivers remain on the leader's lap. While Denny Hamlin slowly widened the gap under the green flag, Jeff Gordon lost several positions. Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart passed just before the ninth yellow flag appeared with 73 laps to go.

Johnson moved into the lead coming out of the pits ahead of Hamlin, Stewart, Bowyer and Gordon for a short green flag. Denny Hamlin used the following restart, less than 50 laps from the finish, to regain first position from Jimmy Johnson by diving on the inside.

The safety car intervenes several times at the end of the race. Johnson seems the only one who can counter Hamlin. Third, Tony Stewart cannot make up the few lengths that separate him from the first two.

Sixteen laps from the finish, Jimmy Johnson places a muscular attack on Hamlin and passes by relying on the Toyota n ° 11.

The three-time reigning champion thus won for the first time this season ahead of Denny Hamlin, leader for 296 laps, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer.

In the championship, Gordon secures his first position with this new top 5 ahead of Bowyer, Kurt Busch (18th tonight), Jimmy Johnson and Denny Hamlin.