Johnson takes off

Jimmie Johnson is on his way to a fourth consecutive title in Nascar Sprint Cup Series, thanks to an almost perfect course since the start of the ?Chase?. Fourth in Loudon, ninth in Kansas, the No. 48 won three times in the series' playoffs, winning the races at Dover, Fontana and, therefore, Charlotte. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who took the lead in the general classification last week, widens the gap at the top of the general classification, taking advantage of Mark Martin's 17th place and the misfortunes of Juan Pablo Montoya.

However, at the start of the race, Jimmie Johnson did not keep the advantage of his pole position for long and was overtaken by Mark Martin, determined to have his chance in the title race. But Johnson quickly regains his position, before having to fight a battle with Matt Kenseth to keep the advantage.

While he had made a good comeback into the top 5, Juan Pablo Montoya was hit slightly during a restart, which was enough to unbalance his car, which became very unstable. Several laps later, the Colombian goes sideways. If his team then restarts his car, Montoya loses several laps and finds himself ousted from the fight for the first places.

Meanwhile, four drivers are above the rest for the conquest of first place. Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson are in the fight. A hundred laps from the finish, Kasey Kahne joined the fight, taking the lead. After 290 laps of the Lowe's Motor Speedway oval, another neutralization allowed Jimmie Johnson to regain the lead, leaving the pits faster than Kasey Kahne.

Jeff Gordon, back in second place after taking the advantage over Kasey Kahne, took advantage of the tenth and final yellow flag to compete with Jimmie Johnson. The two drivers are neck and neck and Jeff Gordon manages to take control of the race.

But, with thirteen laps remaining, Jimmie Johnson passed Jeff Gordon again and fled. No one would see him again, the Hendrick Motorsports driver finishing two seconds ahead of Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne, who caught Jeff Gordon on the final laps.

In the general classification, Jimmie Johnson takes off and increases his lead over his pursuers. With five races to go before the end of the season, nothing is won for the No. 48 but his recent performances, in a defining moment of the year, prove that the Chevy driver is well on his way to winning a fourth consecutive title.