Jimmie Johnson, the boss

Jimmie Johnson won this Sunday for the first time on the Bristol circuit. But, as on the other ovals on which he triumphed, the Hendrick Motorsports driver showed the same will and the same tactical intelligence at the end of the race. Once again, he is not the driver who spent the most time at the front but the one who took control at the best moment, in the last laps of the race.

With less than twenty laps remaining, a neutralization due to the presence of debris on the track allowed Johnson to equip himself with four new tires and return to the track with fresh rubber. At the restart, ten laps from the finish, it was Greg Biffle who led the proceedings and Jimmie Johnson was only in sixth position.

But the No. 48 quickly moved back to the head of the peloton, climbing to second place, behind Tony Stewart, whom he followed. His better grip allowed him to overtake seven laps from the finish, taking the race lead at the best moment. The last two minutes were just a formality, Johnson increasing his lead over Stewart and crossing the finish line as the winner, for the third time this season, after only five races.

In the general classification, still dominated by Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson moved up to third place.