Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, didn’t get the win but took over the point lead with a solid second-place finish today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s Sylvania 300, the second of the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. This was Johnson’s 19thtop ten finish, which enables him to take a one point lead as the tour heads to Dover next week. Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, and Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, also had top five finishes in today’s event. Gordon was third while Kahne came home fifth.
Defending series champion Tony Stewart, No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, led 38 laps early in the event and came home with a respectable seventh-place finish in today’s race. Stewart is now fourth in the overall standings with eight races remaining. Stewart’s SHR teammate Ryan Newman, No. 39 Aspen Dental Chevrolet, rounded out the top ten with a 10th place finish.
The two other Chevrolet ”Chase” drivers; Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 AMP Energy/Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet, finished 11th and 13th respectively, and remain well in the hunt for the championship. Earnhardt is seventh while Harvick is eighth after two races of the final ten.
Denny Hamlin (Toyota) was the winner, Clint Bowyer (Toyota) finished fourth to round out the top five.
Next stop on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour is Dover, DE on Sunday, September 30, 2012.
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