Jimmy Johnson Wins Third Straight at Texas as Tempers Flare Afterward

FORT WORTH, TX – RIS – The old joke used to be about going to a fight and a hockey game breaking out.  The same thing could be said for NASCAR these days.  Jimmie Johnson won his fourth race of 2014 in fine fashion in a green-white-checker finish, but what became after might be best described as frustration due to the nature of the format of the championship.  Regardless, let’s talk about what happened on the track.

Johnson survived two green-white-checker finishes to win the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.  Kevin Harvick finished second and Brad Keselowski third.  It was Johnson’s first victory since June and his third straight at this Texas track.

Usually Johnson’s wins in the fall at Texas have come along with a championship, but this year Johnson’s victory denied any of the eight remaining drivers still eligible in the Chase to lock in a spot in the Nov. 16 championship season finale.

Matt Kenseth, who started on the pole, got off to a strong start and led the first 53 laps. Johnson got around Kenseth to take the lead for the first time on Lap 54.

A round of green-flag pit stops began on Lap 87. Once the cycle was completed on Lap 95, Johnson remained in the lead followed by Kenseth and Harvick.

Johnson continued to lead the way until a second round of green-flag stop began on Lap 136. Once the cycle was completed on Lap 141, Johnson held a significant lead followed by Harvick and Gordon.

Debris in Turn 2 brought out the second caution of the race on Lap 175. After all of the lead-lap cars pit for fuel and tires, Johnson stayed in the lead on the restart on Lap 183 followed by Gordon and Harvick.

Kyle Busch slammed the wall on Lap 205 to bring out the third caution. All of the lead-lap cars pit for fuel and tires and again and again Johnson came out the leader on the restart on Lap 211. He was followed by Kenseth and Gordon. Five laps later, Gordon got around Johnson and moved into the lead.

Debris on the frontstretch brought out the fourth caution of the race on Lap 223. All of the lead-lap cars elected to pit and Denny Hamlin took only two new tires and took over the lead on the restart on Lap 228. He was followed by Gordon and Johnson, who both took four new tires. Gordon, with a push from Logano, moved into the lead shortly after the restart.

Debris in Turn 4 brought out a caution on Lap 241. After pit stops, Johnson retook the lead on the restart on Lap 247 followed by Gordon and Kenseth.

Debris from Danica Patrick hitting the wall in Turn 2 brought out the sixth caution of the race on Lap 252. During pit stops, Kenseth’s team was slowed by a stuck lugnut. Keselowski elected not to pit and took over the lead on Lap 259. He was followed by Johnson and Gordon. Kenseth restarted in 20th.

Keselowski was able to remain out front on the older tires longer than many anticipated before Gordon retook the lead on Lap 276.

Debris on the track in Turn 2 brought out a caution on Lap 285. All of the lead-lap cars pit for tires and fuel with Johnson coming off pit road with the lead followed by Harvick and Gordon.

Brett Moffitt wrecked on Lap 296 to bring out a caution on Lap 296. Seven cars elected not to pit during the caution and remained on the track but one, Tony Stewart, had to pit anyway with a flat tire.

On the restart on Lap 303, Kenseth was back in the lead followed by Kurt Busch, Brian Vickers, Hamlin and Kyle Busch, but Kurt Busch moved into the lead on Lap 305. Logano spun with a flat right-rear tire on Lap 305 to bring out the ninth caution of the race. Kurt Busch led the way on the restart on Lap 309.

Kasey Kahne wrecked on Lap 314 to bring out the 10th caution. Kurt Busch elected not to pit and remained in the lead on the restart on Lap 318. Kahne wrecked again on Lap 320 to bring out the 11th caution of the race. On the restart, Johnson led the way followed by Gordon and Kurt Busch.

Gordon moved into the lead after the restart.

Clint Bowyer spun and hit the wall on Lap 331 to bring out the 12th caution of the race, tying a race record. On the restart, Gordon led the way followed by Johnson, Keselowski, Harvick and Jamie McMurray. The racing was fast and furious with drivers taking chances.  This was especially true of Harvick and Keselowski who probably must win to make the four-car playoff for the championship at Homestead, Florida. Then disaster struck. Keselowsk saw a hole between Johnson and Gordon and   hit Gordon on the restart, cutting his tire and causing him to spin. He then lost a lap on pit road. He finished 29th.

On the final restart, Johnson easily cleared Keselowski and drove off into the sunset.  Harvick gave Keselowski the chrome horn, got him loose and passed him on the final lap.  Then the ugliness of competitors’ tempers became evident.

Gordon parked his car next to Keselowski's on pit road after the race and then approached Keselowski. The talked for a moment, and then Gordon started yelling at him. Gordon was briefly restrained before he broke loose and lunged at Keselowski, setting off the melee.  Television footage shows Harvick walking over and shoving Keselowski toward Gordon and the melee began,

Harvick and Johnson both said emotions are running high with just three races remaining in the Chase.

"Obviously, it was no-holds-barred there with the 2. He was in bulldoze mode," Harvick said, who needed to win to dig himself out of a hole after a wreck at Martinsville.

"It's being played rough. It's just one of those deals where everybody is trying to get everything they can and you just do everything you can to do for your team."

"It's intense," Johnson said to ESPN. "Emotions run high and when someone does you wrong and you don't have a chance to repay them on the racetrack, most bring it into the garage area and do something with it there. We're all in a position for a championship, and that's what happens."

Gordon's wreck and the late charges by Keselowski and Harvick reshuffled the Chase standings and tightened up the race with one event remaining in Round 3. The top four finishers advance to the championship race at Homestead.

Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin are tied at the top of the standings heading to Phoenix, while Ryan Newman is in third, two points back. Gordon is fourth, but leads Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards by just one point. Keselowski and Harvick both made up big ground by finishing second and third. Keselowski is just five points out of fourth, while Harvick is six points back.

"This is a testament to this team, that we never give up," Johnson said. " It was a Chase that was tough for us, but to redeem ourselves here today is really, really cool."

Gordon, for one, was glad to see his Hendrick teammate win after his run-in with Keselowski.

"I'm proud of Jimmie Johnson for winning that race and not letting that you-know-what win," he said.

So now, it’s on to Phoenix and next round, no pun intended.  The top four drivers after that race will go on to run for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship

Race Results: 10th Annual AAA Texas 500

Fin, St, Driver, Car, Laps, Pts, BPts, TLd, LLd, Status
1) 3, Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Red Vest Chevrolet, 341, 48, 9, 191, 5, Running
2) 5, Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet, 341, 43, 1, 2, 1, Running
3) 26, Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Miller Lite Ford, 341, 42, 2, 22, 1, Running
4) 9, Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Toyota, 341, 40, , , , Running
5) 21, Jamie McMurray, No. 1 McDonald's Chevrolet, 341, 39, , , , Running
6) 12, Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet, 341, 38, , , , Running
7) 17, Kyle Larson #, No. 42 Target Chevrolet, 341, 37, , , , Running
8) 4, Kurt Busch, No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet, 341, 37, 1, 15, 1, Running
9) 11, Carl Edwards, No. 99 Aflac Ford, 341, 35, , , , Running
10) 20, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 341, 35, 1, 3, 1, Running
11) 6, Tony Stewart, No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobli 1 Chevrolet, 341, 33, , , , Running
12) 10, Joey Logano, No. 22 AAA Insurance Ford, 341, 32, , , , Running
13) 19, Greg Biffle, No. 16 Ortho Fire Ant Killer Ford, 341, 31, , , , Running
14) 23, AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Clorox Chevrolet, 341, 30, , , , Running
15) 7, Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, 341, 29, , , , Running
16) 13, Brian Vickers, No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota, 341, 28, , , , Running
17) 15, Paul Menard, No. 27 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet, 341, 27, , , , Running
18) 38, Casey Mears, No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, 341, 26, , , , Running
19) 8, Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, 341, 25, , , , Running
20) 30, Justin Allgaier #, No. 51 Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau Chevrolet, 341, 24, , , , Running
21) 29, Austin Dillon #, No. 3 Dow Energy & Water Chevrolet, 341, 23, , , , Running
22) 33, Michael Annett #, No. 7 Cypress HQ Chevrolet, 341, 22, , , , Running
23) 18, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 EcoPower Oil Ford, 341, 21, , , , Running
24) 22, Aric Almirola, No. 43 Farmland Ford, 341, 20, , , , Running
25) 1, Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota, 341, 20, 2, 59, 1, Running
26) 40, Cole Whitt #, No. 26 Speed Stick Gear Toyota, 341, 18, , , , Running
27) 16, Marcos Ambrose, No. 9 DeWalt Ford, 341, 17, , , , Running
28) 24, Clint Bowyer, No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota, 341, 16, , , , Running
29) 2, Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, 340, 16, 8, 49, 1, Running
30) 28, Michael McDowell, No. 95 Tommy Williams Drywall Ford, 338, 14, , , , Running
31) 39, JJ Yeley(i), No. 83 Zak Products Toyota, 338, 0, , , , Running
 32) 37, David Ragan, No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford, 338, 12, , , , Running
33) 32, Reed Sorenson, No. 36 Accell Construction Chevrolet, 337, 11, , , , Running
34) 31, David Gilliland, No. 38 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 335, 10, , , , Running
35) 42, Timmy Hill, No. 33 Little Joe's Autos Chevrolet, 334, 9, , , , Running
36) 27, Danica Patrick, No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet, 332, 8, , , , Running
37) 43, Joey Gase(i), No. 32 24/7 E-Cigs Ford, 330, 0, , , , Running
38) 14, Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet, 319, 6, , , , Accident
39) 25, Trevor Bayne(i), No. 21 Motorcraft/Quicklane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 318, 0, , , , Accident
40) 41, Brett Moffitt, No. 66 Vydox Toyota, 283, 4, , , , Accident
41) 36, Josh Wise, No. 98 Provident Metals Chevrolet, 256, 3, , , , Running
42) 35, Alex Bowman #, No. 23 Dr Pepper Toyota, 245, 2, , , , Engine
43) 34, Landon Cassill(i), No. 40 Chevrolet, 134, 0, , , , Engine

# = Rookie, Fin = Finish, St = Start, Pts = Total Points, BPs = Lap Leader Bns Pts, TLd = Times Led, LLd = Laps Led. (i)

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