Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Blog

Hendrick's Johnson Claims 'Ultimate Reward'

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:39:00 +0000

MIAMI (AP) -- Nothing could stop Jimmie Johnson's drive into the NASCAR record books. Not even a final, furious push by Carl Edwards.

Edwards led a race-high 157 laps at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Sunday's season-ending race, ran out of gas as he crossed the finish line, but still won the race for his series-high ninth victory of the year.

The effort still was not enough to wrest the Sprint Cup title away from Johnson, who locked up his third consecutive championship with a solid 15th-place run.

Johnson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, beat Edwards by 69 points to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers in NASCAR history to win three straight championships.

"It's the ultimate reward," Johnson said. "We worked so hard to put ourselves in this position.

"It's just total teamwork and dedication. There were times this year when things were dark, but we buckled down and got to work, and that's what it was really all about."

Yarborough won his three titles 30 years ago, under a different scoring system and in a very different NASCAR. He accomplished his feat when drivers scraped together the cash they needed to race, and the champion was the guy on top at the end of a long grueling season.

Johnson's titles have been won in the glitzy new championship format, in which the best 12 drivers compete over a 10-race sprint to the title. His team has mastered the system, proving themselves unbeatable in their pursuit of Yarborough's mark.

He has won his titles with consistency -- Johnson finished outside the top 10 just twice in this Chase, a 15th place finish at Texas -- and by winning eight of the last 30 Chase races.

He also has gotten very rich along the way, winning more than $2 million in the 10 Chase races this year.

Yarborough notched a combined $1.63 million in all three of his championship seasons.

Although the industry was keenly aware of its front-row seat to history, the celebration seemed subdued because of the economic crisis that has found its way to NASCAR. The Big Three automakers are crumbling; car owners are struggling to find sponsorship.

Widespread layoffs are expected Monday, when teams could combine to let go as many as 1,000 employees.

NASCAR officials have said the sport would suspend all testing next year to help teams save millions in their 2009 budgets.

Had the crisis hit earlier, and the testing ban been in place this season, Johnson very well might not have won the title. He struggled at the start of the year in adapting to the full-time use of NASCAR's current car.

Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus embarked on an aggressive testing schedule that helped them catch the competition by late summer.

"It's what we work for," said Knaus, the first crew chief to win three consecutive titles. "It's what we do. We don't want to do anything but race and win races and win championships."

When Edwards won back-to-back races at Atlanta and Texas to take a bite out of Johnson's points lead, Johnson rebounded with a victory at Phoenix last week to make Sunday's drive a mere formality. He needed only to finish 36th or better to win the title.

Johnson qualified 30th for Sunday's race. But he moved to the top of the speed charts in Saturday's practices, then wasted no time driving through the field at the start of the race -- picking up at least one position a lap and running inside the top five as the laps wound down.

He stopped for gas and tires with 13 laps to go, leading to his mid-pack finish.

Edwards was a gracious runner-up. After his trademark celebratory backflip, he walked over to Johnson's passing car on the track to congratulate him.

"At least we can lay our heads down tonight and know we won some races and just got beaten by a true champion," said Edwards, who gained 72 points on Johnson in the final race.

Johnson Virtually Clinches Title With Victory In Phoenix

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:34:00 +0000

'El Cajon Posse' Out In Force For Johnson Celebration

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Just when Carl Edwards seemed to have Jimmie Johnson on the ropes, the two-time defending NASCAR champion delivered the knockout punch.

Johnson moved inches away from his record-tying third consecutive Cup championship with a dominating victory Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, where he led a race-high 217 of the 313 laps to deflate Edwards' title hopes.

Johnson heads into next week's season finale with a 141-point lead over Edwards. He needs only to finish 36th or better to join Cale Yarborough (1976-78) as the only drivers in NASCAR history to win three straight Cup titles.

"This is what I've worked my whole life for," Johnson said in Victory Lane.

The victory was his third straight at Phoenix and had Edwards on the edge of conceding after his own fourth-place finish.

"It's still possible," Edwards sighed. "It's not probable."

No, it's not. Not with the way Johnson is running.

Johnson has made a mockery of the Chase-for-the-Championship format, reeling off 14 victories in the 49 races since NASCAR adopted the format in 2004. He contended for the title in 2004 and 2005, only to come up just short both seasons.

He's on the verge of joining Yarborough, David Pearson, Lee Petty and Darrell Waltrip as a three-time champion.

Jeff Gordon, Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, has four titles. Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty won a NASCAR-record seven.

Johnson has done it in dominating fashion, particularly this year; he's finished in the top 10 in seven Chase races, and his lowest finish was a sub-par 15th last week at Texas.

Edwards won at Texas, his second straight victory, to take a bite off of Johnson's lead.

Johnson struggled through Saturday's final practice session and suddenly looked vulnerable. But crew chief Chad Knaus worked with Johnson late into the night to figure out a better setup and strategy, and the duo had the field covered from the start on Sunday.

"Jimmie stepped up," Knaus said. "We came here with something a little bit different than what we ran in the past. It worked great for qualifying, but not in the race. Jimmie brought a lot to the table in pointing things out to me. We put a different setup in the car, and it was fast all day."

With a crowd of friends -- including professional baseball players Brian and Marcus Giles -- watching from his pit box, Johnson started from the pole but gave way to Jamie McMurray on the first lap. He did not take the lead until Lap 81, but was never challenged from there.

McMurray briefly moved out front again after a round of late pit stops. But Johnson blew past him in Turn 2 of a restart and hardly was challenged again.

Kurt Busch made a brief run at Johnson in the closing laps but graciously settled for second.

"He's doing something pretty special," Busch said of Johnson. "It's really a privilege to finish second to him today."

Click here for complete race results

Click here for complete NASCAR standings

Edwards' gamble pays off as he cuts into Johnson's lead

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:32:00 +0000

FORT WORTH, Texas (NASCAR.com) - NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards, doing his best to keep Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson from claiming his third straight points championship, has spent the past weeks insisting that the Chase for the Cup is not over.

Perhaps he's right. Sunday, Edwards won his eighth race of the season and chopped nearly 80 points off Johnson's lead in the standings.

After holding off Johnson's teammate and race runner-up Jeff Gordon to win the Dickie's 500, Edwards said he no longer is even listening to claims that Johnson's lead remains insurmountable with two races to go. He's going to "goof around with my buddies" back home in Missouri during the week and then focus on winning on the weekends.

It took fuel strategy Sunday just as much as good driving for Edwards to win. Squeezing 69 laps out of his last tank of fuel at 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway, Edwards slowed his speed to a relative crawl in the closing laps and rolled across the finish line 8.31 seconds ahead of Gordon, who also stretched his fuel mileage.

Johnson, meanwhile, finished 15th -- a lap down. He saw his lead trimmed from 183 points prior to Sunday to 106 entering next weekend's race in Phoenix.

Edwards again will have his work cut out for him next Sunday; Johnson has won the last two races at Phoenix.

Jamie McMurray finished third Sunday after giving up the lead for a gas-and-go on lap 321 of the 334-lap race. Clint Bowyer was fourth, followed by Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and David Reutimann.

Edwards, who led a career-high 212 laps, opted for four tires during a pit stop on lap 264 and dropped from the lead to seventh for a restart on lap 270. McMurray led the parade of drivers who took two tires during the lap 264 pit stops and rolled off pit road with the lead.

McMurray and Bowyer streaked away from the rest of the field after the restart, but both had to pit for fuel with fewer than 15 laps left, as did Biffle. By then, Edwards had worked his way into the fourth position, and he inherited the lead on lap 322 after all three cars ahead of him had stopped for fuel.

From that point on, Edwards drove in conservation mode as crew chief Bob Osborne made the commitment to the fuel gamble.

Edwards, who won at Texas in April, became the first driver to sweep both events at TMS in the same season.

"My guys did a great job," Edwards said. "We took off there for a while. We made probably the wrong call getting four tires, but Bob came up with a way to win that thing, anyway. That was great.

"First, Bob said: 'We're two-tenths of a lap short, so conserve. Then he came back and said: 'No, we're four laps short. Just go real hard, and we'll pit.' Then he came back and said: 'Well conserve.' Just by default, I kind of knew he wasn't too sure about it. But I'm really glad it worked out. It's unreal.

"It was a great day," Edwards said. "We're closing ground on Jimmie. That's cool."

Asked about Edwards gambling on running the final 69 laps without pitting, Johnson said: "I feel that they knew they were going to make it.

"When they started that last run, I really expected the 99 to fly through the pack and end up in the lead in a short period of time," Johnson said. "It just took them a long time to get going. I thought: 'Well, maybe his car isn't working right. But, I believe in the end they were saving fuel, they were playing that card and if it worked, great, if not, they still were going to gain a bunch of points on us."

Johnson said the championship chase, with races at Phoenix and Homestead remaining is still far from over.

"We've got to fight hard and continue to fight hard," he said. "We go to a great track for us next week."

Johnson is trying to become only the second driver to claim three consecutive points championships, joining Cale Yarborough.

Demolition Derby: RHC Takes 4th Place

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:57:00 +0000

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall will do its part to help you get to the polling place Nov. 4. Need a ride? No problem. Just give us a call at 1-866-883-2563 by Nov. 1 to reserve your ride to your voting location.
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Hendrick Durham Auto Mall finished fourth in last week's demolition derby at the N.C. State Fair. The drivers and service professionals who worked on the cars and got them ready to compete were optimistic about their chances going up, but there proved to be a real "bang-up" field of competitors.

As evidenced by these photos, there was not much left of the RHC Pontiac that batled in the 4-cylinder division.

Here are some results, according to the official blog of the N.C. State Fair:

#In the 4-cylinder feature heat, Tony Camptella of Raleigh finished first in the Moonshine Express, eliminating Jimmy Goodman of Topsail Beach.

#In the 6-cylinder feature heat, Ricky Cooke of Jamestown was the winner. Topsail Beach's Goodman again finished second.

#In the 8-cylinder feature heat, Chris Lane defeated fellow Goldsboro driver Donald Stokes for the championship.

#In the women's feature, Nikki Goins of Goldsboro beat Wendy Thornton of Mt. Olive to take the title.

Johnson Big Winner Even In Defeat

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:54:00 +0000

HAMPTON, Ga. (NASCAR.com) -- Even after winning Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Carl Edwards looked deflated after he was told that Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson had finished second.

"Are you kidding me?" Edwards asked incredulously after taking the checkered flag more than two and a half seconds ahead of Johnson. "Man, Jimmie's magic."

By finishing second, Johnson -- who fell a lap down at one point after a penalty for speeding on pit road -- extended his NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead to a seemingly insurmountable 183 with just three races remaining. Edwards was left to exclaim that he's got to win all of the remaining events and "hope for the best" if he intends to keep Johnson from winning his third straight championship.

Edwards jumped two spots into second place in the standings with his seventh victory of the season. But no driver has overcome more than a 50-point deficit to win with just three races remaining.

Edwards took the lead from third-place finisher Denny Hamlin moments after a restart on lap 310 of 325 on the 1.54-mile track. Hamlin spun his tires coming to the start/finish line, allowing Edwards to pass to the outside through the first and second turns, and Edwards held the lead through a caution for debris on lap 312.

Johnson, meanwhile, fell to 11th -- giving up three positions -- when Knaus called him to pit road for new tires on lap 314. Johnson restarted 11th on lap 318, but by the end of that circuit, he had passed four cars.

"Having those new tires versus those other guys, that was a great call," Johnson said. "It was a risky call, but that shows you how (crew chief) Chad (Knaus) is, that we're here to race."

Working his way toward the front, Johnson passed Hamlin for second through the third turn on the final lap to cut his points loss to Edwards to a minimum.

It was a remarkable rally for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. On lap 89, Johnson had smoked his tires entering pit road and was nailed with a speeding penalty that dropped him to 30th in the running order.

By the time the field restarted on lap 115, after a caution for debris, Johnson was 20th -- the first car one lap down. When caution flew again on lap 131 for Kasey Kahne's spin off turn 4, Johnson got a free pass to the lead lap as the "Lucky Dog."

Up until a few years ago, drivers who were a lap down would race back to the start/finish line when a caution flag came out in an effort to get back on the lead lap. But NASCAR officials deemed that too dangerous and changed the rule so that the first car a lap down automatically would get the lap back when the yellow flag came out and be called the "Lucky Dog."

That was Johnson on Sunday, who seemed as disbelieving as Edwards was about the final results.

"I'm just as shocked as he is," Johnson said. "I thought we were going to finish ninth or 10th. That last caution came out there, and I give Chad credit for making the call and playing the strategy right. It worked out well for us."

Johnson, Hendrick Close In On History With Familiar Result

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:56:00 +0000

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) - Jimmie Johnson is on a roll again, and -- while everyone else in NASCAR is chasing him -- he's chasing history.

Johnson led 339 laps Sunday en route to victory, and he and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates again dominated at Martinsville Speedway.

The two-time defending Sprint Cup champion padded his lead in his quest for a record-tying third championship in a row with four races remaining.

Cale Yarborough, from 1976-78, is the only driver to win three straight championships in stock-car racing's premier series. It appears likely Johnson will be the second.

With a 149-point lead following his sixth victory of the season, Johnson heads to next weekend's race in Atlanta with the largest lead in the history of the Chase for the Cup at this point in the season.

"I'm going to have to answer those questions one of these days, aren't I?" Johnson said of taking a position beside Yarborough in history.

"There's a lot of great teams that were huge in the sport," Dale Earnhardt, Jr. said, lumping Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus in with his father and Richard Petty, both seven-time champions, and Hall of Famers David Pearson, Yarborough and Junior Johnson."To pack it in three years and just dominate like that, there's only a half a dozen teams that have ever done anything like that, been that strong consistently."

And it could only be the beginning of another big finish for Johnson. It was a year ago that this race started a four-race winning streak for Johnson.

He said he's not planning on letting up at all.

"As long as I can stay scared and on my heels and worried about losing this thing, the better this team's going to be," Johnson said. "If we start getting comfortable and complacent, we're going to stub our toes, make mistakes. We're trying to keep our eye on the prize."

So are the rest of the contenders, even if it's getting further and further away.

"We're going to come and get them," said Greg Biffle, who climbed to second in points. "We've got four more chances, so they better be on their 'A' game. I'm still confident we can catch them."

So are Jeff Burton, 152 points back, and Carl Edwards, fourth and 198 behind.

"He could have any sort of trouble the next two races and be right back there with us," Edwards said, lumping himself with Biffle and Burton. "It can happen to anyone."

But at Martinsville, as always, no driver had a way to stop Johnson. It was his third consecutive fall victory here and fourth in the last five races on NASCAR's shortest oval.

Earnhardt, Jr., was second, followed by Edwards and Jeff Gordon, giving Hendrick three of the top four spots. Denny Hamlin was fifth, and Casey Mears -- the fourth Hendrick driver -- was sixth.

The 1-2 finish was the 23rd for Hendrick Motorsports and third at Martinsville. It was sealed in a two-lap sprint to the finish after the 12th caution flew on lap No. 499.

"I didn't have anything for Jimmie; that car was so awesome," Earnhardt, Jr., said.

Johnson led seven times in all, passing Gordon for the top spot with 209 laps to go, then making quick work of Matt Kenseth, who stayed out on the track under caution with 38 to go.

The 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid voted Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:54:00 +0000

The 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid has earned more recognition for its environmentally friendly technology and focus.

It has been voted 2008 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal.

Besides being a car that emits far fewer pollutants than many of today's vehicles, the Tahoe Hybrid has returned a stunning mileage, which was 30 percent higher than that of other V8s. It beat competitors Malibu, Saturn Aura, Mazda Tribute and Nissan Altima.

The 2008 Tahoe Hybrid's improved mileage is more than just a number. To the discerning buyer, the vehicle offers the best deal one can expect. It gives the best mileage in conditions in which most of its driving is done - on city roads. Here, its mileage went up by 50 percent. What makes the improved mileage possible is hybrid technology.

The jury that awarded this title was selected from leading names in the environment and industry.

2009 Chevrolet Traverse

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:39:00 +0000

The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse is GM's first 8-passenger crossover SUV. It shares the same design platform as siblings GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook. The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse comes in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels.

Powering the Traverse is a 3.6-liter, V-6, 286 horsepower engine with direct fuel injection which allows for improved power and gas mileage. Standard transmission is a six-speed automatic; front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional. EPA estimated mileage is 24 mpg highway, the best highway fuel economy of any 8-passenger crossover. The Traverse has sporty, four-wheel-independent suspension, for on-road comfort.

The Chevrolet Traverse receives a stacked grille, similar to the one on the redesigned Chevy Malibu. SUV features a high beltline and tall roof and comes with an optional panoramic moonroof. The cabin is roomy with ample space for eight passengers and best in-class cargo volume. Second and third row seats fold flat for cargo space of 116.4 cubic feet; cargo volume behind the third row is 26.1 cubic feet.

Standard safety features include front, side-impact and side curtain airbags; antilock brakes, an electronic stability system, and OnStar standard with one year directions and connections plan are also standard as is turn by turn navigation. The 2009 Traverse earned a 5-Star safety crash rating.

Johnson Upset, Frustrated As Points Race Tightens

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:46:00 +0000

CONCORD (NASCAR.com) -- Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson has been in charge at Lowe's Motor Speedway, considering his past success at the track.

Therefore, last weekend's sixth-place finish at the "house that Jimmie built" was not acceptable for the driver with six victories at the North Carolina track.

After Saturday night's Bank of America 500, Johnson was visibly upset as he walked into the post-race news conference with a bowed head and morose tone.

"The first two-thirds was good for us, then we were junk at the end," said Johnson, who led twice for a race-high 67 laps -- accumulating 10 bonus points toward his lead in the race for the Sprint Cup points championship.

Johnson's No. 48 team -- chasing its third straight championship -- has maintained the points lead for three straight weeks over Roush-Fenway Racing drivers Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle. But now Jeff Burton, who won Saturday's race, also is hot on Johnson's tail.

"We took a lot of risks trying to get as many points as I could on (Biffle) and trying to hang with (Burton) and get by him," Johnson said. "Damn near threw it away a couple times. Just hate the last third of the race. We got out in left field and couldn't get it back."

Burton and Johnson raced side-by-side for the lead Saturday nearing the final laps when the No. 48 Chevrolet took fresh right-side tires on the last round of pit stops.

"That's what put me on pace with him," Johnson recalled of the tires. "The old characteristics showed back up in the car, what we were dealing with. But, for sure, it's frustrating not being able to complete the pass."

"I thought I was going to clean us both out. Fortunately, that didn't happen. But I was certainly frustrated slipping back through the field. You don't know how important those points are going to be until the end of the year."

This season, few of Johnson's five victories have come down to side-by-side finishes. At Auto Club Speedway in August, Johnson led 228 of the 250 laps, and thst has been a victory trend he is comfortable with.

"I had to take a lot of chances (Saturday) to get the results we did," Johnson said. "I don't like putting myself in that situation. I almost lost the car a handful of times.

"That frustration of being on pins and needles out there, trying to run as hard as you can, watching positions slip by. . . I've got a good hour of being upset in me. It will take a little while to get it out of my system."

Looking at the point standings, Burton and Biffle -- who finished third Saturday -- are less than 100 points back of Johnson. Edwards is 168 points behind in fourth.

Despite his tumultuous night, Johnson said the championship chase may have narrowed to the top three drivers.

"It's such a relative situation," he said. "If we have problems, those guys are right back in it.

"As we get down to fewer races on the schedule, I think that margin becomes more comfortable. That's a decent margin. But it took other guys having problems to let me into it."

Heading to Martinsville Speedway next week, Johnson remains optimistic. He has four Sprint Cup Series wins at the short track.

"Right now, I'm pissed about (Saturday)," Johnson said last weekend. "But, you know, tomorrow, Tuesday, whatever it is, I think we'll be real good over there.

"(Martinsville) has been a great track to us."

RHC Of Durham Wishes Rays Well Against Red Sox

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:13:00 +0000

The staff and management at Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall extend their best wishes to the Tampa Bay Rays as they open their American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox.

The Rays, parent club of the class AAA Durham Bulls, are in the Major League Baseball playoffs for the first time. The team is powered by several former Bulls who gained fame in Durham by posting victories and hitting home runs just down the street from RHC's downtown dealership.

Outfielders B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford and Jonny Gomes are three of the most popular players in Bulls history. They should be seeing significant action against the Red Sox alongside another famous Durham slugger, rookie infielder Evan Longoria.

Other former Bulls on the Rays' roster are Gabe Gross, Fernando Perez and Rocco Baldelli

Perez and Gomes played in Durham as recently as this season. Rays pitchers David Price and Scott Kazmir also both pitched this season in Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The Rays, prior to this season one of the worst teams in the majors, finished this season as champions of the American League East division -- beating out perennial favorites the Red Sox and New York Yankees.

No doubt, Durham and the Bulls will receive attention and recognition during the Rays' potential run to the World Series. Rick Hendrick Chevrolet is proud to support its community and its minor-leaguers.

Click here for complete up-to-the-minute coverage of the ALCS.

Click here for complete coverage of the Phillies-Dodgers National League series

Good Fortune Helps Johnson Widen Points Lead

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:38:00 +0000

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Jimmie Johnson used good fortune, good driving and good work by his pit crew Sunday to widen his lead in the NASCAR Sprint Cup points standings and close in on his third consecutive championship for Hendrick Motorsports.

Having fallen a lap down in just the first 25 laps, Johnson came back to finish ninth in tho Amp Energy 500 -- somehow dodging a major wreck that wiped out half of the Chase field and putting himself in the driver's seat for a possible Sprint Cup three-peat.

Tony Stewart, in his last race at Talladega for Joe Gibbs Racing, won the race to get his first victory of the season and end a 43-race winless streak. But perhaps none of the drivers was happier or more relieved after the final results than Johnson.

Click here for complete results and standings.

Team owner Rick Hendrick -- who also owns Hendrick Durham Auto Mall -- beamed from atop Johnson's pit box as his driver safely crossed the finish line just moments after the large wreck left only a handful of drivers competing for the final laps.

As Johnson opened a 72-point lead in the standings with just six races remaining in the season, his top challengers for the title -- Roush Racing teammates Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards -- loaded wrecked racecars on their haulers.

An incident on lap 174 took out a total of 12 cars, including Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.

"When you look at the trouble that Chasers had (Sunday), that's what we all feared," Johnson said. You get all these guys together racing for the win, and stuff happens.

"I don't know how I got through, to be honest with you. But it was a solid day and an awesome finish."

Johnson's day was not without misfortune. In fact, it started with Johnson's team deciding to inspect the engine's cylinder walls, to figure out why the No. 48 Chevrolet did not seem quite right in Saturday's qualifying. That put Johnson at the tail end of the field at the start, and he promptly lost the draft right off the bat.

"I'm mentally drained," Johnson told reporters after the race. "It started with qualifying. We weren't sure what was going on, and (Sunday), the car was pretty flat still. I lost the draft at the start of the race because I couldn't hang on, and then from there, we got our lap back and dodged wrecks and raced really hard."

Crew chief Chad Knaus felt the pressure, as well. As the team troubles seemed to compound toward the end of the race, Knaus was joined in his box by Hendrick. And together, they showed the resolve that has resulted in back-to-back titles, kept the team and driver focused.

"Obviously, it was a very stressful day," Knaus said. "It was a day of survival. Jimmie did a great job of missing all the wrecks, and the pit crew did a great job of making adjustments on the car. We didn't create any more problems than what we'd already had.

"Heck, I think we made up points on just about everybody, so that was a day well done."

Johnson had an opportunity to put even more ground between himself and the Chase contenders. But when the car would not respond on the final restart, he decided to take what he could get.

"I couldn't even accelerate and hang on to the cars in front of me," Johnson said. "So I was kind of in no-man's land, and they came thundering by, and the next thing you know, I'm the last car in that lead draft. And I was hanging on just to stay there. I don't know why the car wouldn't suck up and go."

Even though Johnson will enter Saturday's race outside Charlotte 72 points ahead of Edwards and 77 in front of Biffle, he said the championship remains up for grabs.

"I've realized in the past that the whole sport falls into a comfort zone and thinks that 60, 80, or 100 points is a big gap," he said. "But truly, that can go away in a hurry.

"I'm happy that it is what it is, but I know there is a lot of racing ahead of us. If I had a (72-point) lead going into Homestead (for the final race), I'd feel a lot better. But with six to go, there's plenty of racing left."

Edwards' Bold Move Not Enough As Johnson Regains Sprint-Cup Points Lead

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:55:00 +0000

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson and team owner Rick Hendrick are back on top of the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. This time, they hope to stay there.

Johnson won Sunday's race at Kansas Speedway -- the fourth race of the 10-race "Chase for the Cup" -- to move 10 points ahead of Roush Racing's Carl Edwards in Johnson's quest for a third straight championship.

The victory was Johnson's fifth of the season and did not come until the final lap, when Edwards actually intentionally bounced off the speedway's outer wall in an effort to spring past Johnson.

"Where'd he come from?" Johnson asked after Edwards shot underneath him in the third turn of the final lap before banging hard off the wall, giving Johnson just enough room to drive back to the front.

Edwards' manuever showed how intensely and passionately America's top stock-car drivers are racing for the title.

Among those drivers was Jeff Gordon, Johnson's teammate, who used a strong showing to move into sixth in the standings and give Hendrick three drivers in the top 10.

For complete results, click here.

For complete standings, click here.

Edwards, who lost the lead to Johnson 47 laps from the end on the final pit stops by the leaders, said he intended to hit the wall on his desperation move on the final trip around the 1.5-mile oval.

"But I didn't plan on the wall slowing me down that much," he said.

In video games, you can just run into the wall and run it wide open. That's what I did, but it didn't quite work out the same as the video game."

Johnson, who held the top spot in the chase a couple of races ago before falling behind Edwards, appeared to have Sunday's race well in hand after regaining the lead on lap 220 of the 267-lap event.

Edwards -- who started 35th out of 43 drivers -- got the gap down to a few feet heading into the third turn on lap 266. But Johnson pulled away again as they reached the finish line.

"To be honest, I was cruising down the backstretch (on the last lap), had a decent lead, and I knew he would go to the bottom," Johnson told reporters after the race, according to an Associated Press article. "My concern was just making sure I was at his quarterpanel coming off of turn two. So I was thinking through what I needed to do and, next thing you know, that car goes flying by.

"I knew inside there was no damn way he was making the turn and just stayed on the brake and tried to get it redirected and turned down. Then I was so in awe of how far he drove it in. I watched him pound the wall and get back in the gas and thought: 'Man, he's serious about this win. I'd better get back in the gas myself.'"

Johnson said he saw plenty of "slide jumps" when he was running dirt-track races early in his career. But he added that Edwards still caught him off guard.

"(Edwards) took it in way beyond any sense of normal thinking and was committed to it," Johnson said.

"I still can't explain to you how surprised I was and shocked. Still, it was pretty damn cool to see him bouncing around like that and skipping off the wall."

Said Edwards: "I just really, really wanted to win this race. ... But Jimmie's a smart racer. I've done that to guys, too. When they slide-jump you, you just lift, go right back by them and watch them. I didn't know what was going to happen and just had to give it a try."

Busch's Title Hopes 'Up In Smoke' As Biffle Wins Again

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:20:00 +0000

DOVER, Del. -- A dream day for Roush Racing was a nightmare for Kyle Busch.

Busch, the erstwhile NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader, plummeted to a distant 12th in the standings on Sunday as Roush teammates claimed the top three spots in the Camping World RV 400 at Dover International Speedway.

Busch had engine problems, finished last in the 43-car field and considered his championship hopes "up in smoke" following the race.

"Something broke inside the engine; I'm not sure what it is," he said. "At this point it doesn't matter. We're out of the title hunt; that's for sure."

Meanwhile, Roush racer Greg Biffle moved solidly into title contention with his second consecutive victory. After winning the first two races of the 10-race "Chase for the Cup," Biffle moved into a tie for second in the standings -- just 10 points behind leader and teammate Carl Edwards.

Roush driver Matt Kenseth finished second Sunday, with Edwards third. Edwards took over sole possession of the points lead, 10 points clear of Hendrick Motorsports driver and two-time defending points champion Jimmie Johnson.

Biffle became the first driver to win the first two races of the 10-race championship chase.

Also enjoying strong runs Sunday were the three drivers for Richard Childress Racing, each of whom finished in the top 10 (Kevin Harvick - 6th; Clint Bowyer -- 8th; Jeff Burton -- 9th).

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon finished seventh Sunday to move into the top 10 of the standings and give Hendrick three drivers in the top 10 (Johnson - T2nd; Gordon -- 8th; Dale Earnhardt, Jr. -- 9th).

See complete story, results and standings

Johnson Moves Into Tie For Chase Lead

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:31:00 +0000

LOUDON, N.H. - Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson, after finishing second Sunday while one-time points leader Kyle Busch finished poorly, has moved into a tie for the lead in the chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Meanwhile, Greg Biffle, who began the chase as a long shot, used Sunday's victory over Johnson as a catalyst for getting back into title contention.

The first of the 10 "Chase for the Cup" races proved exciting and dramatic -- and also showed the fine line between being contender and pretender.

Winless for almost a year and seeded a distant ninth in the 12-driver field, few considered Biffle a serious contender prior to Sunday. But he used a self-described "textbook pass" on Johnson with 12 laps to go at New Hampshire International Raceway to snap a 33-race winless streak and vault all the way to third in the Chase standings.

Entering Sunday's second Chase race, at Dover, Del., Biffle trails co-leaders Johnson and Carl Edwards by just 30 points.

Johnson, the two-time defending series champion, seemed to have the first round of the Chase locked up after leading a race-high 96 laps. But Biffle was hopeful that a late caution would give him the chance he needed to run Johnson down. He got it when Patrick Carpentier spun late, setting up a restart with 13 laps to go.

Biffle slid past Johnson on the next lap to grab the surprise victory - his first victory since Kansas last September.

Edwards finished third, followed by Jeff Burton and Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., as Chase drivers swept the top five spots.

Earnhardt and Burton go to Dover tied for fourth in the standings, 50 points back.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon fell one spot in the standings to 11th.

Busch, the regular-season points winner, struggled from the start in a disaster of an opening race and finished 34th -- 12 laps down.

Busch broke the sway bar on his Toyota just minutes after the race began and struggled to keep his car off the wall as he tried to nurse it to the mandatory first caution at lap 35. He barely made it and fell two laps off the pace - one lap because of a penalty - and restarted in 43rd place. He was in a later wreck.

After starting the Chase with an 80-point cushion, Busch tumbled all the way to eighth in the standings.

Flex-Fuel Vehicles In Abundance At RHC

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:02:00 +0000

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson, winner of two straight races, enters the Chase for the Cup with momentum on his side. See complete story

RHC of Durham Makes Your Ride Green

Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall offers many vehicles that ease the cost of running on conventional fuels.

We deal with all the models of Chevrolet vehicles that are fitted with E85. This Flex Fuel, which is comprised of 85-percent ethanol and 15-percent gasoline, is being hailed as the most sensible and practical alternative fuel.

Five-sixths of the fuel that powers E85-flexible vehicles -- ethanol -- is made out of corn, which we grow plentifully in our country. The fuel also offers another advantage -- it is mostly renewable.

At this point in time, a dozen Chevy models are fitted with E85-flexible engines -- signifying a giant step toward reaching GM's ambitious target of making 50 percent of its annual vehicle production capable of running on E85 or bio-diesel by 2012.

It is no wonder, given GM's commitment to the environment and self-dependence, that the company ranks No. 1 among car manufacturers in having the highest number of alternative-fuel vehicles. A whopping 2.5 million flex-fuel GM vehicles run on the roads.

Here are the GM models that run on flex fuel. All are available at Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.:

* Cbalt XFE Coupe: 36 mpg

* Cobalt XFE Sedan: 36 mpg

* Aveo 5: 34 mpg

* Aveo Sedan: 34 mpg

* Malibu Hybrid: 32 mpg

* Malibu LTZ: 32 mpg

* HHR: 30 mpg

* HHR Panel: 30 mpg

* Impala: 29 mpg

* Tahoe Hybrid 2WD: 22 mpg

* Tahoe 2WD: 20 mpg

* Silverado 1500: 20 mpg

RHC Ready For Thrilling Labor Day Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:56:00 +0000

With fewer people expected to be traveling over the weekend, with nice weather on the way and with local NCAA football teams kicking off their seasons, the Labor Day holiday could prove very exciting in Durham.

People who have chosen to stay home can take the opportunity to come to Hendrick Durham Auto Mall during the "Employee Discount for Everyone" sale. All new 2008 vehicles will be sold at the GM employee price -- the lowest price possible -- until Tuesday. The dealership's sales department will be open on Labor Day, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Despite a significant drop in gas prices since last month, the number of people expected to travel over the holiday weekend is expected to decrease, according to AAA. About 720,300 North Carolina drivers are expected to travel more than 100 miles round-trip this weekend, a 0.08 percent decrease from the 2007 number of Labor Day road travelers.

Duke and North Carolina open their 2008 football seasons with home games on Saturday. The Blue Devils kick off against James Madison at 7 p.m., and the Tar Heels play McNeese State at 6 p.m.

The weekend actually kicked off on a special day: Believe it or not, Michael Jackson -- the King of Pop -- turned 50 years old on Friday. Music by the man who made "Thriller" famous and one of the entertainment industry's biggest icons may have people geared up for a thrilling weekend of fun in the sun as well as unbelievable car deals.

Don't miss out on the festivities. Come on down to Rick Hendrick Chevrolet at 409 S. Roxboro Street, just across from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Coming Soon: Corvette ZR1

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:54:00 +0000

Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has great news for Corvette lovers and sports car enthusiasts:

Production has begun on the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe.

The ZR1 is an American "supercar" that combines the latest technology and engineering enhancements in a unique design.

Equipped with an all-new 638-horsepower LS9 supercharged V-8 engine, the ZR1 can accelerate to 205 mph on the test track.

Built on the aluminum-intensive chassis, the ZR1 comes with 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. The practical interior gets top-quality materials and craftsmanship that blend with the premium-quality performance of the car.

Chevrolet is bringing out a limited number of the 2009 Corvette ZR1. Visit Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall for more information.

RHC Recognizes Weekend Of Historic Significance

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Each day of this weekend marks the anniversary of a significant historic event, culminating with Sunday's anniversary of the start of the Klondike Gold Rush.

With that in mind, the folks at Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall are looking to have an historic weekend themselves with a huge sale that could set dealership records and in the process give the place the feel of a modern-day gold rush.

Amazing discounts, an opportunity to win a free Malibu and the chance to uncover other cash and prizes during a unique "Test Drive Challenge" could prove equal to the excitement of the weekend's other celebrations.

Here are the anniversaries being recognized across the country this weekend:

Friday, August 15, is the 39th anniversary of Woodstock, a wild, days-long party on a farm in Bethlehem, N.Y.

Saturday, August 16, is the 31st anniversary of Elvis Presley's death in Graceland, Tenn.

Sunday, August 17, is the 112th anniversary of the day that prospectors discovered gold in Alaska -- an event that set the stage for the Klondike Gold Rush made famous in stories and film.

Come to Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, at 409 S. Roxboro Street, just down from Durham Bulls Athletic Park, to experience similar joy to those who discovered gold. You can come away feeling very wealthy, and you may even do a little dance that would make those who attended Woodstock and the King of Rock and Roll very proud.

Durham In For Treat As Price Takes Mound At DBAP

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:46:00 +0000

Summer Olympics In Beijing: Click here for the latest results from Beijing on the official web site of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Pitching Phenom Makes Bulls Debut

Downtown Durham will be in for a treat Wednesday night.

David Price, the first overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, will pitch for the Durham Bulls just down the street from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet.

In honor of the occasion, special baseball fans shopping for a vehicle can receive special deals from the staff of Durham's No. 1 dealership.

Price's first pitch Wednesday against the Norfolk Tides is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Price, who played collegiately for Vanderbilt, may not be on the Bulls' roster very long. He reportedly is being groomed to join the roster of the American League's Tampa Bay Rays, Durham's parent club and one of the top teams in Major League Baseball, by Sept. 1.

So far, Price has been equal to the hype. He is 11-0 as a professional pitcher (7-0 in class-A Vero Beach and 4-0 in double-A Montgomery, Ala) -- compiling a 1.89 ERA and holding opponents to a .206 batting average.

Wednesday will mark Price's triple-A debut, although he has pitched previously in Durham Bulls Athletic Park. As a member of the 2005 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, he went 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in five games, tallying 39 strikeouts and 13 walks over 28.2 innings.

Wednesday's excitement will spread to the Rick Hendrick Chevrolet showroom, which will be open until 9 p.m. People at the dealership may feel as though they are at the game as a large and loud crowd is expected at the game.

So, come on down and join the fun

Tickets for Wednesday's game are on sale at www.durhambulls.com or by calling (919)956-BULL.

Labels: Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, David Price, Durham Bulls, Tampa Bay Rays, Major League Baseball, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Norfolk Tides

RHC Of Durham: Sports Central

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:21:00 +0000

Summer Olympics In Beijing

Michael Phelps opened his quest to win eight gold medals by qualifying 1.44 seconds faster than his rivals with an Olympic-record time in the 400-meter individual medley preliminaries.

Click here for the latest results from Beijing on the official web site of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Click here to see the official NBC 2008 Olympics web site.

PGA Championship in Michigan

Can J.B. Holmes, "the Masher," master the Oakland Hills course and win the PGA Championship, or will Phil Mickelson or Sergio Garcia jump up and take it?

Click here for live up-to-the-minute results from the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in Michigan.

Durham Resident Wins Teen Choice Award

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:14:00 +0000

Following up a blog that was previously posted on the Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall web site, Chad Bullock of Durham was honored during the Teen Choice Awards program Monday night in Los Angeles.

Bullock, 19, won the "Do Something" award, as well as $10,000, during the ceremony that was televised by Fox TV and hosted by teen pop star Miley Cyrus.

Bullock started his work as an anti-smoking activist after losing his grandfather to lung cancer. He wrote a letter to the state Attorney General that eventually helped change some tobacco ads, and he also led an effort to make the Durham Bulls Athletic Park a smoke-free facility.

Bullock also spearheaded a recent project to get Golden Corral, a national restaurant chain headquartered in Raleigh, to go smoke-free. He also has been working to get the campus of Durham Technical Community College smoke-free.

The Teen Choice Awards were chosen by more than 30 million votes cast online by teenagers to honor celebrities in TV, film, music, sports and fashion.

Click here to see the previous blog item on Bullock and his nomination.

RHC Of Durham Enjoys International Presence

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:19:00 +0000

Believe it or not, Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has an international presence.

That's right, if recent statistics are correct, the dealership is known worldwide.

The dealership's web site, www.rickhendrickchevrolet.com, enjoyed 3,756 visits from 24 countries last month, and each visitor stayed on the site for an average length of nearly three minutes.

Outside of the United States, the most visits came from India (233) and Canada (31). In fact, two of the visits from Canada resulted in the sale and delivery of two preowned Chevy trucks.

The web site had 14 visits from the United Kingdom, nine from Germany and four from Ireland. There were three queries from Iraq, two from Spain and two from Taiwan.

What is attracting all the visitors? Selection, prices and great deals.

So, if someone is ready to come from Canada or India and do business -- and if the dealership is prepared to deliver its vehicles to such faraway locales -- the prices must, indeed, be right, and the deals must, indeed, be great.

And just imagine the deals Durham residents can get right in their own backyard.

N.C. Recognized As Great Place To Do Business

Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is operating in a great state in which to do business.

In the latest Forbes magazine rankings, North Carolina's warm coastline and growing work-force development contributed to its No. 4 ranking in the "Best States for Business" survey.

The magazine rated states in six categories: cost of doing business, labor force, regulatory environment, economy, growth prospects and quality of life.

Virginia was voted No. 1, Utah No. 2.

North Carolina also was voted the state with the best business climate by Site Selection magazine six of the last seven years.

Big News: Tax-Free Weekend, RHC Malibu Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:40:00 +0000

The results are in: Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is a regional leader in sales of the 2008 Malibu.

Furthermore -- even though motor vehicles are not included in the items that can be purchased this weekend without a sales tax -- the prices on new cars at Durham's downtown dealership can make customers feel like they've saved much more than the tax.

According to data released this week from General Motors, 2008 Malibus do not stay in stock very long at Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. The dealership's "turn rate" on the 2008 Malibu is better than just about every other dealer in the region, which means that the vehicles are equipped the right way and are being sold at the right price by the right staff of sales professionals.

Continued sales of the Malibu results in continued availability in inventory. So, based on the results to date, the RHC Malibu inventory is a good match for what consumers are looking for.

This weekend will be as good a time as any to come to the dealership and buy a vehicle. Not only are there several Malibus in stock, but prices on SUVs could not be better.

Shoppers also may be in a good mood to buy, caught up in the excitement of North Carolina's seventh annual "Sales Tax Holiday." The tax-free weekend begins Friday and offers the opportunity for retail shoppers to save the cost of the sales tax.

Items exempt from sales tax will include clothing, computers, sports equipment and school supplies.

See the complete list of exemptions on the North Carolina Department of Revenue web site.

The National Retail Federation estimates the average American will spend $594 on back-to-school shopping, so the tax-free weekend certainly helps ease the spending crunch.

It has been estimated that more than $230 will be spent on clothing, $151 on electronics and $110 on shoes and less than $100 on actual school supplies.

What better way to take the kids to school than in a new 2008 Malibu, which continues to outsell the competition? And if you don't believe the deals, the selection and the presentation of that vehicle are better at Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall than at other dealers in the region, come see for yourself.

The dealership is located at 409 S. Roxboro St., just down from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Local Anti-Smoking Activist Earns National Acclaim

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:27:00 +0000

The staff at Rick Hendrick Durham Auto Mall -- a strong promoter and supporter of positive community causes and citizens -- congratulates local teen Chad Bullock for being a finalist for the "Do Something" Award to be presented at this weekend's Teen Choice Awards.

The Teen Choice Awards are voted on by teens for their favorite celebrities in movies, music, sports and TV. The 2008 show will be taped Sunday in Los Angeles and televised Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Bullock, 19, one of nine finalists for the "Do Something" Award, will attend the awards show. The winner of his category will be decided by online voting, which ends Friday, and announced on Sunday.

The "Do Something" Award honors a young person who is making a difference in not only his or her own community, but also the world.

The "Do Something" winner will receive $100,000. Each of the nine finalists has received $10,000.

After losing his great-grandfather to lung cancer a few years ago, Bullock, a Durham native, became an anti-tobacco activist and consultant for youth advocacy and tobacco prevention. He has trained 15,000 teens nationwide in developing an action plan, and he has led activists to make the Durham Bulls Athletic Park smoke-free.

To see Bullock's bio on the "Do Something" web site, click here.

Bullock spearheaded a recent project to get Golden Corral, a national restaurant chain headquartered in Raleigh, to go smoke-free. He also has been working to get the campus of Durham Technical Community College smoke-free.

To read the complete news article on Bullock that was posted Tuesday on WRAL.com, click here.

For an earlier story on Bullock and his anti-smoking efforts, click here.

Johnson, HMS Stand Proud After Indy Tire Debacle

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrick Durham Auto Mall) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:07:00 +0000

Team owner Rick Hendrick and car owner Jeff Gordon looked on with pride Sunday as NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jimmie Johnson did a celebratory burnout at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It seemed fitting after the long afternoon that a tire on Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet exploded in a large cloud of smoke during the celebration.

Tire trouble was the theme of Sunday's Brickyard 400. Johnson proved the top finisher, and two of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates also finished in the top 12, as he posted his second victory at IMS.

Because the Goodyear tires used for the race were not durable enough to withstand the lack of downforce on the cars or the speeds and track surface, NASCAR threw six competition cautions designed to force teams to pit and change their tires. As a result, the longest green-flag run was only 12 laps, and 52 laps were run under caution.

Johnson was the first driver out of the pits with seven laps to go and held off hard-charging Ford driver Carl Edwards for his 35th career victory.

Despite the eggs on the faces of the NASCAR powers-to-be after what many considered a race debacle, Hendrick had to have been pleased with the outcome. His powerful and prestigious team had won only twice all season prior to Sunday, a subpar showing by Hendrick Motorsports standards, and Hendrick had even brought in a motivational speaker to the team headquarters in Concord, N.C., earlier in the week.

Appalachian State football coach Jerry Moore, who has led the Mountaineers to three straight Div. I-AA national championships, reportedly told the HMS crew that "it's all about desire and dedication, who wants it more."

Desire and dedication came through Sunday. But the team also utilized opportunity, finding a way to turn near disaster into triumph.

After the race, Johnson and Hendrick took time together to "kiss the bricks" -- the winner's tradition. As they got down on their hands and knees, they showed as much relief as excitement after the caution-filled day.

The victory moved Johnson -- the two-time defending series champion -- into fourth place in the points standings with 16 races remaining.

Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., left the race second in points. Gordon maintained his sixth-place position in the season-long points race.