NASCAR came home for the only night race of the playoffs Saturday, overseeing a coronation of the Lowe’s Motor Speedway “King” for the first time in four years.
Talladega was supposed to be the difference maker, but “The Beast of the Southeast” in Charlotte drove apart some of the leaders at the top of the standings.
Jimmie Johnson prevailed in a spirited side-by-side battle with teammate Jeff Gordon after the final restart at Charlotte.
After scoring another victory at his home track, Jimmie Johnson put a major stranglehold on the top spot following Chase race number four at Fontana.
For all intents and purposes Carl Edwards’s quest for his first Sprint Cup crown is over. Surprise, surprise.
This week, here’s a peek at what they all were thinking following the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
Jimmie Johnson finally beat back a pesky Jeff Gordon after a series of frantic restarts over the final 15 laps of the race at Fontana.
While most of Sunday’s race was a certified yawning contest, late drama and some developing stories going into the Pepsi 500 left plenty for debate.
Just as expected, the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas stole the show on Saturday at Fontana, though not as they normally do.
This year, the Pepsi 500 was moved from Labor Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend to avoid triple-digit temperatures.