After a good decision to take four tires on the final late race pit stop under caution in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500, Jimmie Johnson restarted in the third row but was able to run down the leaders and took the top spot from Tony Stewart on his way to the victory.

The win is Johnson’s 50th and his first at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“Man, we have worked so hard for this,” Johnson said in Victory Lane. “This Chevrolet was awesome, about time.”

With rain seemingly minutes away through most of the event, the big issue was tire wear. Multiple drivers suffered flat tires that ruined their day including Denny Hamlin. Engine trouble also plagued some drivers including Clint Bowyer whose engine expired early on in the race.

Stewart held on for 2nd place followed by Kurt Busch who also took four tires on the final stop.

“I’d rather lose to any of the other 41 cars out there than the 48,” Kurt Busch said. “I thought we had him beat.”

Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top-5.

Carl Edwards finished 6th followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 7th, Jamie McMurray in 8th and Kyle Busch in 9th. Jeff Burton completed the top-10.

Kevin Harvick retains the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points lead after finishing 11th.

Next weekend NASCAR premier series will head to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 which is scheduled to broadcast on FOX on Sunday, March 28th at 1pm ET. 

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