2005 Nextel Cup Series

Jimmie Johnson captured the MBNA Racepoints 400 at the Dover International Speedway on Sunday, September the 25 th, 2005. This was race number two in the “Chase for the Nextel Cup.” The Number 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet took the checkered flag just 0.080 seconds ahead of teammate Kyle Busch and credited the rookie for helping him.

Pole winner Ryan Newman brought the 43-car field to the green flag. He would hold the lead for the initial 30 laps before getting passed by eventual winner Johnson. As the field reached the halfway point of the 400-lap event, Roush Racing started to flex it’s muscles. Defending Nextel series champion Kurt Busch held the lead with his Roush teammates Greg Biffle, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth in second, third and fifth respectively. An impressive showing to say the least.

By lap 300, it looked to be Kurt Busch’s race to lose. He had led 156 of the first 300 laps and was running strongly. On lap 320, Busch let his teammate Martin lead a lap to gain five valuable bonus points. He displayed his dominance by retaking the lead easily on the following lap.

With 65 laps to go, Johnson began to assert himself. He slipped past Mark Martin into second place and closed within a half second of Busch. Suddenly, Busch’s car began to push and Johnson closed in on his rear bumper. On lap 340, Johnson stormed past Busch to take the lead.

With 35 laps to go and no yellow flag in sight, the final series of green flag pit stops began. Johnson came in first, took on 4 fresh tires and was away smartly. Kenseth met the wall three laps later to bring out a yellow flag. Johnson and the rest of the leaders came in for four more tires and fuel to prep for the final battle to the finish.

Martin beat Johnson out of the pits to assume the lead. However, Johnson was not to be denied. He retook the lead after just one lap with a bold pass on the inside. Johnson’s teammate, Kyle Busch also got past Martin to take second place just 1.4 seconds behind.

A debris caution on lap 387 set the race up for an 11-lap shootout to the checkered flag. Johnson got a jump on the flag and pushed his lead to 0.927 seconds over teammate Busch with 3 laps to go. Bush took a look to the outside, then one final look to the inside but Johnson was just too strong. “He was all over me at the end, and that’s the way it should be,” Johnson said. “I’ve got to thank Kyle for being such a good teammate and racing me clean at the end.”

Johnson held off Busch by about a car-length in the end. That they were so close at the end was a tribute to Busch, Johnson said. “They were up here testing two weeks ago and we used their information,” Johnson said. “I don’t think Hendrick Motorsports had any new data on the track.”

Rusty Wallace finished the race in third place with Mark Martin and Ryan Newman filling out the top 5.

Johnson’s win vaulted the number 48 Chevrolet driver to first in the championship. He holds the lead by 7 points over second place Rusty Wallace. Ryan Newman now sits in third, followed closely by Mark Martin. Former points leader Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle are tied for firth place.

The next race is scheduled for Sunday, October 2 nd at the Talladega Superspeedway.

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