Jimmie Johnson and his crew chief Chad Knaus showed the competition what happens when they have an off week during the chase by going to the Phoenix International Speedway and dominating the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Johnson held off the other Busch, former champion Kurt Busch for the win after a late caution caused a green- white – checkered flag finish. Johnson said in victory lane, "This is what I've worked my whole life for.”

With Johnson on the pole and Jamie McMurray starting outside of him they led the field to green. McMurray immediately jumped to the lead. It was on lap 19 when the first yellow flag flew when Sam Hornish Jr. and Elliott Sadler got together. Kurt Busch took only 2 tires and made it out of the pits first and was followed by Ryan Newman, Reed Sorenson, Mark Martin and Johnson. Within 5 laps Johnson passed Newman for second and began hunting down Busch when Brian Vickers had a right rear come apart sending him into the wall. Martin Truex Jr. took his car to the garage with engine issues.

The race got back under way with Johnson and Busch battling for the lead but rain began to fall bring out the yellow flag. The cars circled the track for about 5 laps before NASCAR displayed the red flag. Matt Kenseth sat on pit road with a flat tire. After 26 minutes they got things back underway. By lap 81 Johnson made his way past Kurt Busch for the lead. McMurray and Busch battled for second as Johnson pulled away.

The race continued green as pit stops began. Busch and Greg Biffle took turns leading while everyone made their green flag stops. With about a third of the race complete and the pit cycles complete Johnson retook the lead followed by McMurray, Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch. Unfortunately for Gordon he began reporting that there were issues with his engine as Carl Edwards was running in 10^th.

On lap 140 a caution for debris was called and the leaders hit pit road. The green flew on lap 148 with Johnson leading followed by Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, McMurray and  Kurt Busch rounding out the top 5. By lap 170 Gordon’s car began falling back when another debris caution was called for on lap 210. McMurray won the battle off pit road, followed by Johnson. Johnson had debris on his grill and no way to get up behind someone to get it off as his water temperature rose. By lap 237 Johnson locked up the extra 5 bonus points for leading the most laps.

When the next caution flag was called the leaders hit pit road and by lap 266 Edwards made his way to 4^th and was making things a bit more interesting for the leader, Johnson.  Gordon lost the engine in his car on lap 269 but there was no caution as the race continued green. On lap 273 Juan Pablo Montoya got into a strong running Casey Mears collecting numerous cars including the car of David Gilliland whose car ended up on the hood of Scott Speed. NASCAR once again displayed the red flag.

When they got back under way Johnson never really looked back even when Busch got to his bumper one last time when Matt Kenseth got into Tony Stewart after a nudge from A.J. Allmendinger.  

The win was Johnson’s seventh of the season and all but assured him of his third straight championship.