PRE RACE CHATTER

If there was ever any doubt that the contenders for the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup had to go through Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet team, those doubts have been erased.

Heading into Saturday night’s NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Johnson has grabbed the points lead with his sights squarely set on claiming his fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title – an unprecedented accomplishment in the sport.

Johnson’s win last Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., marked his 16th win in the Chase, which far out-distances the six Chase wins each for Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) and Carl Edwards (No. 99 AFLAC Ford)

If any venue could be accurately described as “Jimmie’s House,” the 1.5-mile layout at Lowe’s would fit the bill. Johnson has won five times at LMS, tied with Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) for most wins among active drivers. One more victory and Johnson would join Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip with six wins there. Johnson’s Driver Rating of 116.6 also leads all drivers at LMS.

However, Johnson has suffered a dry spell of late. After winning four consecutive races there in 2004 and 2005 (a track record), Johnson has gone winless at Lowe’s in the last three-plus seasons.

“The last three years have been really special,” Johnson said. “Right now, we’re in a great position, but it’s way too early to start thinking about other things.”

Lowe’s Motor Speedway, with its close proximity to many of NASCAR’s race shops, provides a “Homecoming Week” to the drivers and teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track is celebrating its 50th season of NASCAR racing, and for the teams, protecting their “home turf” has never been more important.  

Of the 12 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, only five have won series points races at Lowe’s. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon lead the way with five wins each. Mark Martin is next with four victories, followed by Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge) with three. Tony Stewart has won once at Lowe’s.

That means that seven Chase drivers will be gunning for their first win at Lowe’s this Saturday night. That in itself should make the competition and intrigue even more compelling.

The remainder of Saturday’s field has had solid success at Lowe’s. Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) is the defending race winner and a three-time victor there. Former series champion Bill Elliott (No. 21 Warriors in Pink Powered by Ford Ford) is entered in this week’s event and has won twice at Lowe’s, as has 2000 series champion Bobby Labonte (No. 96 ASK.com/Search for the Cure Ford Fusion). Terry Labonte (No. 08 EM Motorsports Toyota), another former series champion, has one victory at LMS, and is likewise entered this week. Other former winners at Lowe’s include 2003 series champion Matt Kenseth (No. 17 CARHARTT Ford); Jamie McMurray (No. 26 Jeremiah Weed Ford); and Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet) – all with one win each.

Martin has often said that Lowe’s is one of his favorite race tracks. Saturday marks Martin’s 50th points race at LMS. His 17 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes tops all active drivers there.

QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS

Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America with a lap of 28.070 seconds, 192.376 mph. This is his 22nd pole in 286 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. This is his third pole and 23rd top-10 start in 2009.

Johnson broke the record for fastest qualifying lap in the new car. The previous fastest qualifying lap in the new car was run by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2008 (190.907 mph).

This is his third pole in 17 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.

Mark Martin (second) posted his 17th top-10 start of 2009 and his 28th in 50 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.

Kasey Kahne (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.  It is his 17th in 31 races this season.

Joey Logano (12th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.

GOING TO THE BACK

Looks like everyone will start where they should.

NOW – LET’S GET THE CHILL OUT OF HERE AND FIRE THE ENGINES

There was a slight drizzle when the engines started. NASCAR has the field drive in single file formation for a few laps to assist with drying the track. Last night the race made it to the end before the rain started.

Johnson and Martin lead our 43 “cool” drivers out of turn four to the…

GREEN FLAG as the front two are neck and neck until turn four where Martin grabs the first 5 points of the night. Lap 2 the top 5 are single file. Lap 3 Johnson tries the outside.

YELLOW FLAG lap 3 as Sam Hornish Jr. slips right and left out of turn two, up into the outside wall. The right rear corner tags the wall, where Hornish Jr. spins counter clockwise in the path of Kevin Harvick. Harvick misses Hornish Jr. with plenty of feet to spare. Hornish has significant damage to the rear end of his car. No lucky dog. This will be a quick caution period.

GREEN FLAG lap 7 as the top 8 have good starts. Joey Logano does not, so a few drivers take an extra few seconds to get going. Lap 8 score Johnson with his 5 points for the night. Lap 9 Johnson has a great start to jump ahead of Martin and the field by 1 second.

YELLOW FLAG lap 10 as Hornish Jr. spins out once again, but this time it is in the middle of turn three and four. No lucky dog again. We see about 10 drivers in the back head to pit road. Hornish Jr. will go a lap or two down as the team works on his car. Hornish takes off as the team was putting rivets in the car.

GREEN FLAG lap 14 Johnson starts on the outside to pull away from Martin by 3 or 4 car lengths. Lap 16 Johnson is over a half second in front of Martin. Early movers on the track are Kyle Busch from his start of 10^th up to 3^rd, Logano from 12^th to 6^th, Juan Pablo Montoya 18^th to 8^th and Denny Hamlin from 17^th to 11^th.

Lap 19 good battle between Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne for 4^th place with Logano behind Kahne on the low side of the track. Lap 21 Kahne pulls away from Newman with a push from Logano.

Lap 25 your top ten drivers are Johnson, Martin, Kyle Busch, Kahne, Logano, Newman, Montoya, Hamlin, Kenseth and Brad Keselowski.

Lap 30 we see a light rain hitting the track. We see a big green blob on the radar near the track. Lap 32 Johnson leads Martin by 2 seconds, 3^rd place Kyle Busch by 4 seconds and 4^th place Kahne by 4.1 seconds.

Lap 35 NASCAR is checking with officials on the track for…

YELLOW FLAG lap 35 for rain. Nemechek would be the lucky dog, but he is in the garage. Everyone heads to pit road. Kenseth is the first out to the track from a two tire stop and a gain of 7 positions to the lead. Kyle Busch follows Kenseth out of pit road. We then see Johnson, Martin and Newman. NASCAR says Johnson beat Busch out of pit road. Trouble for Logano as he overshoots his pit stall, backs up almost hitting Martin Truex Jr. Logano looses 30 positions with the error.

The rain picks up a bit. Waltrip leads a few laps to pick up 5 points for leading a lap.

GREEN FLAG lap 43 as Kenseth starts on the outside line and spins his tires a bit. Lap 44 Johnson and Kenseth run side by side over the next lap. Lap 45 into lap 46 Kenseth has the lead. Lap 47 Hornish is back in the race, Nemechek is out. Brian Vickers and Kahne just about make contact in the tri-oval.

Lap 50 your top twenty drivers are – Kenseth, Johnson, Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin, Casey Mears, Kahne, Newman, Vickers, Jeff Gordon, David Ragan, Clint Bowyer, David Gilliland, David Reutimann, Harvick, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and Marcos Ambrose.

Lap 52 Johnson retakes the lead. Lap 57 racing looking good as drivers can take any line on the track. Newman fights with Vickers for 10^th as Newman runs the high line, Vickers the apron.

Lap 60 Stewart started his day 5^th to where is currently running 18^th. Lap 62, Mears has been a man on the move where he started in the back of the pack 42^nd, has moved to 6^th place. Johnson leads new second place Hamlin by 1.6 seconds.

Lap 67 Hamlin has a better pace on track as he closes in on Johnson. Lap 70 Hamlin has closed the gap to a few car lengths. Lap 71 Hamlin takes the lead on the high side of Johnson. Lap 73 we are around 20 laps from green flag pit stops. Lap 75 your top ten drivers are Hamlin, Johnson, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Martin, Mears, Montoya, Kahne, Jeff Gordon and Newman.

Lap 77 6 Chase drivers are in the top ten. It’s a role reversal as Hamlin leads Johnson by almost 2 seconds. Lap 79 the biggest mover of the race is Mears from his start of 42^nd to 6^th. The drivers that have fallen way off pace are Keselowski with a drop of 19 positions and David Gilliland with the same amount of positions lost.

Lap 85 we are starting to see drivers fall a lap down. John Andretti is 3 laps down, Bobby Labonte 1 lap down along with Max Papis, Terry Labonte and Michael Waltrip battling with Gilliland to be in front of the other before they go a lap down.

Lap 87 Kyle Busch on the inside of Johnson in turn three to take over 3^rd place. Montoya has power passing Johnson to take 3^rd place. Lap 89 pit stops begin. Reutimann, Bobby Labonte and Kenseth are in for stops. Lap 91 Carl Edwards, Johnson, Mears come in followed by 10 drivers.

Lap 92 Martin is in along with Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and others. Big trouble for Newman in his stall as the team has a big error on the tires where he will loose many spots. NASCAR busts Waltrip for speeding. Lap 95 Montoya has a good stop.

Lap 95 pit stops are just about over. Kenseth takes the lead in front of Hamlin by 1.1 seconds. Third place Kyle Busch is 4 seconds back, fourth place Mears 5 seconds who races fifth place Johnson. Johnson takes 4^th place from Montoya, where both drivers passed Mears.

Lap 99 Hamlin pitted one lap later than Kenseth. Hamlin takes the lead once again.

Lap 100 (234 to go) with your top twenty drivers being Hamlin, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Johnson, Montoya, Mears, Martin, Bowyer, Kahne, Reutimann, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Truex Jr., Harvick, Ragan, Biffle, Logano, Newman, Vickers and Stewart.

So far in the race we have seen 11 lead changes among 6 drivers as well as 3 cautions for 13 laps. 29 drivers remain on the lead lap. Lap 106 Kahne and Bowyer split Martin to take 7^th and 8^th. Lap 109 Hamlin leads by 2.2 seconds over Kenseth. The night is cold at 45 degrees. Lap 110 Kyle Busch challenges Johnson for 3^rd place. Johnson holds him off.

Lap 112 Montoya takes 4^th from Kyle Busch. We hear that Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car is coming out of gear. Lap 114 27 drivers are on the lead lap. Drivers that have joined the lap down club are Robby Gordon, Earnhardt Jr., Elliott Sadler, Scott Speed, Bill Elliott, Paul Menard, Gilliland, and Edwards.

YELLOW FLAG lap 119 as Kyle Busch solos spins in the middle of turns three and four. Robby Gordon is the lucky dog. Everyone on the lead lap heads to pit road. Jeff Gordon, Biffle, Newman take two tires to get a big jump on the field. Jeff Gordon picks up 11 positions. Hamlin and Kenseth are 4^th and 5^th back to the track.

GREEN FLAG lap 124 as Jeff Gordon and Biffle race each other for the lead. Earnhardt Jr. tells the team there is an issue with 4^th gear. Earnhardt brings the car to pit road. More trouble as he has to take the car to the garage.

Lap 130 we see Montoya with damage from contact with Bowyer on the restart. Vickers has damage from some other contact as well where he takes his car to pit road.

Lap 135 Kahne takes 5^th place from Kenseth. Lap 137 Bowyer fights with Truex Jr. for 8^th place. Truex Jr. has the position. Lap 141 the Chase picture has changed just a bit as Johnson hops back in the Chase lead over 2^nd place Martin by 64 points.

Jeff Gordon the leader of the race moved up two positions to 3^rd in standings. The rest of the Chase order is Stewart, Montoya, Kurt Busch, Biffle, Hamlin, Newman, Edwards, Kahne and Vickers.

Lap 150 your top twenty are Jeff Gordon, Hamlin, Johnson, Kahne, Kenseth, Biffle, Newman, Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Truex Jr., Stewart, Jeff Burton, Ragan, Logano, Harvick, Martin, Reutimann, Mears, Keselowski and Ambrose.

Lap 155 Paul Menard comes in for a pit stop. Earnhardt Jr. is back in the race 29 laps in 41^st place. Lap 160 Jeff Gordon leads Hamlin by 1 second. Gordon also leads 3^rd place Johnson by 2 seconds, 4^th place Kahne 2.2 seconds 5^th place Kenseth 6 seconds back to 10^th place Truex Jr. by 9.5 seconds.

Lap 163 Montoya almost wrecks out in turn four.

YELLOW FLAG lap 164 as Montoya spins out this time in the same place of turn four. Montoya was the lucky dog, but he brought out the caution so he will not get the lap back. After pit stops Hamlin is back out first followed by Jeff Gordon, Kenseth, Johnson, Biffle and Kahne.

Montoya is given a penalty heading into pit road for not blending in single file heading into pit road. Also pitting too early.

GREEN FLAG lap 170 as Hamlin and Jeff Gordon get the show underway once again. Three wide between Mears, Logano and Sadler around 19^th. Stremme is off pace for some reason. As Jeff Gordon takes the lead, Kenseth passes Hamlin for second.

Lap 175 your top ten drivers are Jeff Gordon, Kenseth, Hamlin, Johnson, Kahne, Biffle, Kurt Busch, Bowyer, Newman and Stewart. Lap 179 26 drivers remain on the lead lap. Lap 180 Jeff Gordon passes Hamlin for the stat of most laps led this race. Lap 185 Jeff Gordon is back to a 1 second lead over second place Kenseth.

YELLOW FLAG lap 189 for debris as the replacement fender of Montoya flies off of the car. Gilliland is the lucky dog. Leaders head to pit road. Kenseth, Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Hamlin are the first five out of pit road.

Earlier in the race Martin had a hole punched in the front of his car. During this round of pit stops Martin’s team works on a replacement patch on the nose of the car. We also see issues with Hamlin as he brings the car to pit road as he may have a blown engine. The next lap Hamlin takes his car to the garage.

GREEN FLAG lap 195 as Kenseth has a big push from behind by Jeff Gordon that holds Johnson to the high side. Lap 197 three wide between Newman, Bowyer and Kahne for 6^th.

Lap 200 (134 to go) as we see the top twenty drivers of Kenseth, Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kahne, Kurt Busch, Newman, Bowyer, Stewart, Kyle Busch, Truex Jr., Burton, Logano, Reutimann, Keselowski, Harvick, Mears, Biffle, A.J. Allmendinger, Mike Bliss and Martin.

So far we have seen 18 lead changes among 7 leaders. 6 cautions have come out for 27 laps. Lap 207 two battles with the leaders between Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch for 9^th as they trade back and forth and Logano with Reutimann for 12^th.

Lap 213 Bowyer has moved up past Stewart to take 7^th. Not to long later Bowyer passes Stewart’s teammate Newman to take 6^th. Kyle Busch passes Logano to take 10^th. Lap 217 Truex Jr. passes Newman to take 8^th.

Lap 220 Kahne has moved past Johnson to take second and close in on Kenseth to challenge for the lead. We see a few battle between Newman and Logano for 9^th, Kyle Busch and Burton for 11^th and Ambrose with Stremme for 21^st.

Lap 224 Kahne is the leader for the first time tonight. Lap 225 your top ten drivers are Kahne, Kenseth, Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bowyer, Stewart, Truex Jr., Newman and Logano.

Lap 229 Kahne leads Kenseth by 1 second, 3^rd place Johnson by 3.3 seconds, 4^th place Jeff Gordon by 5.5 seconds and 5^th place Kurt Busch 7.2 seconds. Lap 232 battle for 12^th between Kyle Busch and Reutimann. Busch takes it. Lap 233 Logano challenges Newman for 9^th.

Lap 234 (100 to go) as we close in on pit stops. Lap 237 Reutimann is the first in for stops. Lap 240 Bowyer takes 5^th from Kurt Busch. Lap 242 Bowyer passes Jeff Gordon for 4^th. Burton passes Stewart for 10^th. Lap 244 Kyle Busch is in for a stop along with Keselowski and Truex Jr. Lap 245 Sadler, Johnson and 10 others are in. Robby Gordon is busted for speeding.

Lap 248 pit stops are almost complete. Terry Labonte is busted for speeding. Lap 250 with pit stops complete the top twenty drivers are Kahne, Kenseth, Johnson, Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Logano, Burton, Kyle Busch, Keselowski, Reutimann, Stewart, Harvick, Mears, Newman, Biffle, Allmendinger, Martin and Stremme.

Lap 259 Kahne leads Kenseth by 2.3 seconds, 3^rd place Johnson by 3.3 seconds, 4^th place Bowyer 6.7 seconds and 5^th place Jeff Gordon 8.1 seconds. 20 drivers remain on the lead lap. Only a few drivers are a lap down who are Bliss, Ragan, Ambrose, Sorenson, Gilliland and Robby Gordon.

Sadler is two laps down along with Bobby Labonte, Speed, Elliott, McMurray, Menard and Papis. Waltrip is three laps down with Vickers, Montoya, and Edwards. Andretti and Terry Labonte are four laps down. Earnhardt Jr. is 30 laps down. Hornish Jr. is 36 down. In the garage are Hamlin and Nemechek.

Lap 271 a few laps ago Johnson passed Kenseth to take second place. Lap 273 Kahne leads Johnson by 5.2 seconds. 4^th place Bowyer is 10 seconds behind. Lap 279 Mears is still the best improving driver on the track currently running 14^th from his start of 42^nd. The driver who found the most trouble so far is Hamlin who lost 25 positions to 42^nd from his start of 17^th.

The “Money” round of stops is underway. A few lap down drivers have made stops.

YELLOW FLAG lap 290 for a blown engine of Papis. Stremme is the lucky dog. Martin and Biffle are trapped a lap down. Johnson, Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Kenseth and Mears are the top five out to the track. Johnson got it by inches.

GREEN FLAG lap 296 as Johnson takes off like a rocket from Kahne. Jeff Gordon battles with Kenseth for 3^rd to take the position. Keselowski was fighting with Mears on the high side to drop back to 7^th.

YELLOW FLAG lap 300 (34 to go) as Gilliland slaps the outside turns one and two walls. Martin is the lucky dog. The top 20 drivers are Johnson, Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Kenseth, Bowyer, Mears, Logano, Keselowski, Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Burton, Biffle, Stremme, Stewart, Newman, Harvick, Reutimann, Ragan and Sorenson.

So far there has been 22 lead changes among 9 leaders. 7 cautions (including this one) for 35 laps.

GREEN FLAG with 31 laps to go as Johnson has yet another great start and…

YELLOW FLAG for Edwards who blows up on the track before the start finish line. Ragan is the lucky dog.

GREEN FLAG with 26 to go as we have more of an even start across the start finish line. At the end of turn two Johnson is a half second ahead of Jeff Gordon. 25 to go Keselowski battles with Logano for 7^th. Keselowski takes it. 23 to go four wide between Stewart, Biffle, Stremme and Newman.

YELLOW FLAG 22 to go as something had to give. Stremme slaps the outside turn four wall into Biffle. Biffle bounces off of the front of Newman in the tri-oval. Biffle spins counter-clockwise into the grass almost hitting Bliss then back into the path of the other drivers. Everyone misses Biffle. Biffle has minor damage on his car. Stremme has more damage on his car from slapping the wall. Ambrose is the lucky dog.

GREEN FLAG with 17 to go as Johnson and Gordon try to get the show going again. Gordon door to door with Johnson over the next lap. 16 to go the challenge continues as Kahne and Kenseth close in. Johnson is loose which allows Gordon to hold the lead.

14 to go Johnson looking for any chance he can get to take the lead. Out of turn four Johnson drops to the low side. 13 to go as Johnson has the lead. 12 to go Kahne on the outside of Gordon for 2^nd place.

11 to go as Kahne and Kenseth in tow pass Gordon on the outside.

10 to go as Johnson leads by over 1 second.

9 to go as Gordon is under attack by Ragan and Logano for 4^th.

8 to go Johnson leads by 1.5 seconds over Kahne and Kenseth.

7 to go Johnson with no threat.

6 to go Kenseth on the low side of Kahne for 2^nd place.

5 to go Kahne holds off Kenseth for a few seconds. On the back stretch takes over 2^nd place.

4 to go Johnson leads by 2.2 seconds.

3 to go Logano on the inside of Gordon challenging for 4^th.

2 to go clear air for Johnson. Side by side Logano and Gordon.

WHITE FLAG for Johnson at Lowe’s. Out of turn four…

CHECKERED FLAG for Johnson as he says “You got to be kidding me!!”

The top ten finishers were Johnson, Kenseth, Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Logano, Bowyer, Mears, Kyle Busch, Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch.

The race lasted for 3 hours and 40 minutes. We saw 24 lead changes among 9 leaders. 10 cautions hit the track for 42 laps. 21 drivers finished on the lead lap.