Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 27

DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE DemocratandChronicle.com MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2007 5D Johnson rallies to win 2nd straight Late pass of Stewart puts reigning points champ back in thick of chase. Jimmie Johnson His Chevrolet led for 135 of the 325 laps, but took some heat for squeezing Tony Stewart on lap 323. Busch Series race on a road course in Mexico City several weeks ago and got as high as third in Sunday's race before slipping a bit at the end. Martin, who finished 10th, remained in the lead by eight points over Gordon. made some great adjustments to help me on the short run," Johnson said.

"That's the one thing I was lacking compared to the 20 (Stewart). At the beginning of a run he had a little more grip and could drive a little harder; "At the end, I can't say that I've driven a race car that hard before. It really was challenging internally in my own head to drive that hard to chase Tony down and get by him. That was just a great, great race." Kenseth wound up third, followed by Jeff Burton and heralded rookie Juan Pablo Montoya, who barely held off Clint Bowyer to record his first top 10 and by far his best finish in five Cup starts. "I'm getting the handle of it," said Montoya, who also won a Chili Country Club 760 Scottsville-Chili Road 889-9325 '07 NEW Membership Special $420 Complete Line of 2007 Callaway Golf New X-forged Irons League Opening on 3 Mon.

Night Pro-V's Too Low to Advertise CO '06 Cobra Callaway onship, I think it changes you a little bit and that's what you really focus on and what you want to do again and again. Since we came into '07, the team meetings and discussions, everything is about trying to win another championship. Right now things are going good and we're doing the right things, but it's way too early to get too excited." Johnson, who overcame a penalty in the pits at Las Vegas to beat Gordon the previous week, had some problems with tire wear late in Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500. Stewart, a two-time Cup champion, appeared on the way to his first victory of the year after coming off pit lane ahead of Matt Kenseth and third-place Johnson after the final stops by the leaders during a caution flag on lap 311. After the green flag waved with 11 laps to go, Johnson took just three laps to get past Kenseth, then took off after Stewart in the duel of Chevrolets.

Johnson pulled side-by-side with Stewart just past the finish line on lap 322. Johnson then got his nose out ahead and, as the two cars drove through turn two, Stewart scraped the wall. Johnson easily led lap 323 and continued to pull away from Stewart, going on to win by about half the front straightaway. He credited crew chief Chad Knaus for making some key adjustments on the last pit stop. "At the end, when it came time to race for checkered, Chad NASCAR Nextel Cup Kobalt Tools 500 At Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Ga.

Up kngtk: IM miles (Start position ki parentheses) 1. (3) Jimmle Johnson, Chevrolet, 325 laps, 152.915 $233,261. 2. (13) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 325, $165,461. 3.

(21) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 325, $145,016. 4. (32) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 325, $134,516. 5. (16) Juan Pablo Montoya, Dodge, 325, $126,200.

6. (IS) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet 325, $87,925. 7. (14) Cart Edwards, Ford, 325, $56,625. 8.

(18) Martin Truex Chevrolet, 325, $109,520. 9. (11) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 325, $104,433. 10. (4) Mark Martin, Chevrolet 325, $112,183.

11. (17) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 325, $110,408. 12. (S) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet 325, $118,561. 13.

(7) David Stremme, Dodge, 325, $75375. 14. (22) Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet, 325, $116,133, 15. (37) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 325, $83,475. 16.

(6) Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 325, $110,911. 17. (19) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 325, $70,075. 18. (2) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 325, $92,670.

19. (30) Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet 324, $88,650. 20. (39) Robby Gordon, Ford, 324, $75,725. 21.

(9) Mike Bliss, Dodge, 324, $86,783. 22. (20) J. Yeley, Chevrolet 324, $100,233. 23.

(1) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 324, $111,000. 24. (28) Sterling Marlin, Chevrolet 324, $84,333. 25. (36) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet 324, $117,736.

26. (42) Ricky Rudd, Ford, 323, $102,283. 27. (35) Dave Blaney, Toyota, 323, $88,572. 28.

(34) Casey Mears, Chevrolet 323, $78,375. 29. (26) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet 323, $67,700. 30. (27) David Gllliland, Ford, 323, $95,289.

31. (23) Paul Menard, Chevrolet 323, $67300. 32. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet 322, $75,425. 33.

(38) David Ragan, Ford, 322, $104,125. 34. (40) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 322, $67,275. 35. (41) Jeff Green, Chevrolet 322, $75,240.

36. (43) Dale Jarrett Toyota, 320, $67,205. 37. (29) Ken Schrader, Ford, 318, $87,384. 38 (33) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, 318, $75,885.

39. (12) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 306, $114,291. 40. (24) David Reutimann, Toyota, 295, $67,060. 41.

(25) Greg Biffle. Ford, 280, $85,015. 42. (31) Brian Vlckers, Toyota, accident, 227, $67,270. 43.

(10) Scott Riggs, Dodge, engine failure, 221, $74,334. Time of Race 3 hours, 16 minutes, 23 seconds. Margin of Victory: 1.311 Seconds. Caution Flags: Six for 24 laps. Lead Changes: 31 among 13 drivers.

Lap Leaders: R.Newman (Pole); J.Johnson 1-36; E.Sadler 37; J.Gordon 38-41; T.Stewart 42-79; JJohnson 80-87; K.Harvlck 88; B.Vickers 89-91; 92-96; M.Kenseth 97; Ku.Busch 98-106; JJohnson 107-132; R.Sorenson 133; D.BIaney 134; B.Vickers 135-136; J.Johnson 137-143; C.Bowyer 144; JJohnson 145-154: M.Kenseth 155-164; JJohnson 165-166; J.Gordon 167-192; T.Stewart 193-194; JJohnson 195-223; D.BIaney 224; JJohnson 225-238; T.Stewart 239-270; J.Burton 271; T.Stewart 272-310; J.Burton 311; B.Labonte 312; T.Stewart 313-322; JJohnson 323-325. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): J.Johnson, 9 times for 135 laps; T.Stewart, 5 times for 121 laps; J.Gordon, 2 times for 30 laps; Ku.Busch, 2 times for 14 laps; M.Kenseth, 2 times for 11 laps; B.Vickers, 2 times for 5 laps: J.Burton, 2 times for 2 laps; C.Bowyer, 2 times for 2 laps; E.Sadler, 1 time for 1 lap: K.Harvlck, 1 time for 1 lap; D.BIaney, 1 time for 1 lap; R.Sorenson, 1 time for 1 lap; B.Labonte, 1 time for 1 lap. Point Standings: 1. M.Martin, 629. 2.

J.Gordon, 621. 3. J.Burton, 618. 4. J.Johnson, 601.

5. M.Kenseth, 567. 6. T.Stewart, 507. 7.

K.Harvlck, 482. 8. D.Hamlin, 480. 9. C.Bowyer, 479.

10. C.Edwards, 471. MIKE HARRIS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAMPTON, Ga. Jimmie Johnson already has his eye on the big prize. The reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champion passed Tony Stewart three laps from the end Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway and went on to win his second straight race.

"We're thinking championship already," said Johnson, only four races into the 36-race season. "That's really the mode anymore. You have to think about points and being in the top 12 all the time." Johnson had the car to beat Sunday, leading 132 of the first 238 laps. But the only laps he led the rest of the way in the 325-lap event on Atlanta's 1.5-mile oval were the last three. The 25th victory of his Cup career moved Johnson within 28 points of current series leader Mark Martin, who plans on skipping next week's race at Bristol and the race the following week at Martinsville.

That would leave Johnson just 20 points behind Hendrick Mo-torsports teammate Jeff Gordon and 17 behind Jeff Burton going into Bristol, the fifth of the 26 races that will determine the 12 drivers in the Chase for the championship. "Right now, it's easy to feel good about things and there's no doubt that the championship is what's on our minds," Johnson said. "When you come into the sport, you focus on victories and top 10 and now the Chase is a big mark for the teams to make. "But, after you win a champi toiiiil SmisMi Zuitiibj CcjIiij. faiiululiij 'Mm tiiisiJiii'juutiji cralfflGC'Tvi.

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