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CUP: JJ Takes Title, Edwards Wins Race
Written by: Tom Jensen   
11/16/2008
Homestead, Florida
 
Carl Edwards celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) ยป More Photos

Carl Edwards won Sunday’s season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Jimmie Johnson tied a record with his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

Johnson, who entered the race with a 141-point lead over Edwards, finished the race 20th to seal the deal and tie the record set by Cale Yarborough in 1976-78.

Coming into the final race, Edwards knew he’d need a break to win the title. He didn’t get it, for while Edwards was dominating on this beautiful South Florida day, Johnson was rock solid.

A pair of Toyotas started on the front row, David Reutimann on the pole and Scott Speed on the outside. Reutimann took the lead at the start, with Matt Kenseth taking second ahead of Speed and Edwards.

Kenseth took over the point on Lap 2 and his teammate Edwards quickly followed into second and making it a Roush Fenway Racing 1-2. Johnson, who qualified 30th, made up eight positions in the first six laps.

Edwards took the lead for the first time on Lap 13, going under Kenseth on the frontstretch to assume the point. By this time, Johnson was up to 20th, his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet patiently advancing towards the front.

The first caution came at Lap 71, when Aric Almirola spun by himself at the exit of Turn 4. That sent the lead-lap cars down pit road, with Edwards winning the race off ahead of Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, David Ragan and Reutimann. Johnson rejoined the race in 13th, the race restarting on Lap 75.

Caution No. 2 came out on Lap 141 for debris in Turn 2. Under
caution, Edwards took just two tires to hold sway over Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Ragan and Kyle Busch. Johnson was 12th after taking four tires. Dale Earnhardt Jr. stalled on pit road and restarted 21st, the last car on the lead lap.

The green flag flew on Lap 147, but it stayed that way for just six laps before Kurt Busch had a flat left-front tire and went into the outside wall.

This time, the restart came on Lap 157, only to see Marcos Ambrose make contact with Reed Sorenson to bring out another yellow on Lap 169 and send the leaders back down pit road. Jeff Gordon stayed out and took over the top position, followed by Reutimann, Kenseth, Bowyer, David Gilliland and Edwards. Johnson took two tires and came out 14th.

Gordon was in the lead when the track went green on Lap 174. Then Jeff Burton spun out after contact with Joe Nemechek on the backstretch on Lap 178, bringing out yet another yellow period. Johnson pitted under caution, rejoining the race in 19th place. Gordon led when the track went green on Lap 183, followed by Kenseth, Reutimann, Bowyer, Hamlin and Edwards.

Kenseth went high on Lap 186 to take the lead, his first time out front since the early laps of the race. Five laps later, Hamlin dropped Gordon to third, one position ahead of Edwards.

The next caution was caused out by Reed Sorenson’s crash on Lap 198 and on Lap 199, the leaders pitted. Johnson took just two tires this time and took the lead on put road over Kenseth, Edwards and Hamlin. That gave Johnson 5 critical bonus points for leading a lap.


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