RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Jimmie Johnson has stormed into the Chase
for the championship by winning his second consecutive race to grab
a ton of momentum for his title defense.
Kansan Clint Bowyer breathed a sigh of relief. Bowyer fought his way into the 12th and final spot for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Bowyer finished 12th in the race and edged out Kasey Kahne by 69 points for the final spot in NASCAR's version of the playoffs. Bowyer, who is from Emporia, KS, is seeded 5th in the Chase.
The two-time defending Cup champion passed Tony Stewart and
Martin Truex for the lead with 34 laps to go on Sunday at Richmond
International Raceway. It was the final event before NASCAR's
10-race title hunt begins next week in New Hampshire.
The Chase field is Johnson, Stewart, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards,
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Jeff
Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Bowyer.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)