(Photo: Jeff Wackerlin) via www.mrn.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Jimmie Johnson held off teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sunday to score his second career win in the season-opening Daytona 500.
Johnson kept his Lowe’s Chevrolet in front of the field in the frantic last laps dash to the checkered flag to add a win in the 55th running of “The Great American Race” to his 2006 victory.
The five-time champion notched the thrilling win in his 400th career Sprint Cup Series start.
Johnson was ahead on the final green flag restart after a caution bunched up the field for a piece of aluminum that was picked up off the track. Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin were tucked behind with Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin and Danica Patrick all in the mix.
But as the field raced to the finish line, Johnson was able to fend off the challenge from Earnhardt who could not mount a serious charge for the win.
