Just under 30 laps remained when the race went green and Kenseth made quick work of Newman to grab the lead. Truex Jr was briefly able to get fourth from Johnson but on lap 310 Johnson returned the favour and two laps later he was second after deposing Newman. The fight was now on with Johnson moving onto Kenseth's rear bumper on lap 317 and starting a sequence of breathtaking side by side lappery that lasted all the way until the penultimate lap when Johnson was finally able to squeeze ahead of Kenseth on the low line and block him off on the run down the back straight.
Having lost out to Jeff Burton in similar fashion in Texas earlier this year Kenseth had to settle for another runner-up finish as Johnson eased away on the final lap to claim his ninth win of the season. Second place was made even more bittersweet as Kenseth, along with five other drivers were mathematically eliminated from the title chase on Sunday now lying more than 390 points behind new series leader Johnson with only next weekend's trip to Phoenix and the season finale in Homestead left to run.
Like Kenseth, Truex Jr is now out of the title equation despite finishing third on Sunday while Kyle Busch maintains his faint chances with a fourth place run. Newman was the first non Chase driver home but his winless streak continues while sixth place finisher Burton, eighth place finisher Kurt Busch and tenth place driver Harvick also joined Kenseth and Truex Jr on the eliminated list.
A seventh place finish for the erstwhile title leader Gordon wasn't enough to keep him ahead in the standings although for much of the race the points lead ebbed and flowed between himself and Johnson as both drivers struggled with the handling of their cars. But while Johnson's team finally found the sweet spot Gordon's crew were left scratching their heads as the four-times champ had to scrabble around for a top ten finish for the second week in a row. Although 30 points is not an insurmountable gap Gordon must now pull something really special out of his hat such is the current form of Johnson.
![Jimmie Johnson - Kobalt/Lowe's Chevrolet [pic credit: image.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/300249.jpg)
