Defending Nextel Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson kept the pressure on his Hendrick Motorsport teammate and mentor Jeff Gordon as he completed the seasonal clean sweep of the half-mile Martinsville Speedway in Sunday's Subway 500.
Johnson battled through a race record 21 caution periods that resulted in more than 125 of 500 laps being run behind the safety car to successfully out-duel Gordon once again at the shortest track on the Nextel Cup tour.
As they were in the spring race at Martinsville Gordon and Johnson were the class of the field once again with polesitter Gordon leading a race high 168 laps and Johnson 146. Kyle Busch in the #5 Hendrick Chevrolet also led for 106 laps as Rick Hendrick's squad led a combined 415 laps on the day.
And although there was no repeat of the late race bumping and barging between Johnson and Gordon that characterised the conclusion of the spring race there was plenty of close quarters racing between the two especially as Johnson tried to wrest the lead away from his mentor in the final 100 laps.
With the championship at stake Gordon was never likely to fight for the lead with the same ferocity as was seen earlier this year and sure enough, after one or two gentle love taps Gordon moved aside and allowed Johnson to take the lead for good on lap 457.
Sadly for the sun blessed fans in the grandstands a succession of late yellow flags, including one for David Ragan's spin during the green-white-chequered flag finish, meant that the race went out with a whimper instead of a bang especially as the winless Ryan Newman had managed to force his way ahead of Gordon for second with seven laps remaining after a typically robust Martinsville type move.
As a result of his third straight Martinsville victory Johnson was able to reduce Gordon's lead in the Chase for the Championship standings to 53 points with four races to go.
![Jimmie Johnson (#48) races Kurt Busch (#2) in the NASCAR's ever Car of Tomorrow event [pic credit: image.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/303479.jpg)
