But there was one more twist in a very long California tale when Jeremy Mayfield’s lap 220 spin brought out the eleventh and final caution of the event, allowing everyone a final chance to add fuel and new tyres for the run to the chequered flag. Once again Johnson’s choice of pit stall worked a treat as he led the field off pit road with Gordon second, Jamie McMurray third after taking two tyres and Edwards back in fourth.
On the lap 224 restart Edwards quickly dispatched his teammate and then watched as Gordon and Johnson raced side by side for several laps, with Johnson just keeping the advantage. Then Edwards started to make his move, passing Gordon with ease on the front stretch as they started lap 233 and then honing in on Johnson until on lap 236 he was on the defending champions rear bumper.
A couple of switch-overs and a good two laps of hard, side by side racing were resolved when Edwards nosed ahead coming through turn two on lap 238 to take the lead in the decisive move of the race. Johnson had nothing in reserve to re-challenge the leader and helplessly watched the #99 Ford inch away.
Edwards duly cruised the final ten laps to score his eighth career Cup Series victory and Jack Roush’s sixth at the two-mile Fontana oval. One back-flip later and the curtain was drawn on a long, tiring, but ultimately satisfying Cup Series weekend.
Johnson and Gordon completed the top three with Gordon actually blowing his engine half way around the final lap and had it not been for Dale Jarrett’s final turn spin, which brought out the yellow flags just as Edwards was preparing to take the chequered flag Gordon would almost certainly have been swamped by the rest of the lead lap cars.
Kyle Busch’s tenacious drive was rewarded with fourth place, the youngster passing Matt Kenseth in the closing laps while Martin Truex Jr also gained a spot in the final couple of miles as he snatched sixth from Busch’s teammate Tony Stewart. Kevin Harvick rode unobtrusively to eighth place with Kasey Kahne ninth and
Daytona winner Newman rounding out the top ten.
![Carl Edwards, Roush-Fenway Ford [Pic Credit Ford Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/405819.jpg)
