It was a battle that began before the green flag waved. The No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS started at the rear of the field, but he soon made quick work of driving to the front.
He passed 34 cars in the first 41 laps, breaking inside the top five on Lap 48.
Following a couple slower visits to pit road, Johnson and the No. 48 team worked hard to rebound, even after briefly going a lap down on the track.
"Obviously you never give up until that checkered flag waves," Johnson's former teammate Jeff Gordon said. "You know, there were moments throughout the weekend where I thought Jimmie and the No. 48 team were the best ones out there and there were times when it looked like we were going to settle for less than the championship. But those guys never stopped fighting or gave up."Johnson's hope for #se7en seemed like it might be just out of reach when he restarted fifth with 10 laps remaining, but the No. 48 team never gave up.
That restart is the one that changed the entire race, as a red flag was thrown due to a multi-car incident involving two of Johnson's Championship 4 contenders.
As a result, Johnson assumed the fourth position for the restart before another caution was thrown, placing him on the front row in second for the overtime restart. Johnson jumped out to grab the lead at the green and never looked back.
"The best pit stops came at the right time and the calls that Chad made came at the right time," Gordon said. "Jimmie had the most incredible moves and restarts at the end when it counted most and that is why those guys are seven time champions and proved it again tonight.”
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