Jimmie Johnson holds on to win NASCAR race at Dover

Jimmie Johnson races on the inside of David Ragan during Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway.

By Associated Press

May 31, 2015 2:10 PM PT

Dover, Del. — Jimmie Johnson pulled away on the final restart Sunday to win at Dover International Speedway and become the fifth NASCAR driver with 10 or more Sprint Cup victories at a single track.

Johnson led the final 23 laps, staying out on cold tires when other contenders made late race pit stops. The six-time series champion has 10 wins in 27 career starts on the concrete mile track. He needed five extra laps beyond the scheduled 400 because a late accident brought out the caution.

He has four wins this season, 74 in his career and has won at least four times in a season 11 times.

Johnson took his familiar spot in victory lane and took a quick, congratulatory phone call from team owner Rick Hendrick.

“I know what I’m capable of and felt just fine doing it,” Johnson said. “And, I’ve got a great rhythm. I’ve got great support at home.”

Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Kyle Larson, Kasey Kahne and Aric Almirola.

No active driver owns a track like Johnson does Dover.

Johnson joined NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (Martinsville-15, North Wilkesboro-15, Richmond-13, Rockingham-11, Daytona-10), Darrell Waltrip (Bristol-12, Martinsville-11, North Wilkesboro-10), Dale Earnhardt (Talladega-10) and David Pearson (Darlington-10) as drivers to win 10 races at a single track.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver swept Dover in 2002 and 2009 and also won races in 2005, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Harvick held a comfortable lead until the field was bunched on a late caution. Kyle Busch, who was in the top five, connected with Brian Scott to end the race for each driver. Busch, who poked his head inside Scott’s window for a chat, was unhurt in his second points race since he suffered leg and ankle injuries at Daytona.

Busch needs a win and to hit the top 30 in the points standings to become eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Martin Truex Jr. led the most laps (131) for the third straight race, yet failed again to win. He was sixth.

Tony Stewart was as many as three laps down and finished 26th at the track where he last won a Cup race on June 2, 2013.