Johnson bags fifth Cup win

FONTANA, Calif. — Jimmie Johnson popped out of a mid-season slump Sunday night with his series-best fifth Nextel Cup win of the year near his hometown of El Cajon, Calif.

Johnson, the reigning series champion, held off Carl Edwards to win the Sharp Aquos 500 by 1.868 seconds at California Speedway before an estimated crowd of 70,000.

Johnson’s teammate, Las Vegas native Kyle Busch, finished third and along with Johnson clinched spots in the Chase for the Championship.

Johnson will share $288,411 with his team.

The race featured a record 16 leaders and tied the mark for lead changes with 30.

“It was really a solid effort through the whole night,” said Johnson, who is fifth in points for Hendrick Motorsports.

His five victories assure him at least a tie for the top seed when the playoff begins in two weeks. In addition to expanding the Chase field from 10 to 12 this year, it also awards qualified drivers 10 bonus points for each victory in the first 26 races.

Busch led seven times for a race-best 97 laps but couldn’t catch Johnson or Edwards over the last 86 laps of the 500-mile race on the 2-mile oval.

“Our year’s not done,” Busch said. “There are plenty of strong opportunities for us to go out there and be able to contend for a win and contend for the championship.”

Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer only have to start Saturday’s race in Richmond, Va., to earn spots in the Chase.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. placed fifth at California but has a slim chance of getting into the playoff, regardless of how he finishes at Richmond.

He can be locked out if Kurt Busch, who finished ninth Sunday and moved up one spot to 11th, finishes 36th or better, and Kevin Harvick, who fell to 12th, finishes at least 32nd.

“It was so hot out there, you kind of get aggravated,” Earnhardt said after the race. “I’m tired, real tired.

“I don’t know much about the (Chase) system, I never cared to. I just go out there and run as hard as I can. It doesn’t look like we’re going to make it, but we’re not going to quit trying until they tell us we’re not (in it).”

Ricky Rudd, who made the 900th start of his NASCAR career, was transported to a local hospital after being injured in six-car crash on the 181st lap.

Rudd was released a few hours after the race with a minor shoulder injury. He finished 40th.