Jimmie Johnson wins at Martinsville, enters Championship 4

Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports) wins the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway and becomes the first driver who secures the Championship 4 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. For the six-time Sprint Cup champion this is 79th victory in a career and his ninth win at Martinsville.

Johnson has led for 92 of 500 laps at the most known American short track to win ahead of Brad Keselowski (Team Penske). Keselowski was eliminated from the Chase after last week’s Talladega race. Three Chasers completed the Top 5 at Martinsville today: Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch. The other four Chasers were classified as follows: Joey Logano ninth, Kevin Harvick 20th, Kurt Busch 22nd and Carl Edwards 36th.

Two more races are scheduled in the Round of 8 before the season’s finale (Championship 4 event) at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20. The next race is AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 6.