NASCAR at Dover 2015 Results: Winner, Standings, Highlights and Reaction – Bleacher Report

On a day when nine different leaders emerged from a pack of elite competitors, Jimmie Johnson drove to Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway in Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks NASCAR race.

Johnson captured his record 10th win at Dover and fourth victory of the 2015 campaign, re-emphasizing his status as the sport’s most dominant force.

Check out the marquee finishers from Sunday’s NASCAR showcase along with an updated glimpse at the Sprint Cup picture:

NASCAR’s official Twitter account provided the footage of Johnson crossing the finish line:

.@JimmieJohnson grabs win No. 10 at @MonsterMile.

WATCH the final laps here: http://t.co/qbefbfgIcy

#NASCARreplay.

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 31, 2015

ESPN Stats & Info highlighted Johnson’s driving prowess following his latest triumph:

Jimmie Johnson wins at Dover, his 27th Sprint Cup win since start of 2010 – 7 more than anyone else

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 31, 2015

Hendrick Motorsports referenced the legendary company Johnson joined in reaching double digits at Dover and shared what he had to say once the race ended:

History for @JimmieJohnson!

Joins @AllWaltrip, Earnhardt, Pearson & Petty who have won 10 times at a single track. pic.twitter.com/RV8QUvFw0V

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) May 31, 2015

“I was driving hard… trying to be smart with my line. It was a long fought day. So proud of this @LowesRacing team.” – @JimmieJohnson

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) May 31, 2015

“The Monster Mile” is a demanding test for even the best stock car drivers on the planet, but a number of the Sprint Cup season’s top performers rose to the occasion. Overall points leader Kevin Harvick was out in front for 91 laps, while Martin Truex Jr. led a race-best 131 laps.

Neither could come up big at the end, where NASCAR’s perennial champion managed to beat out the rest of the field with some savvy driving out of the late cautions.

Jeff Gluck of USA Today observed how Johnson was slowly but surely cutting into the deficit he faced from Harvick’s prior lead:

Jimmie Johnson is slowly cutting into Harvick’s lead. It’s down to 1.4 seconds…picking up about .1 a lap with 28 to go.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 31, 2015

A green-white-checkered finish promised to make the conclusion to the FedEx 400 exciting, though it did detract from some of the drivers who put in tremendous work. Truex was frustrated by the final restart and how Kasey Kahne got in his way, settling for sixth place.

Denny Hamlin had led 118 laps and was in the running for the checkered flag late before crashing out with just 14 laps remaining. Fox Sports 1 shared the footage of Hamlin’s wreck:

Strong weekend comes to an abrupt end for @DennyHamlin.

13 laps to go – @JimmieJohnson leads under caution. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/z1hWInqKhS

— FOX Sports 1 (@FOXSports1) May 31, 2015

ESPN’s Marty Smith reacted to Hamlin’s late loss of the handle:

How DH didn’t get it … Wow.

— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) May 31, 2015

A number of circumstances had to fall into place for Johnson to have won at Dover so often. Even Johnson, who led 23 laps on the day, was in disbelief at what he’d achieved:    

Never thought I’d see 10 here! #se7en #Lowes48 pic.twitter.com/NLSuGCqoIb

— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) May 31, 2015

There’s no denying Johnson was once again a deserving champion, managing to hang tough and conserve his best for last. He showcased the savvy strategy that’s won him six Sprint Cup championships to date.

Truex has to be getting a bit frustrated at this point, as he’s still not guaranteed a spot in the Chase due to the absence of a victory on his resume, despite 12 top-10 finishes in his 13 starts this season. As long as his team keeps putting out quality cars at this weekly rate, though, he figures to break through at some point.

Next week’s NASCAR action picks up at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania—just 13 races until the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins. Johnson won the race there in 2013, while reigning Daytona 500 champion Joey Logano did so in 2012. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will do his best to defend.

Johnson’s teammate, Jeff Gordon, is in his final season and has won more than anyone in the Pocono race with a record four victories. Still in need of a checkered flag to secure his spot in the Chase, look for Gordon to build on this week’s top-10 finish in Dover to contend for first in his next start.