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Edwards Is Homestead Winner; Johnson Cops 5th Sprint Cup Championship

Homestead, Fla. – Jimmie Johnson came into the Homestead-Miami Speedway second in points and when the intensely competitive event ended, he had not only captured the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship but had taken the crown for the fifth consecutive time.

The Ford 400 was won by Carl Edwards in convincing fashion, as he raced to victory for the second consecutive week and took a Ford to victory lane at Homestead for the seventh time in 12 races. The Homestead winner always plays second fiddle to the battle for the championship, and while fans and broadcasters focused their attention on the title, Edwards’s dominating run certainly got their attention.

During the 267-lap event, Chase for the Sprint Cup contenders Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Johnson took turns leading the point tally but Johnson excelled when it counted while the others experienced difficulties that derailed their hopes for a championship.

Johnson took the title by 39 points over Hamlin with Harvick 41 points back. The new champion drove the Lowe’s Chevrolet to a second-place finish, Harvick took third in the Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet and Hamlin, who was up and down throughout the day, managed a 14th.

A pit-road penalty midway through the race derailed Harvick’s run to the front and Hamlin never fully recovered from an early-lap incident, although not for the lack of trying.

“It wasn’t easy, and to have it come down to the final race was cool,” Johnson said during the wild victory lane celebration. “We had a good car and we got the speed we needed at the end. When you think about what we have accomplished in nine years, it is quite something. It is just amazing, and we are very, very proud to win the championship.

“I knew at some point the No. 11 (Hamlin) would show up, but we moved forward and they went backward. I never let my mind think about the point race — I just wanted to concentrate on the race. This year we didn’t perform as well as we have, but we got the job done with heart. I never thought I would win one of these (championships) let along five of them.”

The fifth championship bumps Johnson into third place in all-time titles behind legendary drivers Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt.

For Hendrick Motorsports, the team captured its 10th series owner championship, breaking a first-place tie with Petty Motorsports. Also, the team earned its 13th NASCAR national owner series championship, extending its record.

Stated Rick Hendrick, “I thought we were done two or three times today. I wasn’t nervous until the middle of the race when Kevin (Harvick) started to look good, but then Jimmie’s car came alive. It is unbelievable to win 10 championships, and this one was definitely tough for us.”

Crew chief Chad Knaus commented, “It was a taxing day. We didn’t pay attention to the points as we just had to go out and run competitively. We are fortunate to be able to do it, and it speaks volume of what this team can do.”

Hamlin was dismayed but upbeat afterward. “Obviously, I am disappointed,” he said. “Our car was lightning fast up until that wreck. When we hit the No. 16 (Greg Biffle), it knocked the toe out and it didn’t drive the same the rest of the days. It’s just circumstances but we had a great year. We won more races than ever and we contended like we’ve never done before.”

Said Harvick about the result, “You always want to win but I’m not going to sit here and be disappointed. We raced as hard as we could this year.”

Regarding the speeding penalty, he stated, “I don’t think the penalty will ever settle in my stomach. I don’t know how you can be speeding when you’re on the bumper of the car in from of you if the other guys are not speeding.”

Harvick and Kyle Busch had their difficulties on the track with the latter crashing from the race. “He raced me like a clown all day – three-wide, on the back bumper, running into me and I just had enough,” Harvick indicated.

Edwards took off at the drop of the green flag and although briefly challenged by fast qualifier Kasey Kahne and Martin Truex Jr., he soundly thrashed the field, leading 190 laps en route to his 18th career victory and second triumph at Homestead.

For his dominating performance, he earned a perfect driver rating of 150.

“Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson; it is unbelievable what those guys have accomplished,” he said. “I think it is going to take us six years to beat that. For our team to finish like this and be on the upswing is as good as it gets. I feel a lot better now going into 2011 than I did going into 2009. We have a lot of momentum and things keep getting better and better. Today, we had the best performance down the straightway than I have ever had. We have a lot of good things going.”

Team co-owner Jack Roush said, “I am looking forward to celebrating on the stage with the championship group in the future. To come here and not doing well would be embarrassing with Ford the title sponsor.”

Five Fords finished in the top-10.

Behind Edwards, Johnson and Harvick were the Fords of Aric Almirola and A. J. Allmendinger, the Toyota of Kahne, the Chevrolets of Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart and Ford drivers Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle.

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