Filed under: A.J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Sprint Cup, Richard Childress Racing, NASCAR
DOVER, Del. -- Jimmie Johnson, like most of the rest of the drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, moved a spot closer to the front after NASCAR came down hard on Clint Bowyer last week.The four-time defending Cup champ shifted further toward the head of the class as he won the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sunday from the pole, finishing 2.637 seconds ahead of Jeff Burton. Johnson's sixth victory of the season advanced the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet four spots in the Chase to second, 35 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.
It was Johnson's sixth victory at Dover, the most among active drivers, and a record 13th for team owner Rick Hendrick. But Johnson's 53rd Cup win preceded one his most muted celebrations, even as his newborn daughter, Genevieve, made her victory circle debut.
"I don't know how to describe it," Johnson said. Today was a big victory, hopefully a step towards the championship, but it's not the prize we want.. ... At the end of the year, if we're fortunate to win the championship, I'll be the guy with the biggest smile, be the guy that's hungover more than anyone come Monday morning."
Bowyer's rough run since his victory last Sunday in New Hampshire continued. He clipped the wall on Lap 158 and was forced to take a drive-through penalty for speeding on pit lane en route to a 25th-place finish, the lowest among the 12 Chase drivers.
That further dimmed Bowyer's title hopes. He was already docked 150 championship points by NASCAR on Wednesday after the car he won with last weekend failed inspection, a penalty that dropped him from second to 12th in points. He left Sunday's race 235 points behind Hamlin.
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