| | | | | Upon returning to the competition, Gordon finally lost |
| Once again, Jimmie Johnson, four-time champion of | | | | first, passed by Greg Biffle. During this restart, |
| the NASCAR Sprint Cup, has found himself standing | | | | Johnson was able to climb several positions and place |
| at the top of the podium. Johnson took first at the | | | | himself in the group of the top ten riders marking the |
| Shelby American, the third race of the season for | | | | route. |
| the top flight in NASCAR. | | | | Gordon and Biffle went head to head, and Gordon |
| During the competition, which took place at the Las | | | | quickly regained first. Meanwhile, Johnson managed a |
| Vegas Motor Speedway circuit, Johnson gave a full | | | | slow rise in the ranks; at lap 70, the driver managed |
| demonstration of his talent and driving ability. This | | | | to gain third place behind Matt Kenseth and Gordon, |
| time, it wasn't a matter of luck that launched | | | | his teammate. |
| Johnson into first – unlike his last victory. This | | | | These three drivers directed the course until lap 88, |
| time, it was merit alone that gave the driver the win, | | | | when a new setback stopped the event with the |
| reinforcing his position as among the best drivers in | | | | raising of a fourth yellow flag. On his way through |
| the series. | | | | the pits, Johnson had a problem with his tire change, |
| Kurt Busch managed pole position in Vegas, followed | | | | and he entered the track in sixth. At the same time, |
| by Jeff Gordon; Johnson, on the other hand, was | | | | Kenseth moved to the head of the race, in front of |
| relegated to twentieth in the grid exit. | | | | Edwards and Gordon. |
| Busch, however, could only keep himself ahead of | | | | At lap 93, a multiple-car accident provoked the fifth |
| the competition for a single curve, after which | | | | yellow flag. Gordon regained the lead after returning |
| Gordon quickly passed him to place himself in first. | | | | to the track. Twelve laps later the lights failed again, |
| Gordon managed an incredible feat, leading the race | | | | and the race stopped for a sixth time. |
| for 210 of the schedule 267 laps. | | | | Back on track, Scott Speed took first place, but was |
| Once in the second round, the race saw its first | | | | quickly surpassed by Gordon, who apparently had |
| yellow flag after a crash from rookie Kevin Conway. | | | | grown to like the position. Johnson was in third. |
| Upon the restart, during lap 5, Gordon again took the | | | | Johnson managed to move up into second, and at lap |
| lead. He held this position until lap 46, when another | | | | 133, the two drivers of the Hendrick Motorsports |
| yellow flag was raised after Mike Bliss hit the | | | | team went head to head. |
| protective wall. Gordon surprised again when he easily | | | | During the last neutralization, the #48 Chevrolet |
| regained first after leaving the pits. | | | | driver changed all four of his car's tires, while his |
| The race had been predicted to be a high-speed | | | | teammate only changed two. Johnson returned to |
| event, but, as so often happens, the predictions | | | | the track in fourth, but managed to not only reach |
| turned out to be wrong. On a sunny afternoon with | | | | his teammate, but pass him to cross the finish line in |
| a completely clear sky, the brightness obscured the | | | | first. |
| pilots' vision, and the drivers didn't dare speed up | | | | The podium was completed with Kevin Harvick in |
| their cars to their maximum potential. | | | | second and Jeff Gordon in third. |
| A few laps later, a third yellow flag arose; the | | | | The victory raises Johnson to fifth in the overall |
| indicator lights were not turned off, and NASCAR | | | | drivers' standings, with a total of 443 points. Harvick |
| officials decided to stop the competition to rectify | | | | is in first, leading with 506 points. |
| the problem. | | | | |