Johnson becomes a seven-time NASCAR champ

Jimmie Johnson has joined NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. as the only seven-time champions after winning the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Johnson, who also started last after a technical infringement pre-race, held on in a green-white-chequered finish to beat home Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick, with fellow title contender Joey Logano in fourth.

Defending series champion and member of the Championship 4 Kyle Busch finished in sixth, while Carl Edwards finished 34th after a major late-race crash.

The race was highlighted by a big wreck with 10 laps to run when Edwards tried to block Logano on the restart.

Logano made a better jump and as Edwards tried to stay low contact was made, sending the #19 Toyota into the Turn 1 fence.

With many cars involved, including Martin Truex Jr., who had to exit is car because it was in flames, the race was red flagged.

Steering through the wreck was Johnson, who up until that point did not lead a lap. His only three laps at the front were the final three of the race.

The race was not decided until the 31-minute red flag was lifted and two attempts at finishing the race followed.

Johnson checked out at the second of the restarts and was unchallenged to the flag.

Petty’s seventh title came in 1979, while the late Earnhardt’s came in 1994.

“I am just beyond words,” said Johnson as he exited the car.

“I didn’t think the race was unfolding for us to become the champs, but we kept our heads in the game and Chad (Knaus) made some great calls and strategy for the short runs.

“The luck came our way and we won the race and the championship.

“From the bottom of my heart I am so thrilled to be here in this moment and so grateful for the opportunity and so thankful and blessed that I’m lost for words.

“The number seven has a very special place in my heart. For some reason, I felt so good and calm today and things unfolded for us at the end.”

Edwards was the dominant car in the race and sitting second behind Kyle Larson appeared to have him set to win his first title.

Then debris after a puncture to Dylan Lupton set-up the caution which led to the late race dramas.

After exiting his car Edwards walked to Logano’s Penske pit and wished them the best.

“I pushed the issue as far as I could because I figured that was the race there,” said Edwards.

“I thought I would clear him or force him to lift. I just thought I would have a little more time, but he drove down as far as a guy is expected to drive down.

“No apology (to the Logano crew) I just wanted to say ‘hey that’s good racing’.

“I just risked too much. (Crew Chief) Dave (Rogers) told me before this race that it’s a pretty big reward and remember risk gets rewards. I couldn’t go to bed tonight and think that I had given him that length.”

The other headline of the race Tony Stewart closing-out his full-time NASCAR career. As a mark of respect for the three-time champ, crew lined-up to salute Stewart and a number of drivers, including Johnson, gave him their race helmets.

“This is probably the biggest honour as a driver to get a guy’s helmet who just won his seventh championship,” said Stewart.

“The send-off truly meant the world to me. I told my guys I nearly went a lap down right there.”

NASCAR will reconvene at Daytona in February for the pre-season shootout event followed by the Daytona 500 on February 26.

VIDEO: Race re-cap

RESULTS: Ford EcoBoost 400 – Homestead-Miami Speedway