Johnson ties Yarborough with Dover win

An overtime win for Jimmie Johnson at Dover has seen his score his 83rd career victory and time Cale Yarborough on the all-time list.

Johnson passed Kyle Larson on a green-white- chequered finish to also take his 11th victory at the Dover International Speedway.

Johnson led just twice for a total of seven laps in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism, he was out front when a multicar crash occurred after he passed the overtime line on the back straight ahead of the final lap.

“To be here and tie him (Yarborough) at 83 wins is amazing,” said Johnson.

“We just got the tribute helmet. I wasn’t sure how quickly we’d be, or if we’d be able to go there, and get it done. But, Cale, you’re the man. Thank you for all you have done for our sport.

“When I was growing up in southern California racing dirt bikes I was a big Cale Yarborough fan. We travelled across the country to race in the Amateur Nationals heading to Oklahoma, we stopped at a Hardees I walked in thinking I would meet Cale Yarborough and left with a burger. So, it opened my eyes to the world of sponsorship at that point in time, but I was such a fan and it’s been an amazing journey along the way.

“It was a huge honor to tie him with three consecutive championships a few years back and then to be here at 83 wins and a day where things played out in such an awkward and weird fashion just very happy that we’ve got it done.

“To my 83 wins, I’m just so proud that it’s come with one owner, one sponsor, one manufacturer, one crew chief, one team, this is a very special journey this whole Hendrick Lowe’s team has been on.”

Johnson came from the back after his Hendrick Motorsports team made an unapproved pre-race gear change.

The final restart denied Larson, who led six times for a race-high 241 laps, but made a poor getaway at the green flag.

Martin Truex Jr. led three times for 102 laps, but was shuffled back after a Lap 343 caution flag fell during a pit-stop cycle. He rallied to finish third, Ryan Newman and Chase Elliott completed the top five.

Rookie Ty Dillon, who rose into contention with a timely late caution period, led 27 laps and was poised for his first career top-five finish. However, he spun on the backstretch which brought out the race ending caution.

Truex added to his stockpile of playoff points by winning the first and second stages, running his season total of stage wins to eight — most in the series.

There was a number of incidents in the race including pole-sitter Kyle Busch who left the pits without his left-rear wheel properly attached. After an extra pit stop to replace the errant wheel and repair fender damage on the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota, Busch recovered to race into the top five. However, a late unscheduled pit stop for a loose wheel with 38 laps left saw him finish 16th.

A Lap 65 crash derailed Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch. Busch lost control racing alongside Larson on a restart, forcing Keselowski into the outside wall. Keselowski was done for the day in 38th place, finishing next to last for the second straight week. Kurt Busch continued with damage, but was sidelined 30 laps later by a more severe solo wreck that left him with a 37th-place result.

VIDEO: Race recap

RESULTS: AAA 400 Drive – Dover International Speedway

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