SCC Campus News

Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Entertainment

Last year in Phoenix, Jimmie Johnson finished in first to win the Sprint Cup point total, and this year he comes back and wins the Subway Fresh Fit 500. It was his first win of 2008, and it put him in fourth place for the Sprint Cup points.

Dale Earnhardt Junior came into the race as the obvious fan favorite. He started back in position 13 in the #88 National Guard Chevrolet. Junior led the race for 87 laps, but in lap 272 he gives up the lead to Mark Martin driving his old car #8 from last year.

In lap 300 most of the cars pitted, afraid there fuel supply would not last for 12 more laps, except for Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, and, Jeff Burton.

Jimmie Johnson takes over sole possession of the lead, because he stayed out onto the track. At lap 310 Johnson's crew chief radios him and tells him to back it down to save on fuel, even though Clint Bowyer is 10 seconds behind him. Jimmie Johnson wins the race with only a 7 second margin in front of Clint Bowyer.

After the celebratory smoking the tires, Johnson's car had to be pushed into Victory lane by a tow truck because he was out of gas.

In Victory Lane Jimmie Johnson says it was nice to win in Phoenix again and have the fans cheer for him versus throw beer cans at him.

Even though the race was at night Phoenix attendance was at 100,000.

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