LOUDON, N.H. -- Jimmie Johnson was running second and closing in on leader Tony Stewart on Sunday when a caution came out on lap 251 of 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Johnson came down pit road to get a splash of fuel before returning to the track in 10th position for what he hoped would be a final restart and a run for the victory.
But just a few laps later the caution flag waved again, and before the Sprint Cup Series field could make another restart, rain began to fall over the 1.058-mile oval, forcing NASCAR to call the race after 284 laps.
Johnson was able to pick up only one position between the final two caution periods and took home a ninth-place result.
"It's just hard; we had a really good car," said Team Lowe's Racing crew chief Chad Knaus. "The Lowe's Chevrolet was running really great; it was a great car all weekend. We had a poor qualifying effort, which was just kind of a mixup, but we had a great car.
"We've had great cars the last six to eight weeks, but there is always just something weird that happens to take us out of it. It's kind of frustrating, but part of it."
Kurt Busch, along with the other top-seven finishers, chose not to pit during the lap 251 caution and was credited with the win.
Johnson's finish was his eighth top-10 of the season and his eighth at the New England facility.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was running 10th when he was involved in a late race accident with Jamie McMurray, dropping him to a 24th-place finish. Casey Mears' seventh-place finish made him the highest-ranking Hendrick Motorsports driver, while Jeff Gordon was credited with an 11th-place result.
With nine races left before the Chase begins, Kyle Busch continues to lead the driver point standings, followed by Jeff Burton, Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards and Johnson.
The Sprint Cup Series will visit the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway next weekend. The July 5 event will be broadcast live on TNT and is scheduled to begin with a pre-race show at 7:30 p.m. ET.
TOP 10 FINISHERS AT NEW HAMPSHIRE
1. Kurt Busch
2. Michael Waltrip
3. J.J. Yeley
4. Martin Truex Jr.
5. Elliot Sadler
6. Reed Sorenson
7. Casey Mears
8. Denny Hamlin
9. Jimmie Johnson
10. Carl Edwards
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS' DRIVERS' FINISHING POSITIONS
7. Casey Mears
9. Jimmie Johnson
11. Jeff Gordon
24. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
TOP 12 IN POINTS AFTER NEW HAMPSHIRE
1. Kyle Busch
2. Jeff Burton -67
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -144
4. Carl Edwards -237
5. Jimmie Johnson -279
6. Jeff Gordon -328
7. Denny Hamlin -349
8. Greg Biffle -380
9. Tony Stewart -457
10. Kasey Kahne -471
11. Kevin Harvick -483
12. Clint Bowyer -490
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS' DRIVERS' POINTS POSITIONS
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -144
5. Jimmie Johnson -279
6. Jeff Gordon -328
23. Casey Mears -842
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Daytona International Speedway (All times Eastern)
Thursday, July 3
Sprint Cup practice, 4 p.m., SPEED
Sprint Cup happy hour, 6:30 p.m., SPEED
Friday, July 4
Sprint Cup qualifying, 4 p.m., SPEED
Saturday, July 5
Sprint Cup pre-race, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Sprint Cup race, 8 p.m., TNT
