DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Despite the Lowe's Chevrolet running strong throughout Saturday night's Sprint Cup event, a flat tire and late race accident relegated Jimmie Johnson to a 23rd-place finish at Daytona International Speedway.
Johnson started the summer classic from the 30th position but quickly began climbing through the field when the green flag waved, moving into the top 15 by lap 20 of the scheduled 160 laps.
The Lowe's Chevrolet proved to be one of the strongest cars in the field throughout the race, and Johnson consistently ran among the leaders.
But when the Championship driver reported to his crew that he thought he had a flat tire with fewer than 30 laps to go, the Lowe's Chevrolet was forced to return to pit road for fresh Goodyears.
Johnson returned to the track in the 27th position on lap 140 and hoped to climb back through the field in the final 20 laps.
But as Johnson entered turn 3 on lap 157, Dave Blaney was hit from behind and shot into the right side of the Lowe's Impala SS, adding Johnson to the list of the six drivers involved in the crash.
Johnson took his No. 48 machine to pit road for work and returned to the track for the closing laps, which included a green-white-checkered finish. He maintained his position on the lead lap and crossed the finish line 23rd.
"What a disappointing finish to a good night," Johnson said. "We fought being loose in and tight off the corners all night but had really done a good job of making the right changes and staying in the top 10.
"The guys gave me great pit stops all night, and we almost made it to the end without trouble. But that flat tire got us back in traffic, and when you're back there at a restrictor-plate race it usually means trouble.
"It was definitely not the finish we were hoping for. This was a top-five car tonight for sure."
Johnson's finish allowed him to maintain fifth place in the Sprint Cup Series driver point standings.
Race winner Kyle Busch and runner-up Carl Edwards were side-by-side when the caution flag waved on the final lap of the race. After video review, Busch was named the winner. Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and David Ragan followed them to the line.
Johnson's teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., who led a race-high 51 laps, was the highest-finishing Hendrick Motorsports driver, crossing the line eighth. Jeff Gordon led the second-most laps (46) but got shuffled back through the field late in the race and finished 30th. Casey Mears was caught up in a late race accident and was finished 34th.
Kyle Busch continues to lead the championship point standings, followed by Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Edwards and Johnson.
Next weekend's race at Chicagoland Speedway will be another Saturday night event. The July 12 race will be broadcast live on TNT. Coverage is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.
DAYTONA TOP-10 FINISHERS
1. Kyle Busch
2. Carl Edwards
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Kurt Busch
5. David Ragan
6. Robby Gordon
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
9. Clint Bowyer
10. Mark Martin
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS DRIVERS' FINISHING POSITIONS
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
23. Jimmie Johnson
30. Jeff Gordon
34. Casey Mears
TOP 12 IN POINTS AFTER DAYTONA
1. Kyle Busch
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -182
3. Jeff Burton -202
4. Carl Edwards -249
5. Jimmie Johnson -367
6. Jeff Gordon -437
7. Denny Hamlin -446
8. Kasey Kahne -509
9. Matt Kenseth -520
10. Clint Bowyer -527
11. Greg Biffle -533
12. Tony Stewart -541
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS' DRIVERS POINTS POSITIONS
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -182
5. Jimmie Johnson -367
6. Jeff Gordon -437
24. Casey Mears -968
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Chicagoland Speedway (All times Eastern)
Thursday, July 10
Sprint Cup practice, 5 p.m., SPEED
Sprint Cup qualifying, 8:30 p.m., SPEED
Friday, July 11
Sprint Cup practice, 5 p.m., SPEED
Sprint Cup happy hour, 6 p.m., SPEED
Saturday, June 12
Sprint Cup pre-Race, 6:30 p.m., TNT
Sprint Cup race, 8 p.m., TNT
