A wild finish at Talladega Speedway Sunday results in the five-time defending champion, Jimmie Johnson winning his first Sprint Cup race of 2011.
Johnson only led 12 laps at the beginning and the race had 89 lead changes as drivers picked partners to create speed by two cars drafting with each other.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was Johnson's partner for the entire race and the two were able to work well together.
There were plenty of exciting moments in the race including Ryan Newman spinning out twice in a span of several laps then being able to control and keep the car from wreaking.
The man of the season thus far, Kyle Busch, was one of the front runners for a win today but he was involved in a multiple-car accident with less than 30 laps to go.
The race came down to all four Hendrick Motor's cars (Johnson, Earnhardt, Jeff Gordan and Mark Martin,) against the two Childress' cars (Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer.)
Johnson and his partner were trailing coming off the last turn as Gordan and his partner were battling for position with Boywer and his partner.
Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. slipped his way into the inside while Gordan was trying to deny them. The three groups ran their way down the stretch as it was unclear who was going to win.
The proven champion was able to be pushed across the start/finish line by two tenths of a second by the 101 race winless Earnhardt.
Bowyer finished second as Gordan followed close behind and Harvick and Earnhardt Jr. finishing the top five.
Despite not winning the race, Jr. now has 24 top five finishes at Talladega.
The Sprint Cup series now heads off to Richmond in two weeks.
PHOTO COURTESY OF: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR and NASCAR Media
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