Johnson wins Nextel Cup at Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C., March 21 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson won his first NASCAR Nextel Cup race of the season Sunday, holding off Bobby Labonte at the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400.

Johnson drove a Chevrolet Monte Carlo to his seventh career Nextel Cup victory and first at Darlington Raceway.

Labonte, also in a Chevrolet, finished ahead of the Dodge Interpid of Ryan Newman for his third top-10 finish in five races this season.

Robby Gordon was fourth, followed by Elliott Sadler, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick and Jeremy Mayfield.