MARTINSVILLE, Va., April 1 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson nosed out Jeff Gordon Sunday by a bumper's length to capture the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Nextel Cup auto race at Martinsville, Va.
Johnson, who led the final lap, took the checkered flag 0.066 seconds ahead of Gordon to get his third victory of the season and the 26th of his Nextel Cup career.
"I'm speechless," Johnson said. "To have a duel like that at the end, that was some of the hardest driving I've ever done. And then to have my bumper beat off by my teammate in a way that didn't jeopardize either one of us was really a class act by Jeff."
Pole winner Denny Hamlin finished third. Kyle Busch was fourth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was fifth.
Gordon (966) retains the points lead, 28 ahead of Jeff Burton (938), who finished sixth.
Johnson (906) is third overall, 60 points behind Gordon.
