Johnson wins latest Sprint Cup race

CONCORD, N.C., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson beat Matt Kenseth to the checkered flag Saturday to win the Sprint Cup NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

Before finishing ahead of Kenseth, Johnson edged Kasey Kahne in the race's final stop on pit road, then held off Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in several late-race restarts.

Johnson has won three times this season, and six times in his career, at the Concord race track.

Saturday's win helped him pad his Sprint Cup lead to 90 points over Mark Martin and 135 over Gordon.

"I was pretty nervous," Johnson told the Charlotte Observer. "I really had to work for it."

Kahne, Gordon and rookie Joey Logano followed Kenseth in spots 3-5.

Johnson is bidding to win the points title a record fourth straight time.

Juan Pablo Montoya was involved in an early incident with Martin and finished 35th.