TALLADEGA, Ala., April 17 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson used a push from teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the final lap Sunday to barely edge Clint Bowyer and win the Aaron's 499 at Talladega, Ala.
The help from his Hendrick Motorsports teammate enabled Johnson to nose out Bowyer by only 0.002 seconds -- the slimmest margin of victory in a Sprint Cup race since NASCAR began using electronic timing and scoring in the early 1990s.
Johnson, the five-time defending Sprint Cup champion, picked his 54th career Cup victory in the 500-mile race, which saw a record-tying 88 lead changes.
Pole-sitter Jeff Gordon came in third, Earnhardt finished fourth and defending Talladega champ Kevin Harvick claimed fifth -- all finishing within 0.145 seconds of each other.
