KANSAS CITY, Kan., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson led most of the way but had to hold off a hard-charging Kasey Kahne Sunday to capture the Kansas Speedway Chase for the Sprint Cup event.
Johnson set the pace most of the way, leading for 197 of the 272 laps. Kahne challenged in the late going, but Johnson pulled away and then beat him at the finish line by a half-second.
His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jeff Gordon, blew an engine down the stretch, requiring a two-lap overtime finish.
It was only Johnson's second win of the season. He climbed to third in the championship rankings with the win, trailing new leader Carl Edwards by four points.
Kevin Harvick fell one point behind Edwards with a sixth-place finish Sunday, while Brad Keselowski is 11 points out of the lead.
