Sunday, April 1, 2012
MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Ryan Newman grabbed the lead when a three-wide accident took out leading teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson with two laps to go Sunday, and Newman ended a 22-race winless streak by holding on to win at Martinsville Speedway.
Gordon, who dominated all day, and Johnson seemed poised for a showdown in a green-white-checker finish, each eager to give Hendrick Motorsports its 200th victory.
But as the green flag flew on lap 503, Clint Bowyer sneaked inside Gordon's car heading into the first turn, and the three cars slid up the track as Newman zipped past.
A.J. Allmendinger finished second, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr. Johnson wound up 12th and Gordon, who led for 328 laps, finished 14th.