HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) - Jimmie Johnson used pit strategy to grab the lead and won an overtime race under yellow at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, earning his 76th victory to tie the late Dale Earnhardt on the career list.
Kevin Harvick led 131 laps, more than anyone else, but ceded the lead after he made his last green-flag pit stop nine laps after Johnson. The No. 48 car made a quicker stop and wound up with about a 14-second lead, then watched it fade away as Harvick gave chase on newer tires.
Harvick was about 5 seconds behind when Ryan Newman spun on the front stretch with three laps to go, bringing out only the second yellow flag of the race and forcing overtime. Everyone came to the pits for new tires and Johnson returned to the track still leading. The victory was his when a crash took out four cars.
