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CONCORD, N.C. - Jimmie Johnson became a $1-million man Saturday night by racing away to win The Winston and a record cash prize.
Johnson took the lead from teammate Jeff Gordon three laps into the final 20-lap segment, then pulled away in NASCAR's annual all-star race.
"This thing is going to be nice!" he yelled over his radio. "We're going back to Victory Lane."
Johnson almost won as a rookie last year, taking the first two segments and $100,000 in bonus money.
But in a unique twist to the all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, fans vote on how they want the field inverted for the final segment. They always choose to invert the maximum 10 cars, so Johnson was shuffled to the back of the pack last year and ended up fifth.
This year his Hendrick Motorsports team wasted no time trying to win the first two segments, instead settling in for a run over the final 20-lap sprint.
He started the final segment fourth, right behind Gordon, and he followed his teammate past leader Sterling Marlin on the restart.
Johnson passed Gordon two laps later and beat Kurt Busch by 0.799 seconds.
"He is the best driver I have ever seen at Lowe's Motor Speedway," Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, said of his driver.
Johnson was almost unbeatable last year in the Coca-Cola 600, held the week after The Winston, but a mistake in the pits on the final stops cost him the win.
Bobby Labonte finished third, and was followed by Johnson teammate Joe Nemechek and Michael Waltrip.
With so much money on the line and no points at stake, drivers are more aggressive.
They're also a little angrier when things go awry.
Defending race winner Ryan Newman wrecked out in the second segment. Furious because he thought Tony Stewart had hit him, Newman ripped off his head-and-neck restraint system and started walking up the track as if he planned to throw it at someone.
When the race went green again, Stewart spun Terry Labonte and created an accident that took out those two plus Dale Earnhardt Jr., Terry Labonte, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin and pole-sitter Bill Elliott. Elliott broke three bones in his left foot. Stewart won the first segment, Busch the second.
Jeff Burton won the qualifying race, the Winston Open, got through all three segments in the main event and finished ninth.
INDY 500: Bump day is designed to solidify the race's starting grid, not fill it.
This year, it might be different.
Last weekend 24 cars qualified, and only nine more are expected to make attempts in today's final round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. If all complete four laps, questions about bumping might be appropriate.
But Friday's addition of drivers Robby McGehee and Richie Hearn appeared to keep at least one tradition intact. No 500 has had fewer than 33 drivers since 1947.
Only three drivers got to practice Saturday before rain fell, ending the day on the track.
GOULDS PUMPS ITT INDUSTRIES 200: Randy LaJoie set a track record to earn the pole for today's NASCAR Busch Grand National race at Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway. The two-time series champion's lap of 133.215 mph broke the record of 132.402 for the 1-mile oval set by Jeff Green in July 2000. Stacy Compton took the outside of the front row with a run at 132.139.
AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX: Michael Schumacher edged Kimi Raikkonen to take the pole for today's Formula One race in Spielberg. The five-time F1 champion was timed in 1 minute, 9.150 seconds on the 2.69-mile course for his third straight pole. Raikkonen (1:09.189) leads the points by four over Schumacher.
K&N FILTERS SUPERNATIONALS: Doug Kalitta set a track record of 327.59 mph in Englishtown, N.J., in Top Fuel qualifying for today's NHRA event. His dragster covered the quarter-mile in 4.511 seconds at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Shawn Gann (Pro Stock Bike) led their divisions. Anderson (6.684, 206.76) became the first Pro Stock driver to post a sub 6.7-second ET.
FREEDOM 100: Craig Dollansky fractured his lower spine when his car crashed into the outside wall during the Infiniti Pro Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was admitted to Methodist Hospital, track medical director Henry Bock said. Rain postponed the race until this morning, when it will resume on Lap 13 with Ed Carpenter leading.