Lap-by-Lap: Darlington (cont'd)

Lap 331 -- Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are running more than 3 seconds ahead of third-place Kurt Busch.

Lap 324 -- After getting loose off the corner, Mark Martin has fallen from 10th to 15th. His teammate Sterling Marlin appeared to make slight contact with him.

Lap 313 -- Tony Raines is headed to pit road with a potential engine problem and smoke coming from the car.

Lap 312 -- There are no cars one lap down. Juan Montoya is the first car that is two laps down.

Lap 310 -- GREEN FLAG: Jimmie Johnson leads the field to green.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Kurt Busch
4. Ryan Newman
5. Carl Edwards

Lap 307 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson inherits the lead when Elliott Sadler makes his pit stop.

Lap 306 -- LEAD CHANGE: Elliott Sadler stays out to lead.

Lap 305 -- Leaders are in:
• Ryan Newman is trying to pick up positions with minor adjustments
• Jimmie Johnson gets out first with a quick stop
• Clint Bowyer gains five positions and comes out sixth
• Denny Hamlin has a slow stop and is out 15th because of a dropped lug nut
• Tony Stewart gets his lap back and will start 20th

Lap 304 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 7: A.J. Allmendinger hits the wall coming off Turn 4, and Kyle Busch has damage to the front of his car after hitting Allmendinger.

Lap 300 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson gets the lead by crossing under Denny Hamlin. Ryan Newman closes in, as does Jeff Gordon.

Lap 299 -- Jimmie Johnson is all over leader Denny Hamlin, but the slow car of Juan Montoya keeps him from making the pass.

Lap 292 -- Jimmie Johnson moves by Ryan Newman for second.

Lap 291 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin catches and moves by Ryan Newman for the lead coming off Turn 2. Jimmie Johnson is on Newman's tail for second.

Lap 279 -- Matt Kenseth has fallen back to fifth, as Jeff Gordon moves around him for position. Gordon's crew is no longer reporting a water temperature problem.

Lap 271 -- LEAD CHANGE: Ryan Newman gets back out front again, going by Matt Kenseth.

Lap 269 -- Ryan Newman has pulled up to the bumper of leader Matt Kenseth and is challenging. Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson moves into fourth.

Lap 261 -- As the first car one lap down, Tony Stewart goes by Matt Kenseth and is now on the tail of the lead lap.

Lap 260 -- GREEN FLAG: Matt Kenseth leads the field to green.
1. Matt Kenseth
2. Ryan Newman
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Jimmie Johnson

Lap 258 -- Turns out Matt Kenseth's right-rear tire was going down and he was risking blowing the tire before the caution.

Lap 257 -- Leaders are on pit road:
• Jeff Gordon's team is trying to cool the water in his car and clean the grille
• Matt Kenseth is out in 14.0 seconds with tires and fuel
• Ryan Newman gains three positions on pit road
• Mark Martin comes out in the top 10 with a quick stop

Lap 255 -- CAUTION FLAG NO. 6: Ken Schrader has blown a tire and hit the wall.

Lap 253 -- Matt Kenseth has battled brake problems all day and is reporting his brakes are overheating.

Lap 250 -- Jamie McMurray, who is running seventh, is reporting that his left arm is asleep.

Lap 247 -- Jeff Gordon is reporting the water temperature is up to 240 degrees and is concerned about his car.

Lap 244 -- GREEN FLAG: Matt Kenseth gets the race going again. Martin Truex Jr. is now one lap down, and Kevin Harvick is two laps down after pitting under green.
1. Matt Kenseth
2. Ryan Newman
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Denny Hamlin (Continued)