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

Lap 101 -- Two drivers who started at the back are now in the top 20. Kurt Busch has worked his way up to 13th after changing engines, and Mark Martin is running 17th after crashing his primary car in practice.

Lap 98 -- Jeff Gordon is running fifth, but he is complaining that his car is extremely loose.

Lap 87 -- Jimmie Johnson is working his way through the field, passing Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon in five laps and now running fourth.

Lap 80 -- Tony Stewart moves around Reed Sorenson for second position and trails leader Kevin Harvick by 4.052 seconds.

Lap 74 -- Not pitting has not done any harm to Kevin Harvick and Reed Sorenson, as the two are still out front with clean air.

Lap 64 -- GREEN FLAG: Kevin Harvick gets the race back under way.
1. Kevin Harvick
2. Reed Sorenson
3. Ryan Newman
4. Tony Stewart
5. Jeff Gordon

Lap 61 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kevin Harvick inherits the lead after he and Reed Sorenson stay out during the caution.

Lap 60 -- Leaders head to pit road:
• Matt Kenseth gets four and fuel, afraid he had loose lug nuts
• Jimmie Johnson gets a chassis adjustment
• Ryan Newman gains five spots and is off first
• Tony Stewart gains six spots and is off second
• Fuel only for Jeff Gordon, who gains seven positions

Lap 59 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 1: Jeff Green spins after getting high in the turn and trying to avoid crashing Michael Waltrip.

Lap 54 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson again becomes the race leader after green-flag pit stops are complete.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Kyle Busch
5. Casey Mears

Lap 53 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kevin Harvick is credited as the leader, although he is on pit road for tires and fuel.

Lap 52 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. slows to hit pit road but can't get slow enough. He continues on the track after missing pit road.

Lap 52 -- Jeff Gordon is in and battling a tight racecar.

Lap 51 -- LEAD CHANGE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the leader as Jimmie Johnson makes his stop.

Lap 51 -- Casey Mears and Denny Hamlin are in for their stops and adjustments. Track bar and wedge for Hamlin.

Lap 50 -- Second-place Martin Truex Jr. is in for adjustments and tires. Ryan Newman is in for an air-pressure change.

Lap 48 -- Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards are in for green-flag pit stops. Both ask for minor adjustments. Teammate Jamie McMurray is in as well.

Lap 46 -- David Reutimann is off the pace with a car that is smoking heavily.

Lap 39 -- Jimmie Johnson's lead is at 1.430 seconds ahead of Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 29 -- Matt Kenseth appears to be on the move. He started 10th and is currently running fourth.

Lap 19 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson sails beneath Martin Truex Jr. to take the lead.

Lap 18 -- Jimmie Johnson has moved to second and is reeling in leader Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 8 -- Paul Menard is on pit road with the hood up and a fire being extinguished in his motor. The crew pushes the car behind the wall.

Lap 7 -- LEAD CHANGE: Martin Truex Jr. runs down Casey Mears and takes the point.

Lap 4 -- Paul Menard is being black-flagged. His car is smoking, a quick problem even after an engine change.

Lap 1 -- Casey Mears pulls out front to lead the first lap.

4:19 p.m. -- GREEN FLAG: Casey Mears and Martin Truex Jr. get the USG Sheetrock 400 under way.

4:16 p.m. -- Cars that will be dropping to the back for various unapproved changes: Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Paul Menard and Elliott Sadler.

4:13 p.m. -- Cars are rolling onto the racetrack for warmup laps.

4:09 p.m. -- Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith delivers the command: "Gentlemen, start your engines."

4:02 p.m. -- Hanson sings the national anthem.

4 p.m. -- Fans have a moment of silence in memory of Bill France Jr., as well as those who lost their lives in the Florida plane crash earlier this week. Monty Self delivers the invocation.

2:30 p.m. -- TNT's pre-race coverage of the USG Sheetrock 400 is on the air.

1:31 p.m. -- One hour until pre-race at Chicagoland Speedway and the skies are clear for a perfect day of racing.

HEADLINES FROM CHICAGOLAND
• Blaney sets Toyota pace; Waltrip brings up the rear
• Notes: Harvick in favor of strong drug-testing policy
• Martin forced to backup car after Saturday practice wreck
• Busch vows to finish time with Hendrick on own terms
• Roush resurgence slowed as cars struggle at Chicago
• Hamlin vents frustration over teammate Stewart
• Surging Mears edges Truex for pole position at Chicago
• This Bud's for ...? Dale Jr., longtime sponsor to split
• Chicagoland lap-leader still looking to lead the last one