Johnson edges Labonte in '05 600 after 22 cautions

The race that seemed as if it would never end finally did, with Jimmie Johnson beating Bobby Labonte to the finish line by .27 seconds after a last-lap pass. For Johnson, it was the third consecutive win in the 600 and his third consecutive overall at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

In a race that produced a record 22 caution periods, Johnson was fourth for a single-file restart with five laps remaining. Within two laps he had passed Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman to move into second place and began to track down Labonte.

That restart followed a red-flag period of more than eight minutes after Joe Nemechek, who had been strong all night, cut a tire while leading on Lap 391 and crashed hard into the Turn 3 wall. Labonte inherited the lead at that point and held it until Johnson got around him on the final circuit.

The race also brought the word "levigating" to prominence, after Lowe's Motor Speedway officials launched a track grinding project designed to smooth the bumps in the racing surface.

The race was also noteworthy for an accident involving Dale Earnhardt Jr., and DEI teammate Michael Waltrip. Earnhardt ran into the back of Waltrip's Chevrolet, triggering a crash on Lap 246 that eliminated Waltrip, Matt Kenseth and Terry Labonte.

• 1978: Ribbs' wrong turn helped open door for Earnhardt
• 1982: In sweltering heat, Bonnett 'Ace's surprising Elliott
• 1988: Earnhardt penalized five laps for spinning Bodine
• 1993: Aumann recalls Earnhardt's win under the lights