DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) -- The NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Darlington Raceway was decided by inches for the second straight year. This time, though, it was on pit road and not the racetrack.
Jimmie Johnson barely beat Bobby Labonte out of the pits on his last stop Sunday, then held off a late challenge to win the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400.
"These guys got me the lead early in the race and they got me out front again when it really counted," Johnson said, high-fiving and pointing at crew chief Chad Knaus and the rest of his crew.
It didn't look like Johnson or anyone else had a chance to beat Labonte as the former Cup champion built a lead of more than half a straightaway over Kurt Busch with only 20 laps left in the 293-lap event.
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