Johnson wins in KC, takes lead in Chase

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Jimmie Johnson barely held off a strong challenge from Carl Edwards on Sunday at Kansas Speedway, winning the race and vaulting into first place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Edwards, who overcame a poor starting position and two pit-lane incidents, to catch and pass Johnson for the lead, lost the top spot to Johnson on a pit stop with 47 laps to go. Edwards finally caught him again on the last lap, shooting past Johnson on the low side of the banked 1.5-mile oval in turn three -- but just a little too fast.

Edwards slid up the track and bounced off the wall as Johnson drove back past and on to his fifth victory of the season, with Edwards holding on for second.

"That was cool," Johnson said moments after crossing the finish line. "Where'd he come from?

"Those last two laps he figured out something and got a bunch of grip. I thought he was under control, and all of a sudden he was there. Great race, I saw the slide jump coming, dodged it and got a win."

Greg Biffle, who came into the third race of the 10-race Chase for the championship with two straight victories, followed the leaders across the finish line.

Johnson, who has three wins in his last five starts, now leads Edwards by 10 points, with Biffle 35 points behind.