AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY (FONTANA)

Jimmie Johnson held off a charge from Kevin Harvick to win the Auto Club 500, his fifth victory at Fontana and the 48th of his Cup Series career.


This week: Johnson has three wins and four top-10 finishes in eight starts at Vegas. His three victories came in consecutive years -- 2005, 2006 and 2007. Johnson will be driving a new car this weekend, one that has never been raced. "I really like Vegas, especially after the paving job they did a couple of years ago (2007)," said Johnson. "It's really a fun race track to drive -- you have to attack and drive every lap like a qualifying lap."
Last week: Johnson led the last 24 laps, holding off a late charge by Kevin Harvick, to capture his 48th career victory and his fifth at the track closest to his hometown, El Cajon, Calif. The win moved him into a tie with Herb Thomas for 12th place on the NASCAR career-victories list and vaulted Johnson from 35th to 12th in the standings as he chases his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship.
Etc.: Harvick called Johnson "really lucky" after the Fontana finish, and Johnson didn't disagree. "The deal on pit road, we got lucky," said Johnson. "We were able to just beat the 31 (Jeff Burton) off of pit road where the scoring line is at the end of pit road. We got a really nice gift with the way things worked out. Then it was kind of up to me to hang onto it (the lead). But you don't get lucky and win four championships and 48 races. Things went our way today with the pit stop."