Jimmie Johnson won the 2006 UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, scoring his 20th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in his 150th career start.
Johnson won the $30,000 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Leader Bonus for winning the race and leading the points.
Johnsons last victory came at Daytona two races ago.
Johnson became the first driver to score a victory at Las Vegas from a top-five starting position.
Johnson scored his third top-five finish in three races this season.
It was his second Las Vegas victory in five races here. Johnson also won here in 2005.
Nineteen of Johnsons 20 victories have come on superspeedways.
Johnson moved into 30th on NASCARs all-time winners list, tied with Speedy Thompson.
Johnson finished fifth in the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings and has ranked first after all three races in 2006. Johnson took the point lead after this race one year ago.
Johnson led only once, leading the final lap, the fewest laps led by a race winner at Las Vegas.
It was Johnsons third top-10 finish in five races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Johnson has won at least one race each season 2002 2006, five consecutive years.
Hendrick Motorsports has won at least one race each season 1986-2006, 21 consecutive years.
This was team owner Rick Hendricks 142nd NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory. Hendrick has scored three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories in the nine races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Notebook Items
Jimmie Johnson (first) has finished first, second and first in the first three races in 2006 and remained first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Johnson has ranked among the top-10 in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings for 72 straight races, a streak that began after race No. 4 at Atlanta in March 2004.
Matt Kenseth (second) has finished in the top-10 in the last four races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Kenseth climbed from third to second in the point standings. One year ago he ranked 28th after three races.
Matt Kenseth led the most laps in the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400. The last time he led the most laps in a race was at Texas last November. His 146 laps led were the most by a non-race winner at Las Vegas.
Kyle Busch (third) scored his second top-five finish in three races at Las Vegas Speedway.
Kasey Kahne (fourth) also scored his second top-five finish in three races at Las Vegas Speedway. It is his second top-five finish in 2006.
Jeff Gordon (fifth) scored his fourth top-five finish in nine races at Las Vegas. It was his first top-10 finish in 2006.
Denny Hamlin (10th) was the highest finishing Raybestos Rookie-of-the Year contender.
Raybestos Rookie-of-the Year contender Clint Bowyer (15th) has scored top-15 finishes in all three races in 2006.
All seven of the 2006 Raybestos Rookie-of-the Year contenders have competed in all three races in 2006 and two scored top-15 finishes in todays race.
Joe Nemechek (13th) has been running at the finish in the last 35 races, a streak that began at Bristol last April, the longest current streak.(Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services)(3-12-2006)
