News-Record.com

JOLIET, Ill. -- Kyle Busch said it was over. He even told his crew that on his radio.

Jimmie Johnson thought the same. Both were wrong.

Busch declared "race over'' on his radio after losing the lead to Johnson with 17 laps to go, yet shortly afterward he was in victory lane celebrating his seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup victory of the season and 14th overall in NASCAR's top three series. ""We do not quit,'' crew chief Steve Addington yelled on the radio in excitement to Busch after the race. "I don't believe that,'' Busch said in an exhausted, unemotional voice.

Busch likely wouldn't have caught Johnson, which set up a two-lap shootout with Johnson leading. Johnson, the two-time defending series champ, is among the sport's best at holding a lead in the final 10 laps but he couldn't do it this time.

"This is the first time I've said 'race over' and Jimmie Johnson didn't win,'' Busch said.

Johnson was shocked. "I wasn't really thinking defense,'' said Johnson about the final restart. "We had such a good car, I thought I could get away from him on the restart.''

Instead, Busch drove to the outside and they raced side-by-side down the backstretch before Busch pulled ahead and then pulled away.

Johnson finished second. Kevin Harvick placed third to climb back into the top 12 in points. He moved ninth and shoved teammate Clint Bowyer out of the top 12.

Bowyer is 27 points out of the final transfer spot for the Chase.

Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart completed the top five. Brian Vickers was sixth, while Matt Kenseth, David Ragan, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman finished seventh through 10th.

Johnson seemed headed for his second Cup win of the season when he got by Busch 17 laps from the finish.

"Race over,'' Busch radioed his crew after being passed.

"Keep digging bud,'' crew chief Addington radioed.

A few laps later, Busch's disappointment remained.

"He's getting smaller,'' Busch radioed his crew, referring to Johnson pulling away.

Addington tried to convince his driver that something could happen to Johnson in the final laps.

"Anybody ever see Jimmie Johnson give them up?'' Busch radioed his crew.

"No. Anybody ever see Kyle give them up? Plenty.''

David Gilliland's blown engine slowed the race a final time and gave Busch the chance to score another win -- and give him 70 bonus points (50 more than his nearest competitor) for when the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins in September.

"This is a dream season,'' said Busch, who also won Friday's Nationwide series race at Chicagoland Speedway. "Can you believe this?''

Others did not have as good a race. Edwards gave up the lead on lap 212 for what he thought was a flat left front tire. After he pitted, his crew informed him the tire was not flat. Yet, Edwards, who lost a lap and fell back to 31st, said his left front continued to vibrate as sparks could be seen. His splitter broke and dragged the ground, altering the aerodynamics on his car and making it handle worse.

Told by crew chief Bob Osborne that he could drive with the damage, Edwards radioed back: "I'm going to drive my heart out and see what happens.''

He finished 32nd.

Matt Kenseth, who has finished second in this race two of the previous three years, saw his hopes to win hurt when he had to pit for a flat right rear tire. It came shortly after Kenseth ran five laps side-by-side with Kyle Busch for the lead in a spat of hard racing more likely to be seen in the final laps instead of before the halfway point.

Kenseth lost a lap with the pit stop on lap 124 and fell to 37th. He would rally to a top-10 finish.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who entered the night second in points, wasn't a factor. He fell from second to fifth by the time of the competition caution on lap 37. Later, he fell back to 29th after pitting on lap 50.

Most of the leaders changed only two tires, while Earnhardt's crew made major adjustments, which took more time and dropped him back.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com