NASCAR Point Standings: With Win, Jimmie Johnson Takes Over Points Lead

With 3 races to go in the Chase, the race for the Sprint Cup could not be any tighter.

Brad Kesoloweski came into Martinsville with a seven point lead in the Chase standings. Some called this race a "game changer" considering Johnson's success and Kesoloweski's struggles at the paperclip.

After all was said and done, Jimmie Johnson went on to win the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville. Despite starting 32nd, Kesoloweski was able to use pit strategy to race his way into the top-10 and finish sixth. Because Kesoloweski finished sixth, Johnson only leads by two points.

"Now with the gap we have back to third, I''ll be just focused on the 2", Johnson said.

"I'll be well aware if the 15 or the 5 is leading the race and I'm 15th or something – I'll still understand what's going on, but the focus becomes a little more precise on the 2 car."

Here are the Chase standings as the Sprint Cup Series with three races remaining in the Chase.

1.) Jimmie Johnson
2.) Brad Keselowski -2
3.) Clint Bowyer -26
4.) Kasey Kahne -29
5.) Denny Hamlin -49
6.) Jeff Gordon -54
7.) Martin Truex Jr. -63
8.) Matt Kenseth -66
9.) Greg Biffle -69
10.) Tony Stewart -71
11.) Kevin Harvick -88
12.) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -140