The first caution flag in nearly a full race's worth of laps at the Texas Motor Speedway has slowed the field in the AAA Texas 500 at lap 99. That, on top with a 234-lap green-flag run to complete April's Samsung 500 put the Sprint Cup stars within one lap of a 334-lap green-flag stretch.
Jimmie Johnson has looked unstoppable throughout the race's opening stages, leading all but three laps from the pole position. The Sprint Cup point leader had a lead of over eight seconds when the yellow flag flew for debris. Brad Keselowski, however, has jumped ahead of his rival under this caution period by only taking fuel on his pit stop. Keselowski had pitted for four tires under green just 10 laps prior to the no-tire call by crew chief Paul Wolfe. Ryan Newman took the lead by not pitting.
Wolfe's decision not to put fresh rubber on the No. 2 Dodge is just the latest move in the cat and mouse game between Johnson and Keselowski's teams. During the first cycle of green flag stops, Johnson stayed on the track longer than he perhaps should have in order to prevent Keselowski from leading a lap and picking up a bonus point.