clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

VIDEO: Jimmie Johnson's Photo-Finish Aaron's 499 Win At Talladega

By Jason Kirk

Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. combined to pull off the slightest of victories in the 2011 Aaron's 499, with Junior nudging the winner ahead of Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon. The finish tied Ricky Craven's 2003 Darlington win for the closest in NASCAR history, with some expressing concern that the winning duo passed below the yellow line on their way to the finish line.

After the jump, video of the photo finish at Talladega Superspeedway:

After the finish, a cool moment between Johnson and Earnhardt, captured by SB Nation's Jeff Gluck:

He leaned into the car and shook Johnson's hand, and the winning driver handed the fourth-place driver the checkered flag.
"Man, I don't want that," Earnhardt Jr. said.
"Well, I gotta give you something for the push and working with me!" Johnson replied.
"No, that's what teammates do," Earnhardt Jr. said.
"Just take the damn flag," Johnson said, laughing.
Earnhardt Jr. took it reluctantly – but happily – and said though he didn't agree he deserved it, he'd find a place for it in his trophy case.
"I appreciate it and I'll get him to sign it," Earnhardt Jr. said. "It'll be the one checkered flag I got that ain't mine."

For more on Talladega, check out our Aaron's 499 StoryStream at SB Nation Atlanta and SB Nation NASCAR, and visit NASCAR Ranting And Raving.

In This Stream

NASCAR At Talladega Superspeedway: Jimmie Johnson Edges Clint Bowyer For Win

View all 12 stories

Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.