After a spirited duel with Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson leads the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at the Martinsville Speedway with 100 laps remaining. Johnson is looking to tie teammate Jeff Gordon, who far and away dominated the opening 350 laps of the race, as the active wins leader at Martinsville with seven. Johnson was ticketed for speeding earlier in the race but worked his way through the field and appears to be in control as the race's conclusion draws ever nearer.
Clint Bowyer runs third in another solid showing with Michael Waltrip Racing, ahead of Hamlin and Ryan Newman. Brad Keselowski, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth, and Greg Biffle round out the top-10. Newman and Keselowski each have rebounded from pit road speeding penalties.
One driver expected to contend was defending race winner Kevin Harvick, but his Chevrolet has been a handful since he gave up the lead to Gordon after pacing the first 22 circuits. Harvick is currently shown 21st, a lap down.