by The Virginian-Pilot

FORT WORTH, Texas

Two hours before Sunday's race, NASCAR chairman Brian France conceded that dramatic story lines in the sport "aren't what they have been in the past or will be in the future," in citing a reason for NASCAR's slumping TV ratings.

Little could he have imagined how soon things would change. Like a sudden downpour, drama filled Texas Motor Speedway, lasting all the way to the checkered flag when Kurt Busch's fuel gamble paid off for more than just him.

That was just part of a day that saw points leader Jimmie Johnson crash on the third lap, spend more than hour in the garage for repairs, finish a season-worst 38th and see his points lead shrink.

Johnson leads Mark Martin by 73 points heading into next weekend's race at Phoenix International Raceway. Only one other time in the Chase's history has the leader's gap been so large this late, but Johnson's woes give his foes hope.

"The race is still on, man,'' Martin said after his fourth-place finish. "I don't know why everybody tries to count this thing out and doesn't just wait and watch.''

Johnson wasn't the only driver to leave disappointed. Kyle Busch, on the cusp of becoming the first driver to win a Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup race on consecutive days at the same track, was foiled when he ran out of gas three laps from the end. His teammate, Denny Hamlin, made the same type of fuel gamble and finished second.

Although Johnson has said that anything could happen in the Chase, many all but gave him his record-breaking fourth consecutive title after his points lead grew at Talladega.

Fortunes changed Sunday when he tried to pass Sam Hornish Jr. in turn 2. Hornish wiggled, skated up the track and hit Johnson's car on the left side door area. Johnson's right rear slapped the wall. He fought to regain control when Hornish clipped Johnson on the left front and sent Johnson's car cutting down the track where he slammed into the inside wall.

"I wish he could have waited two more laps before he lost control of his car," Johnson said, noting Hornish spun again later in the race.

The damage to Johnson's car was massive. The front had to be replaced. The rear-end housing was replaced. As was the rear deck lid, wing, suspension parts and driveshaft.

Crew chief Chad Knaus told Johnson they were done after his initial inspection, but changed his diagnosis upon further examination.

"I just sat in the car thinking through what went on and how I could have done something different," Johnson said, adding that he could see TV monitors in the garage and watched the progress of Martin and Jeff Gordon as repairs were made.

"I guess after enough time sitting there, I finally calmed down some and caught my breath, relaxed. The first 20 or 30 minutes of that were pretty painful."

Johnson was back on the track - more than 115 laps behind the leaders - when title contenders Juan Pablo Montoya and Carl Edwards crashed and Gordon spun to avoid the incident. Gordon struggled all race but finished 13th and remains third in the standings, 112 points behind Johnson.

Johnson's woes notwithstanding, this race was a Busch brothers reunion. Kurt and Kyle each led six times. Kyle Busch led 232 laps; Kurt 89. The rest of the field combined to lead 13 of the 334 laps.

Kyle Busch, not only looking to make history but running his first race with new crew chief Dave Rogers, seemed headed for the win until he ran out of fuel on the backstretch. He finished 11th and left without comment.

Kyle's misfortune benefited Kurt, who earned his second victory of the season and 20th of his career.

"It felt like old times, the way that we raced Legends cars with each other coming up through the ranks," Kurt said.

There was never this much at stake for Kurt or fan Michael McGee, who won $1 million from race sponsor Dickies for picking Busch to win the race.

McGee, an agricultural teacher from Broken Bow, Okla., admitted he wasn't a big NASCAR fan before this weekend.

"I watched it on TV every now and then, but I didn't follow it that close," he said.

Sunday, it was hard to look away with all that happened throughout the race.

to from Chase update sunday points 1. J. Johnson 38th 6,297

2. M. Martin 4th -73

3. J. Gordon 13th -112

4. Ku. Busch 1st -171

5. T. Stewart 6th -178

6. J.P. Montoya 37th -236

sunday points

7. G. Biffle 8th -247

8. D. Hamlin 2nd -322

9. R. Newman 12th -324

10. K. Kahne 33rd -399

11. C. Edwards 39th -440

12. B. Vickers 26th -520

Making his move Mark Martin. By avoiding trouble, which points leader Jimmie Johnson and others couldn't, he moved to within 73 points of Johnson.

Down the chute Johnson's massive points lead that had some wondering if he would clinch the title next week at Phoenix.

Overheard "The race is still on.'' - Mark Martin

Observation Martin is right but it will take another problem for Johnson for the points lead to change. This is still Johnson's title to lose.

Up next The series heads to Phoenix International Raceway, where Mark Martin won the spring race, but Jimmie Johnson finished fourth.

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