When NASCAR implemented the Chase for the Championship in 2004, it envisioned the end of the racing season to be a dramatic battle between the top drivers.
With only two races left in the Sprint Cup championship in 2012, NASCAR is getting the dramatic finish it always hoped for.
Following a hard-fought win on Sunday in Texas, Jimmie Johnson held on to his points lead over Brad Keselowski after retaking the lead late in the race in suspenseful fashion.
"It was an awesome race. It's a great way to do it when the gloves are off and it's bare-knuckle fighting," Johnson said to the Associated Press. "I got a great restart and got by him. I knew we had the speed if I could just get by him."
Johnson increased his lead in the Chas to seven points from five with the win.
The two are atop the points leader board and were side-by-side during the final restart of the race. Johnson was able to rush into first place for the final two laps and take the victory to keep his championship lead.
"It was a fun day for sure," Keselowski said. "We'll keep fighting."
Johnson played catch-up for most of the race, but pulled ahead when it counted. The crucial difference in the race came during a pit stop for Keselowski. Not wanting to fall too far behind, he only took two new tires on his car while everyone else pulling in took four, including Johnson.
"Getting that last yellow, I felt like restarts are like rock, paper, scissors. Eventually you're going to lose them. It's just a matter of time," Keselowski said. "To win two out of three, I felt lucky to do that."
There were some bumps and accidents during the race, including a late crash with Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle and Jeff Gordon that caused a restart with only eight laps left in the race.
Johnson and Keselowski raced hard against each other, including some contact during the final two laps.
"I just pointed at him, just wanted him to use his head. No need to take us out in the process," Johnson said of the racing against Keselowski. "The cool thing about it, we walked up to that line, got to the edge, and it stopped."
Johnson has been very successful at the Texas track, winning for the second time on Sunday for the 60th of his career.
"I raced hard, and I'm sure someone would say dirty," Keselowski said. "But I raced hard and we both came back around, so there's something to be said for that."
The race featured numerous cautions and stoppages, including during the end of the race when Johnson was able to take the lead. Another one of the cautions came due to some debris coming onto the track with 59 laps to go, setting up the pit box jam for Keselowski.
The next race will be on Nov. 11 next Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway before finishing the following week at the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
