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Jimmie Johnson held off Kyle Busch on a restart with five laps to go Sunday and won for the seventh time in his career at Martinsville Speedway.
The five-time series champion moved into the lead in the championship standings, two points over Brad Keselowski with three races remaining.
Keselowski started 32nd, methodically worked his way forward, and took a late gamble to grab the lead on a restart with 19 laps to go. When Johnson and the rest of the leaders pitted for tires, Keselowski was a sitting duck once the race went back to green.
Johnson made the race a points bonanza, leading the most laps and earning three points for the victory.
Busch was second, followed by Kasey Kahne.
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Bowyer with his fifth place finish at Martinsville both gained and lost in the points standings. He moves up on spot in the standings to third, but he loses a point on new leader Jimmie Johnson, Bowyer is now 26 points behind the lead.
"It was a good day for us," said Bowyer. "Man, I thought we had a car capable of winning. As soon as it got cool I got a little bit tight, but we lost track position when they beat us out of the pits there and I never could regain it."
Clint Bowyer lead a big chunk of the race
Jimmie Johnson wins at Martinsville