The 2010 AAA 400 was a stock car race held on September 26, 2010, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. It was the 28th race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and the second race in the ten-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, which determines the season champion.
Race Details
- Event: 2010 AAA 400
- Date: September 26, 2010
- Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
- Round: 28 of 36 (2 of 10 in The Chase)
- Location: Dover International Speedway, Dover, Delaware, United States
- Track: One-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval
- Distance: 400 laps (400 miles / 643.738 km)
- Sponsor: AAA (American Automobile Association)
Background The AAA 400 was the second race of the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup, following the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Heading into the race, Denny Hamlin led the points standings, having won the previous Chase race. The race was broadcast live on ESPN in the United States, with radio coverage provided by the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Radio.
Qualifying Qualifying for the event was held on September 24, 2010. Jimmie Johnson, driving the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, secured the pole position with a lap speed of 156.417 mph (251.728 km/h). This was Johnson's first pole of the 2010 season and his second at Dover.
Race Summary Jimmie Johnson dominated much of the race, leading a total of 267 laps. He held off a late charge from fellow Chase contender Kyle Busch to secure his fifth victory of the season and his sixth career win at Dover International Speedway. The race featured 15 lead changes among 8 different drivers and saw 6 caution periods for a total of 30 laps. Johnson's victory, coupled with difficulties for other Chase drivers, significantly tightened the points standings.
Results | Position | Car No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Laps Led | Status | Points | | :------- | :------ | :----------------- | :------------------- | :----------- | :--- | :------- | :--------- | :----- | | 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 267 | Running | 195 | | 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 42 | Running | 175 | | 3 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | Running | 165 | | 4 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | Running | 160 | | 5 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | Running | 155 | | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | | Pole | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | |
Championship Implications Following his win, Jimmie Johnson moved into the lead in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings, passing Denny Hamlin. Kevin Harvick, who finished 16th, dropped from second to third in the standings. The victory established Johnson as a strong favorite to win his fifth consecutive championship.