Racebeat (05/26/03)
by Rich Romer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN--NASCAR Winston Cup: Jimmie Johnson made it 2-for-2 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, winning the Coca-Cola 600 when NASCAR declared the race over after 276 laps because of rain. Johnson, who won $1 million the previous week when he won The Winston, was leading when heavy rain soaked the track. The shower was brief, but NASCAR figured it would take at least three hours to dry the track and more rain was expected. So the sanctioning body shortened the longest race of the year _ stopping it after 414 of the 600 miles -- a decision Johnson and his crew initially didn't believe as word trickled down pit road.

But as the crowd began to boo the decision, the Hendrick Motorsports team knew it was official and began a hesitant celebration. Winston Cup points leader Matt Kenseth finished second, Bobby Labonte was third, followed by Jimmy Spencer, polesitter Ryan Newman, Michael Waltrip and Sterling Marlin. Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett and Ward Burton rounded out the Top 10. Robby Gordon, who finished 22nd earlier Sunday in the Indianapolis 500, was 17th and disappointed he didn't get a chance to continue. But NASCAR President Mike Helton said the threat of more rain would have dragged the race on long into the night -- if it even got restarted. By calling the race, NASCAR ended Kenseth's bid to give Roush Racing a fifth consecutive victory in the Coca-Cola 600. He and teammates Mark Martin and Jeff Burton have combined to win the past four events.

NASCAR Busch Series: Matt Kenseth got his second Busch Series victory of the season, getting the better of 18-year-old Kyle Busch on a late restart to win the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Busch, making his Busch Series debut, held on for second while Scott Riggs finished third. Todd Bodine finished fourth and regained the series points lead after former leader David Green was forced to the garage early in the race after an accident with Kerry Earnhardt. The win is the 14th of Kenseth's Busch Series career. Earlier this season, Kenseth took the checkered flag in the 1-800-PIT-SHOP.com 300 at California Speedway.