Pumas lineout gifted Ryan Crotty a try five minutes later

LONG POND, Pa. - Jimmie Johnson walked into the media centre holding his daughters hand, his pregnant wife right behind them. Their second child is due in September, right around the time of the final race before the Chase field is set. With an automatic berth in NASCARs playoffs secured, Johnson has permission to skip the race for the big birth. "If Chani goes into labour early, I dont have to worry about Richmond," Johnson said. A week after a late penalty denied his chance at a win, Johnson absolutely dominated Sunday at Pocono Raceway, leading 128 of 160 laps for his third victory of the season. "Jimmies switched on right now," crew chief Chad Knaus said. "Hes as good or better as Ive ever seen him." High praise for the five-time champion. Even during his championship run, Johnson rarely cruised like he did on the 2 1/2-mile triangle track. The Sprint Cup points leader, Johnson pulled away on both of the last two restarts over the final 10 laps to pull into Victory Lane at Pocono for the first time since he swept both races in 2004. Johnson was never seriously challenged a week after his run at a possible win at Dover International Speedway was taken away by a penalty off a restart. NASCAR penalized him for jumping leader Juan Pablo Montoya off the restart with 19 laps left and he finished 17th. It was a rare misstep for Johnson but he rebounded just fine at Pocono. "It would have been very easy to come in here with a chip on your shoulder or a grudge," Knaus said. "Jimmie is not that kind of guy." Johnson, though, briefly flirted with the idea of pulling some sort of restart stunt to send a message to NASCAR. He just couldnt bring himself to try and get one over on Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. "I wanted to prove a point and show everyone what could happen in that restart zone," Johnson said. There was no need. The No. 48 Chevrolet was that dialed in. He pretty much only lost the lead because of pit stop cycles. After only one caution in the first 125 laps, they came in bunches over the last 35. Johnson held off Earnhardt with nine laps left and pulled away one more time with four to go. "Hes one of the best drivers this sport has ever seen," Earnhardt said. "Chad Knaus is probably one of the smartest crew chiefs the sport has ever seen." Johnson also won the Daytona 500 and at Martinsville Speedway this season. His 63rd career Cup victory helped stretch his points lead to 51 over Carl Edwards. Johnson won from the pole after rain washed out qualifying Friday. Odds are, Johnson wont really skip a race, especially with the due date in mid-September. But if he has that top seed locked up and is needed in a pinch, hell put family first. "Thats what Im working so hard for," Johnson said. Greg Biffle was second and Earnhardt. Dover winner Tony Stewart was fourth, followed by fellow Stewart-Haas Racing driver Ryan Newman. "I really didnt have anything for Jimmie," Biffle said. "Jimmie was in a league of his own." Earnhardt would love a repeat of last season when he was in contention at Pocono before settling for eighth, then won the next week at Michigan International Speedway. He wasnt won since — and Michigan is on deck. "We want to get a win, man," Earnhardt said. "I can see it right there in front of me. I really thought we got close." Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano rounded out the top 10. Stewart and Newman continued a three-week resurgence for SHR, though Danica Patrick was 29th. Stewart jumped three spots to 13th in the standings and still has the No. 1 wild-card spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. The final race before the 12-driver field is set is Sept. 7. "Its not just one team, the whole organization is gaining momentum," Stewart said. Johnson had his ninth top-10 finish of 2013 and has now won at least three races in 11 of his 12 full-time seasons. His 128 laps led were the most of his career at Pocono — amazing since the race was shortened from 200 laps to 160 last season. Consider, in Johnsons first Pocono win in 2004, it was only the ninth of his career and he had yet to win a championship. For all his success, Johnson never takes it for granted. "There are no guarantees well win again, there really arent," he said. "The sport moves so fast." At Pocono, the No. 48 led the way. Cheap Red Air Max . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Nike Air Max 95 Sale . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. http://www.airmax2018womens.us/ . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. White Air Max Online . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Sale Air Max Black . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. All Blacks skipper Kieran Read is predicting plenty of sore bodies after his sides bruising 36-17 victory over Argentina.The world champions, having already secured the Rugby Championship, blew Argentina away late in the first-half to snare four tries in 13 minutes.A closer second half ensued, primarily the result of prop Joe Moody and blindside flanker Liam Squire being sent to the sin bin.However the All Blacks ultimately cruised to victory as Argentina struggled to break through against 14 men.Read said Los Pumas had once again challenged his side following their rousing first-half display in Hamilton three weeks ago.The All Blacks would now have to regroup in time for next weeks clash with traditional foes South Africa in Durban.A win against the Springboks will complete a perfect Rugby Championship campaign and push the side closer to the record for consecutive Test victories.Wins in Durban and in the third Bledisloe Cup match in Auckland will secure the All Blacks an unprecedented 18 straight Test scalps.They have not lost since their 2015 Rugby Championship decider in Sydney.The Argentinians are a great side and played really well tonight and made us work really hard, especially in the second half, Read said.A stubborn Pumas defence kept the All Blacks tryless in the opening quarter before the world champions fllicked the switch to pile on the points.ddddddddddddCentre Anton Lienert-Brown barged over for a debut Test try in the 27th minute, before a poor Pumas lineout gifted Ryan Crotty a try five minutes later.A pair of tries to hooker Dane Coles and halfback TJ Perenara in the final two minutes of the half put the game to bed before the second stanza.Fullback Ben Smith extended the lead in the 45th minute before a pair of Pumas consolation tries in the 57th and 76th minutes.Lienert-Brown, making just his second Test start, was a particular stand-out with a try and three assists.The 21-year-old will now tussle with incumbent No.13 Malakai Fekitoa for a starting spot in Durban.Its just so cool to be out there with such a great team setting me up, the Chiefs young gun said.Five-eighth Aaron Cruden, ruled out of the match with a groin strain, was impressed by his Super Rugby teammates performance.His midfield versatility would prove an asset to the side.To play extremely well in both positions only bodes well for him, Cruden said.It was a very polished performance.Fellow Chiefs livewire Damian McKenzie also earned game time at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani, coming on for his debut in the 48th minute. 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