(TALLADEGA, AL) -- Jeff Gordon led just one lap yesterday at Talladega. This was by design. He told his boss, Rick Hendrick, he was not sure he could hold back. "Some guys are talking about that strategy and I said I can't do it. I think I've got to go out there and race and let the chips fall where ever they may. It was tough because I don't like going out there and just riding in the back," said Gordon. It worked. Gordon took the checkered flag at Talladega on Sunday and put himself back in the Chase points lead.

Gordon's teammate Jimmie Johnson came in second. "Never happy with second, but with all that we have to lose here, to come out of today's race in second is pretty good," said Johnson.

A handful of Chase contender are effectively out the the championship run. Jeff Burton was taken out of Sunday race early. "I suspect it is too much to overcome. We'll go and fight and do all we can and get all we can," said Burton. Premature race exits for Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. most likely put them out of the Chase as well.