Needing to almost win out for a chance at his sixth consecutive Sprint Cup championship, Jimmie Johnson had every opportunity to make that happen after Tony Stewart passed him less than three laps from the finish of Sunday's crash-filled race at Martinsville Speedway.

He opted not to use a bump-and-run to win -- and Stewart knew he
wouldn't. In the final three races of the Chase for the championship, many drivers in contention profess a respect for fellow drivers, and a
sense that what you give, you also deserve to get.

Stewart launched into a monologue after the race about how drivers who insist on wrecking other cars should instead be placed in a boxing ring after races and allowed to settle their differences there.

He added that knowing he had Johnson's respect was critical at the finish.