HAMPTON, Ga. - Jimmie Johnson pulled into Victory Lane, beneath three flags at half-staff. The pictures of 10 lost friends were splashed across the hood of the winning car, along with a gut-wrenching message: "Always In Our Hearts."

A day for celebrating. A day for remembering. A day for healing.

Just one week after 10 people - many of them key members of Hendrick Motorsports - were killed in a plane crash, Johnson did his part to ease some of the pain by winning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday.

Maybe the feeling lasted for only a few fleeting moments, but it sure was nice to smile again.

"Once I got in the car, I knew what I was supposed to do," Johnson said. "I honestly forgot about everything until I took the checkered flag.

"Then everything went into slow motion."

Mark Martin's Ford dominated the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, but fate was on Johnson's side. He became the first driver in six years to win three straight races in a season, despite leading only 17 laps on the high-banked trioval.

Martin was out front for almost 70 percent of the laps - 227 out of 325 - only to be 0.293 seconds behind at the end. A couple of late yellow flags ruined his chances.

"The best car doesn't always win the race," Johnson said. "The No. 6 car, he was the best car. Circumstances at the end just didn't work out in their favor."

Neither Johnson nor Martin had to worry about seeing too many of their rivals in the rearview mirror.

Seven of the 10 contenders for the Nextel Cup championship had major problems, including points leader Kurt Busch. He blew an engine on lap 52 and finished 42nd - beating only one other driver, little brother Kyle.

But there was enough misfortune to go around, ensuring that Kurt Busch remained on top of the standings.

Matt Kenseth, the defending Cup champion, blew an engine. Elliott Sadler collided with another car in the pits. Jeff Gordon battled an ill-handling machine. Jeremy Mayfield cut a tire. Pole sitter Ryan Newman was doomed by a miscue in the pits. And, finally, Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed out late in the race through his own carelessness.

Busch sensed that it wasn't going to be his day.

"I had a feeling in my stomach before the race," said Busch, who had not finished lower than sixth in the first six races of the Nextel Cup playoff. "It was just one of those gut feelings where you don't feel as confident as the week before."

Johnson jumped two places to second - only 59 points behind Busch - and became the first driver with three straight victories in a season since teammate Gordon won four in a row on the way to the 1998 championship.

Johnson pulled his winning Chevrolet up to the flagstand, picking up the checkered banner. Then, with it flapping out the driver's side, he circled the 1.54-mile track going the wrong way, soaking up the cheers of everyone in the crowd - even those wearing the colors of rival drivers such as Earnhardt.

"Typically, I would have been booed," Johnson said, managing a smile. "There's a lot red up there. They don't like blue. That's cool.

"But all I could see today was people on the fence who were happy to see what took place."

When Johnson finally got to the winner's circle, he took a cell phone call from team owner Rick Hendrick, who'll be getting the checkered flag. Hendrick asked everyone on the team to wear their caps backward - a tribute to his late son's fashion sense.

"Rick always yelled at his son for wearing his hat backward," Johnson said, managing a smile.

Ricky Hendrick, who died in the crash, was being groomed to take over his father's team. Three other family members were killed, including John Hendrick, Rick's brother and the team president. General manager Jeff Turner and chief engine builder Randy Dorton also perished.

"Coming back to the race track, thinking of race cars, getting in the car was something that took my mind off what happened," said Johnson, who didn't learn of crash until after his victory last Sunday at Martinsville. The plane slammed into a mountain while on its way to the race.

Johnson has salvaged his championship hopes, but he'll have plenty of competition over the final three races. Gordon, Martin and Earnhardt are all within 98 points of Busch, who only had one driver that close coming into Sunday.

Martin, a four-time series runner-up, yearns to win a championship before calling it a career. The 45-year-old driver has already announced that 2005 will be his final full season with Roush Racing.

He probably would have won on this day if not for the yellow flags. He stayed on the track when Kevin Harvick stalled, while everyone else in the lead pack ducked into the pits for fresh tires.

That made the difference for Johnson, who claimed the lead on lap 310. Everyone came in when Earnhardt crashed, but Johnson already had gained valuable track position on Martin.

Johnson passed Kasey Kahne with 10 laps to go and built up enough of a margin to fend off Martin. Carl Edwards was third, the best finish of his young career. Joe Nemechek finished fourth and Kahne held on for fifth.

"We were a sitting duck," said Martin, defending crew chief Pat Tryson. "If we pitted, they stay out and win. If we stay out, they pit. So it was nobody's fault but those caution flags."