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Jimmie Johnson leads at halfway in opening Chase race at Chicagoland

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400

JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 18: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 18, 2016 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

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After 134 laps, Jimmie Johnson leads the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Johnson has led 78 laps in the opening race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

The top 10 are Johnson, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, pole-sitter Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray and Alex Bowman.

Chris Buescher went a lap down by Lap 43, where he remains as he runs 26th.

The first caution came out on Lap 49 during green flag stops for a loose tire that wound up in the infield grass.

Kevin Harvick, who was pitting when the caution came out, was ruled by NASCAR to not have beaten leader Martin Truex Jr. to the start-finish line and restarted a lap down. Harvick is the first car a lap down in 20th.

On Lap 68, Martin Truex Jr. had to pit from second for a flat right-rear tire.

The second caution waved on Lap 119 when Brian Scott spun exiting Turn 4. The caution put Truex back on the lead lap and he is scored in 15th. Matt Kenseth was caught speeding during pit stops and runs in 19th, the last car on the lead lap.