CONCORD, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson might not have won his fourth consecutive points race at Lowe's Motor Speedway had NASCAR officials shortened Saturday's event as they considered because of numerous tire problems.

The 336-lap race never had more than 30 laps of green-flag racing between cautions -- many for accidents caused by blown tires. NASCAR president Mike Helton said series officials debated what to do, including shortening the race, as the carnage raged.

"It's certainly not an evening we're proud of," Helton said.

Series officials made the unprecedented move to mandate a minimum tire pressure for the right front and right rear tires. A Goodyear spokesman estimated that more than half the blown tires were because teams had their air pressures below recommended levels. NASCAR threatened to dock points from any team that did not comply. No one was penalized.

Action was necessary after 16 drivers suffered tire problems. At least nine of the race-record 15 cautions were for accidents caused by blown or flat tires. No one was injured. Tire victims included Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart, who finished 25th and fell into a tie with Johnson for the points lead heading into Sunday's race at Martinsville.

The tire problem came from high speeds. Elliott Sadler's pole-winning speed was nearly 5 mph faster than last fall's pole-winning speed. The speed increased because the track had been smoothed twice since then. After the first time, drivers struggled maintaining car control. May's race featured a series-record 22 cautions, including 16 for crashes. Work was done to the track after that race.

All of that created more grip, allowing the cars to stick to the track at higher speeds. That also abused the tires. Several drivers had right-side tires with quarter-size blistering on them.

"It's been a fiasco the whole time we've been here," car owner Ray Evernham said. "If that was racing, I'm in the wrong business. It's ridiculous."

Said Kevin Harvick, who crashed after blowing a right front tire: "This is the biggest joke in racing that I've ever seen."

Brian Vickers survived but that didn't make the evening much better for him.

"We were worried about our tires lasting 30 laps; that's crazy," he said after finishing 12th. "I'm not going to point any fingers, but I think both the track and Goodyear now know what they could've done to avoid what took place."

Humpy Wheeler, track president, said the track will be repaved before next year's May races.

"It was a tough night for everyone," he said. "Nobody liked it. I certainly didn't. We'll get it back to normal next time."

There was little normal about Saturday's race. Except the winner. Even Johnson had a tough night.

He forfeited his third starting spot after making an engine change Thursday and started at the rear of the 43-car field. An alternator problem drained two batteries, forcing them to be changed. He ran over debris and cut a tire with less than 100 laps left. Had NASCAR shortened the race, he might never have gotten the chance to climb into the lead, which he did not do until 18 laps remained.

He led the final 12 laps, including two extra laps when a late caution for Rusty Wallace's accident sent the race into overtime. Johnson held off Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle, giving Johnson his fifth victory in the last six points races at this track.

Stewart was not so fortunate. He cut a tire and spun while leading.

"We ran over a piece of debris that one of those other stupid [teams] who don't know how to set their race car up left out on the race track," Stewart's crew chief Greg Zipadelli said.

Stewart's woes tightened the points race. Biffle and Ryan Newman are both within 20 points of Stewart and Johnson. Seven drivers are within 100 points of the points lead with five races left.

"I really feel this championship is about not losing it," Johnson said. "Tony [Stewart] had the dominant car. If it didn't get out from underneath him, he probably would have won the race and it would be a different story. We've just got to do our job and not make any more mistakes -- especially on my part, and not tear the car up or do anything stupid and we'll be in pretty good shape."