SAM DEAN The Roanoke Times

Jimmie Johnson (48) clips Denny Hamlin in the rear in turn 3 to take the lead with 16 laps remaining in the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500. Johnson went on to post his sixth victory at Martinsville Speedway.

JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times

Jeff Gordon's pit crew watches as Gordon struggles during Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Gordon finished fourth.

SAM DEAN The Roanoke Times

Virginian Denny Hamlin pits during Sunday's Cup race. Hamlin, the defending champion coming in, finished second this time.

JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times

Jimmie Johnson's pit crew celebrates after winning Sunday's Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. Johnson has won five of the last six Cup races at the .526-mile, paper clip-shaped speedway.

MARTINSVILLE -- There will be payback, Denny Hamlin says, and it could cost Jimmie Johnson more than a victory.

Wait a minute, Johnson says. Sure he bumped Hamlin out of the lead Sunday with 16 laps left and won -- yet again -- at Martinsville Speedway, but Johnson says he didn't pull the classic bump-and-run.

"If he wants to think I tried moving him out of the way, he can believe that, but he should watch the video and realize I was inside of him and I did everything I could to miss,'' Johnson said after beating Hamlin, who led a race-high 296 laps.

That's not how Hamlin and fans siding with the Virginia native saw it. Some fans tossed cans at Johnson's car on his victory lap. Frustration is a common feeling among those who dislike Johnson. Sunday's win was his sixth overall at this track and fifth in the last six Martinsville events.

His late-race move also continued Hendrick Motorsports' reign at this historic half-mile track. Car owner Rick Hendrick's team has won 10 of the last 13 Martinsville races. Unlike past races Johnson dominated, he struggled this time with the car's handling and fell back to 30th before rallying.

Getting that final position proved as challenging as anything Johnson did Sunday. He led until Hamlin's brazen dive caught Johnson off guard and put Hamlin back in the lead 29 laps before their fateful encounter.

As they entered turn 3 just 16 laps from the end of the 500-lap race, Johnson dived below Hamlin. They hit. Both cars slid up the track.

"They made it hard not to watch it,'' said third-place finisher Tony Stewart, who admitted at three car lengths he was too far behind to capitalize.

Hamlin's car skated up the track where marbles -- bits of tires -- were. They stuck to his wheels and ruined his handling. Johnson didn't go as high and took the lead.

Hamlin had no shot. He had to settle for second and see his winless drought extend to a year.

"I know you're mad but be smart about this,'' spotter Curtis Markham radioed Hamlin afterward.

"I know,'' Hamlin said in a soft voice. "I'm a short-track racer.''

"You just owe him one,'' Markham said. "He knows it.''

If Johnson didn't, Hamlin made sure of it.

"If the roles were reversed, I'd do the same thing,'' Hamlin said. "Believe me, I will if it ever comes back around.''

Such contact is too dangerous at high-speed tracks -- such as Texas where the series heads next week -- but is more common on the short tracks. While three short-track races will be held before the series returns to Martinsville in October, Hamlin notes that a payback back here could be more meaningful since that fall race is part of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

"Hopefully,'' Hamlin said of any payback, "it will pay bigger dividends [then] than it does now.''

Hamlin didn't show anger as he talked. He spoke matter-of-factly. Just as he said he didn't initially squeeze Johnson in the corner.

"I did once we were in the corner,'' Hamlin said. "But he wasn't actually on the inside of me until we got to the corner really, really late. I think it was the very last instance on the turn where he got position. By then, I'm already committed to the bottom. There's nothing I can do but steer straight and go way up the race track.''

Johnson saw it differently.

"I got in there alongside of him and he kept coming down to go to the inside line,'' Johnson said. "I think Denny was trying hard to protect his lead.

"I touched my right front to his left rear. I was inside of him. I thought I was out-braking him and had the preferred line.''

Said Hamlin: "I knew it was going to be hairy. You're at the mercy of his right front bumper. It worked well for him.''

This time.

Next time? Hamlin will make sure the results will be different. Hey, that's the way it's done at short tracks. That didn't make Sunday any easier, though.

"It's tough to say you've gotten used to losing,'' said Hamlin, who twice has finished second to Johnson at this track, "but I've gotten used to the disappointment at the end.

"My hunger's still the same.''

Hamlin can't wait to show Johnson that next time. Whenever it is.