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2007 Dodge Avenger 500

FieldValue
TypeNASNEX
DescriptionRace 11 of 36 in the [2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series](2007-nascar-nextel-cup-series) season
Race NameDodge Avenger 500
Fulldate
Year2007
Race_No11
Season_No36
Image2007_Dodge_Avenger_500_program_cover.png
Caption2007 Dodge Avenger 500 program cover
Official nameDodge Avenger 500
LocationDarlington Raceway, Darlington County, South Carolina
Course_mi1.366
Course_km2.198
Distance_laps367
Distance_mi501.322
Distance_km806.799
WeatherMild with temperatures approaching 75 F; wind speeds up to 17.1 mph
Avg124.372 mi/h
Pole_DriverClint Bowyer
Pole_TeamRichard Childress Racing
Pole_Time29.806
Most_DriverDenny Hamlin
Most_TeamJoe Gibbs Racing
Most_laps179
Car24
First_DriverJeff Gordon
First_TeamHendrick Motorsports
NetworkFox Broadcasting Company
AnnouncersMike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds

The 2007 Dodge Avenger 500, the 58th running of the race, was the eleventh race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

The race was postponed by rain, and was run the following afternoon, May 13 (Mother's Day in the US), the second race in two weeks to be rained out. Coincidentally, the first running of this event in 1957 was postponed by rain and delayed a day later to May 12, exactly 50 years to the originally scheduled date of this race. Originally the third night race on the schedule, this also served as the fifth race to use the Car of Tomorrow template.

Chevrolet continued to dominate the NASCAR Cup Series like it did during the 1990s and through most of the 2000s. Michael Waltrip continued to have a negative number of points in this race due to his major penalty that was not mitigated until late into the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season. Spanish-speaking NASCAR fans started to notice Jeff Gordon's dominance in this NASCAR event, making him a close second favorite to Juan Pablo Montoya.

Last chance for the All-Star Challenge

The race served as the final chance for teams and drivers who have not qualified for the Nextel All-Star Challenge to automatically enter that race by winning on the 1.366 mile egg-shaped oval known as "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough To Tame". If not, they would have to race in the NEXTEL Open race, as either one of the top two drivers or chosen in a fan vote.

Abrasive surface

The Darlington asphalt has been known to be one of the most abrasive in NASCAR, as the sandpaper-like surface shreds tires limiting their run on the track. This situation was rectified later in 2007 when the entire track was resurfaced. As a result, pit row became a concrete surface.

Qualifying

Clint Bowyer won the pole position, the first career pole in the Cup series for the driver of the #07 Chevrolet Impala. Greg Biffle, who had won the two previous Darlington races, sat on the outside of Bowyer. Michael Waltrip missed his 10th straight race, while Ken Schrader returned to the field after sitting out the two previous weeks.

PosCar #DriverMakeSpeedTimeBehindFailed to qualify
107Clint BowyerChevrolet164.98729.8060.000
216Greg BiffleFord164.87629.826-0.020
326Jamie McMurrayFord164.43029.907-0.101
499Carl EdwardsFord164.31429.928-0.122
59Kasey KahneDodge164.07329.972-0.166
678Kenny WallaceChevrolet163.87630.008-0.202
711Denny HamlinChevrolet163.83830.015-0.209
821Ken SchraderFord163.72330.036-0.230
929Kevin HarvickChevrolet163.71330.038-0.232
1024Jeff GordonChevrolet163.68030.044-0.238
1125Casey MearsChevrolet163.29930.114-0.308
1248Jimmie JohnsonChevrolet163.28930.116-0.310
1343Bobby LabonteDodge163.18630.135-0.329
1400David ReutimannToyota163.17530.137-0.331
1583Brian VickersToyota163.15330.141-0.335
1641Reed SorensonDodge163.10530.150-0.344
1719Elliott SadlerDodge163.04530.161-0.355
182Kurt BuschDodge163.00230.169-0.363
1970Johnny SauterChevrolet162.94830.179-0.373
2084A. J. AllmendingerToyota162.91530.185-0.379
218Dale Earnhardt Jr.Chevrolet162.80730.205-0.399
2218J. J. YeleyChevrolet162.79130.208-0.402
2315Paul MenardChevrolet162.78630.209-0.403
246David RaganFord162.63030.238-0.432
251Martin Truex Jr.Chevrolet162.61930.240-0.434
2620Tony StewartChevrolet162.55530.252-0.446
2722Dave BlaneyToyota162.45230.271-0.465
2814Sterling MarlinChevrolet162.35630.289-0.483
2912Ryan NewmanDodge162.27630.304-0.498
3040David StremmeDodge162.26030.307-0.501
3117Matt KensethFord161.93430.368-0.562
3296Tony RainesChevrolet161.86430.381-0.575
337Robby GordonFord161.74230.404-0.598
3431Jeff BurtonChevrolet161.54530.441-0.635
3513Joe NemechekChevrolet161.50330.449-0.643
365Kyle BuschChevrolet161.32830.482-0.676
3701Mark MartinChevrolet161.31730.484-0.678
3838David GillilandFord161.00630.543-0.737
3966Jeff GreenChevrolet160.86930.569-0.763
4088Ricky RuddFord160.38130.662-0.856
4142Juan MontoyaDodge160.05730.724-0.918
4245Kyle PettyDodge159.54830.822-1.016
4337Kevin LepageDodge162.32930.294-0.488
4436Jeremy MayfieldToyota30.301
454Ward BurtonChevrolet30.359
4649Mike BlissDodge30.370
4755Michael WaltripToyota30.446
4844Dale JarrettToyota30.480
4910Scott RiggsDodge30.529

Race recap

Jeff Gordon overcame a radiator problem to win the Dodge Avenger 500. The win was his third in the last four races, his sixth win in the Southern 500, and his 78th overall career. Because of the failure, his car emitted steam for the last 50 laps or so of the race. The race was arguably decided most in the pits. Gordon's crew chief, Steve Letarte, kept the #24 Chevy on the track during what would be the final caution of the race, while all other leaders came in for service. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin was in position for a weekend sweep (he had won on Friday night in the Busch Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200), but a failure to apply lug nuts correctly on the first attempt led to a long pit stop, after which he never regained the lead. Hamlin still led the most laps on this day and finished second.

The remaining top drivers were in this order: Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bowyer, and Jeff Burton.

After this race, Gordon led Jimmie Johnson by 231 points for the lead. Earnhardt Jr. led Jamie McMurray by 46 points for the 12th and final position in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. However, because of illegal bolts supporting the wing that was discovered in a pre-race inspection, Earnhardt was docked 100 driver points, the team lost 100 owner points and slapped with a $100,000 (US) fine and crew chief Tony Eury, Sr. was suspended until July 4. Because of the penalties, McMurray was elevated to the final Chase position as a result.

Race results

(*****) denotes Rookie of the Year candidate.

FinStCar #DriverMakePointsBonusLapsWinnings12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243
1024Jeff GordonChevrolet1905367$323,286
711Denny HamlinChevrolet18010367$211,550
1248Jimmie JohnsonChevrolet1705367$197,761
2912Ryan NewmanDodge1655367$159,875
499Carl EdwardsFord1605367$125,475
2620Tony StewartChevrolet150367$145,961
3117Matt KensethFord1515367$143,516
218Dale Earnhardt Jr.Chevrolet142367$133,033
107Clint BowyerChevrolet1435367$114,575
3431Jeff BurtonChevrolet134367$127,541
251Martin Truex Jr.Chevrolet130367$112,320
182Kurt BuschDodge127367$119,108
2814Sterling MarlinChevrolet124367$104,433
3701Mark MartinChevrolet121367$108,308
216Greg BiffleFord118367$97,700
326Jamie McMurrayFord115367$89,850
929Kevin HarvickChevrolet112367$125,886
2218J. J. YeleyChevrolet109367$108,183
1343Bobby LabonteDodge106367$117,036
59Kasey KahneDodge103367$124,616
1719Elliott SadlerDodge1055367$96,370
3966Jeff GreenChevrolet97365$100,008
4142Juan Montoya *Dodge94365$113,575
678Kenny WallaceChevrolet91365$75,775
4245Kyle PettyDodge88364$87,233
4088Ricky RuddFord85364$105,333
246David Ragan *Ford82363$109,425
3513Joe NemechekChevrolet79363$69,950
1970Johnny SauterChevrolet76361$69,750
3838David GillilandFord73361$100,289
2315Paul Menard *Chevrolet70358$69,325
2722Dave BlaneyToyota725355$89,197
1400David Reutimann *Toyota64351$69,925
3040David StremmeDodge61349$68,850
1125Casey MearsChevrolet58345$76,600
2084A. J. Allmendinger *Toyota55344$68,450
365Kyle BuschChevrolet52338$86,250
337Robby GordonFord49317$68,025
3296Tony RainesChevrolet46310$78,400
1641Reed SorensonDodge43310$75,750
821Ken SchraderFord455254$87,839
4337Kevin LepageDodge37127$68,280
1583Brian VickersToyota34122$67,382

Notes

  • The last NASCAR race to be staged on Mother's Day before this one was the Winston (now the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge) on May 15, 1986. Bill Elliott was the winner of the exhibition race.
  • The race was postponed and moved to Sunday, in violation of South Carolina blue laws, with track president Bob Colvin was fined for the violation. Current blue laws state Sunday racing is legal in South Carolina provided (1) a race is scheduled for more than 250 miles (402 km), or (2) it starts after 1:30 PM.

References

References

  1. (2007-05-12). "Qualifying times: Dodge Avenger 500.".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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