2007 Subway 500
The 2007 Subway 500, the 32nd race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season and the sixth race in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, ran on Sunday, October 21, 2007, at Martinsville Speedway, located on the outskirts of Martinsville, Virginia. This race was the fifteenth of sixteen series races to use NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow template, which will be made permanent as of the 2008 season.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 32 of 36 in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season | |||
 View from turn one and two bleachers | |||
| Date | October 21, 2007 | ||
| Official name | Subway 500 | ||
| Location | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 0.526 mi (0.847 km) | ||
| Distance | 506 laps, 266.156 mi (428.336 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km) | ||
| Weather | Temperatures up to 82 °F (28 °C); wind speeds up to 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)[1] | ||
| Average speed | 66.608 miles per hour (107.195 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Time | 19.938 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Laps | 168 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | ABC | ||
| Announcers | Jerry Punch, Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree | ||
Qualifying
With a lap of 19.938 seconds at a speed of 94.974 miles per hour, seven time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon took his sixth pole at the paperclip and 63rd of his career. Spring Martinsville winner Jimmie Johnson started fourth. South Boston natives Jeff and Ward Burton both struggled in qualifying, having to start 18th and 36th respectively. Chase contender Tony Stewart started 34th.
Race
The 2007 running of the race set a record for cautions in this race, with 21 yellow flags flying for 127 laps. The race was eventually decided under caution, when, during the green-white-checkers, David Ragan spun in turn number 1, ending the single attempt at a racing finish. With his third consecutive win at Martinsville, Johnson became the first driver since Rusty Wallace in 1994-1995 to win three straight races at the track.
Results
Top Ten Results: (NOTE: Chase drivers are in bold italics.)
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | #48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2. | #12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing |
| 3. | #24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 4. | #5 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 5. | #17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 6. | #11 | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 7. | #16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 8. | #42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 9. | #07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 10. | #29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
Points
Gordon's lead over Johnson in the standings was reduced to 58 points. (See 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup) for complete Chase standings).
For 35th place, and the last guaranteed starting spot, the #22 team (driver Dave Blaney for Bill Davis Racing) extended its lead over the #21 team (Bill Elliott for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing) to 142 points.
References
- Weather information for the 2007 Subway 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
| Previous race: 2007 Bank of America 500 |
Nextel Cup Series 2007 season |
Next race: 2007 Pep Boys Auto 500 |