2007 Dodge Avenger 500

The 2007 Dodge Avenger 500 was the eleventh race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and was run at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. The originally scheduled May 12th running was postponed due to rain, and was run the following afternoon, May 13th (Mother's Day in the USA), the second race in two weeks to be rained out. Originally the third night race on the schedule, this also served as the fifth race to utilize the Car of Tomorrow template, as the first four CoT races have been dominated by Hendrick Motorsports leading to some renaming the CoT the "The Hendrick Car of Tomorrow".

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 either "The Lady in Black" or "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 will be rectified later in 2007 when the entire track will be resurfaced and pit row will become a concrete surface.

Race weekend

Qualifying

Clint Bowyer won the pole position, the first career pole in the Cup series for the driver of the #07 Jack Daniels 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.

Race

Jeff Gordon overcame a radiator problem to win the Dodge Avenger 500. The win was his third in the last four races, his second win in the Rebel (he won the 1996 TranSouth Financial 400 for his only other win in the Rebel), and his 78th overall career. Because of the failure, his car emitted steam for the last 20 laps or so of the race. The race was arguably decided most in the pits. Gordon's crew chief, Steve Letarte, kept the #24 DuPont 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 lugnuts 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 illeagal bolts supporting the wing that was discovered in a pre-race inspection, Earhardt 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 4th. Because of the penalites, McMurray was elevated to the final Chase position as a result.

Race results

(*) denotes Rookie of the Year canadate.

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 inaugural Rebel 300 (which became the Dodge Avenger 500), was held 50 years ago on the very weekend. Ironically, it was postponed and moved to Sunday ,in violation of South Carolina blue laws. 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.
* For the second straight week, a Fox affiliate had to delay or pre-empt the rain-delayed race telecast due to a baseball game. This time, it was Cox-owned affiliate KTVU in San Francisco, which moved the broadcast to sibling station KICU due to a previously announced commitment to televise the San Francisco Giants-Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball game from Denver. And for the second consecutive week, both Texas Rangers fans and NASCAR fans were winners in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex as the Texas Rangers game was switched to My Network station KDFI from KDFW, both owned by Fox, this time against the Los Angeles Angels.

External links

* [http://www.jayski.com/stats/2007/results/11darl2007results.htm Complete results]
* [http://www.jayski.com/stats/2007/standings/11darl2007points.htm Points standings after this race]