2007 Dickies 500

The 2007 Dickies 500 was the 34th race in the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season and the third to last race in the 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. This race took place on Sunday, November 4th at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.

Pre-Race News

*Speedway Motorsports, Inc. purchased the New Hampshire International Speedway from Bob Bahre for $340 million (US), adding the two Cup races, the late spring/early summer Busch/Nationwide Series event and autumn Craftsman Truck Series races at that track to their portfolio. Previously, SMI bought one-half of the now-dormant North Wilkesboro Speedway with Bahre to get their Cup date. As is custom with all SMI tracks, except for Infineon Raceway, NHIS's name will be changed to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
*Sprint Cup drivers in the top thirty-five points positions may not be eligible to race for points in the Nationwide Series in 2008 if NASCAR approves a new rule that could come to fruition. The reason is that the Nationwide Series (known as the NASCAR Busch Series until the end of the 2007 season) is supposed to be an equalivalent to baseball and ice hockey's AAA level, and because many "Buschwhackers" have won the last three championships, the progress of younger drivers have been slower than expected.
*Another young driver, 18-year-old sensation Brad Coleman, announced a deal to drive a second car for Hall of Fame Racing alongside J.J. Yeley during the 2008 season. Brad will drive for seven to be announced races during the last half of the '08 season, then move up full time in 2009, although neither sponsorship nor a number were announced.

Qualifying

With a fast lap at 27.964 sec. at a speed of 193.105 mph, Chase driver Martin Truex Jr. won his first career pole. On his outside will be points leader Jeff Gordon. Defending race winner Tony Stewart rolls off 15th, defending champion Jimmie Johnson starts 8th, and darkhorse candidate Clint Bowyer starts 29th. Of note, open wheel imports Juan Pablo Montoya and A.J. Allmendinger will roll of 3rd and 5th, a personal best for Allmendinger, and second best for Montoya. Truex also becomes the 17th different driver to win a pole, tying a record originally set in the 1997 season and matched in the 2001 season.

Failed to Qualify: #4-Ward Burton, #49-John Andretti, #55-Michael Waltrip, #08-Burney Lamar, #34-Kevin Lepage.

Race

The race would mostly be dominated by Kyle Busch, who led for 153 laps. Chase drivers such as Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, and Truex saw their hopes for title contention end. On the final pit stop Robbie Reiser, Kenseth's crew chief, called his pit crew to only change two tires. This got them the track position, but not very many cars followed their strategy. On of those cars was of Jimmie Johnson. With four fresh tires, Jimmie hunted down Kenseth and the two of them staged a brilliant and intense duel, staying side by side for more than a lap. Johnson would eventually prevail with two to go and take his third consecutive win and take the points lead away from teammate Jeff Gordon.

Nine drivers in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup finished in the top 11 of the overall running order.

Points

*As mentioned above, Johnson took over the points lead, 30 points ahead of Gordon. Ironically, if the system that NASCAR used before the Chase started (1975-2003) was still in use, Gordon would have clinched the title after this race. [http://www.stockcarreview.com/id335.html]
*For the last guaranteed spot in each race, the 22 team (Bill Davis Racing) expanded its lead over the 21 team (Wood Brothers/JTG Racing) to 127 points. Bill Elliott crashed out of the race, not helping the latter team's chances.

Other note

Johnson won his third consecutive race; he has the last two such streaks. He also won three straight in the 2004 season (Charlotte, Martinsville, and Atlanta).

External links

* [http://www.jayski.com/stats/2007/results/34tms2007results.htm Complete race results]
* [http://www.jayski.com/stats/2007/standings/34tms2007points.htm Complete owners' standings]

Results