# 2005 Subway Fresh 500

The 2005 Subway Fresh 500 was the eighth stock car race of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the inaugural iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 23, 2005, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Kurt Busch would dominate the majority of the race to take his 12th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Michael Waltrip and Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Mike Bliss | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | NetZero |
| 00 | Carl Long | McGlynn Racing | Chevrolet | Buyer's Choice Auto Warranties |
| 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Chevrolet | United States Army |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 02 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | Ash Motorsports |
| 4 | Mike Wallace | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lucas Oil |
| 5 | Kyle Busch (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Reverse Viagra |
| 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Chevrolet | Harrah's |
| 07 | Dave Blaney | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Jack Daniel's |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 09 | Johnny Sauter | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | Centrix Financial |
| 11 | Jason Leffler | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | FedEx Express |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | Alltel |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | Subway |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | United States Air Force |
| 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | GMAC, Ditech |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless |
| 32 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 33 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Sylvania |
| 34 | Steve Portenga | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Mach 1 Racing |
| 37 | Kevin Lepage | R&J Racing | Dodge | R&J Racing |
| 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Dark Chocolate M&M's, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Target |
| 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Home123 |
| 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Brawny |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | Schwan's Home Service |
| 66 | Hermie Sadler | Peak Fitness Racing | Ford | Peak Fitness |
| 77 | Travis Kvapil (R) | Penske Racing | Dodge | Kodak |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Milk Chocolate M&M's, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |
| 92 | Stanton Barrett (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Chevrolet | Holiday Inn |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Irwin Industrial Tools |
| 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Racing | Ford | Scotts |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Thursday, April 21, at 5:55 PM EST. The session would last for one hour. Travis Kvapil, driving for Penske Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.466 and an average speed of 131.071 mph (210.938 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 77 | Travis Kvapil (R) | Penske Racing | Dodge | 27.466 | 131.071 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 27.519 | 130.819 |
| 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.552 | 130.662 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Thursday, April 21, at 9:15 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.356 and an average speed of 131.598 mph (211.786 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 27.356 | 131.598 |
| 2 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.386 | 131.454 |
| 3 | 07 | Dave Blaney | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.424 | 131.272 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, April 22, at 6:00 PM EST. Positions 1-42 would be decided by time, while the 43rd position would be given to a past champion who had not otherwise qualified. If no past champion needed it, the next team in owner's points would earn the spot. Also, if a team in the top 35 in owner's points had missed qualifying in the top 35, they would earn a spot between 36 and 42 if needed.
Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 26.931 and an average speed of 133.675 miles per hour (215.129 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26.931 | 133.675 |
| 2 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.016 | 133.254 |
| 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.035 | 133.161 |
| 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 27.069 | 132.993 |
| 5 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.075 | 132.964 |
| 6 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 27.078 | 132.949 |
| 7 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 27.085 | 132.915 |
| 8 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.144 | 132.626 |
| 9 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 27.151 | 132.592 |
| 10 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.164 | 132.528 |
| 11 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.168 | 132.509 |
| 12 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.169 | 132.504 |
| 13 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.205 | 132.329 |
| 14 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.230 | 132.207 |
| 15 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.240 | 132.159 |
| 16 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.280 | 131.965 |
| 17 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.290 | 131.917 |
| 18 | 11 | Jason Leffler | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 27.311 | 131.815 |
| 19 | 32 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.317 | 131.786 |
| 20 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.321 | 131.767 |
| 21 | 07 | Dave Blaney | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.328 | 131.733 |
| 22 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.344 | 131.656 |
| 23 | 0 | Mike Bliss | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 27.349 | 131.632 |
| 24 | 77 | Travis Kvapil (R) | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 27.371 | 131.526 |
| 25 | 33 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.379 | 131.488 |
| 26 | 09 | Johnny Sauter | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 27.380 | 131.483 |
| 27 | 5 | Kyle Busch (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.385 | 131.459 |
| 28 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.401 | 131.382 |
| 29 | 37 | Kevin Lepage | R&J Racing | Dodge | 27.408 | 131.348 |
| 30 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 27.421 | 131.286 |
| 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 27.424 | 131.272 |
| 32 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 27.444 | 131.176 |
| 33 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.473 | 131.038 |
| 34 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 27.501 | 130.904 |
| 35 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.506 | 130.880 |
| 36 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 27.534 | 130.747 |
| 37 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 27.556 | 130.643 |
| 38 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 27.566 | 130.596 |
| 39 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 27.692 | 130.001 |
| 40 | 92 | Stanton Barrett (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.792 | 129.534 |
| 41 | 00 | Carl Long | McGlynn Racing | Chevrolet | 27.853 | 129.250 |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||
| 42 | 4 | Mike Wallace | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 46.754 | 76.999 |
| Last car to qualify on time |||||||
| 43 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.032 | 128.425 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 66 | Hermie Sadler | Peak Fitness Racing | Ford | 28.266 | 127.362 |
| 45 | 34 | Steve Portenga | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 28.349 | 126.989 |
| 46 | 02 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | 28.275 | 127.321 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 2 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 219 | running | 190 | $269,000 |
| 2 | 28 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 312 | 23 | running | 175 | $181,939 |
| 3 | 20 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 165 | $147,995 |
| 4 | 15 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 160 | $150,018 |
| 5 | 5 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 50 | running | 160 | $110,325 |
| 6 | 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 150 | $121,950 |
| 7 | 11 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 146 | $94,775 |
| 8 | 27 | 5 | Kyle Busch (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 8 | running | 147 | $92,050 |
| 9 | 26 | 09 | Johnny Sauter | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 138 | $75,750 |
| 10 | 13 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 134 | $103,158 |
| 11 | 33 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 130 | $109,141 |
| 12 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 4 | running | 132 | $120,886 |
| 13 | 8 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 124 | $98,245 |
| 14 | 7 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 121 | $119,541 |
| 15 | 12 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 118 | $113,066 |
| 16 | 22 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 115 | $80,700 |
| 17 | 14 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 112 | $98,375 |
| 18 | 16 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 1 | running | 114 | $90,133 |
| 19 | 10 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 0 | running | 106 | $109,011 |
| 20 | 23 | 0 | Mike Bliss | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 0 | running | 103 | $67,600 |
| 21 | 37 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 311 | 0 | running | 100 | $94,261 |
| 22 | 25 | 33 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 0 | running | 97 | $61,700 |
| 23 | 35 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 311 | 0 | running | 94 | $100,083 |
| 24 | 21 | 07 | Dave Blaney | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 0 | running | 91 | $72,725 |
| 25 | 34 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 311 | 0 | running | 88 | $72,900 |
| 26 | 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 311 | 0 | running | 85 | $92,183 |
| 27 | 42 | 4 | Mike Wallace | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 310 | 0 | running | 82 | $64,050 |
| 28 | 29 | 37 | Kevin Lepage | R&J Racing | Dodge | 310 | 0 | running | 79 | $60,925 |
| 29 | 18 | 11 | Jason Leffler | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 309 | 0 | running | 76 | $60,800 |
| 30 | 40 | 92 | Stanton Barrett (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Chevrolet | 309 | 0 | running | 73 | $60,675 |
| 31 | 39 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 306 | 0 | running | 70 | $78,208 |
| 32 | 36 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 305 | 1 | running | 72 | $82,558 |
| 33 | 6 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 305 | 0 | running | 64 | $109,561 |
| 34 | 38 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 61 | $87,364 |
| 35 | 19 | 32 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 283 | 0 | running | 58 | $69,572 |
| 36 | 9 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 272 | 0 | running | 55 | $90,908 |
| 37 | 43 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Chevrolet | 262 | 0 | running | 52 | $59,750 |
| 38 | 30 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 255 | 4 | crash | 54 | $59,625 |
| 39 | 32 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 243 | 0 | running | 46 | $67,500 |
| 40 | 24 | 77 | Travis Kvapil (R) | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 237 | 0 | crash | 43 | $67,350 |
| 41 | 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 172 | 2 | overheating | 45 | $77,510 |
| 42 | 17 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 164 | 0 | crash | 37 | $107,021 |
| 43 | 41 | 00 | Carl Long | McGlynn Racing | Chevrolet | 52 | 0 | engine | 34 | $58,935 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 66 | Hermie Sadler | Peak Fitness Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 34 | Steve Portenga | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 02 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||