# 2007 Sharpie 500

The 2007 Sharpie 500, the 24th race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season was run on the newly repaved and reconfigured .533 mile Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on Saturday night, August 25, 2007.
This race was the tenth to use NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow, as Kyle Busch won the inaugural event with this car, the Food City 500 on March 25 this year. But that race was on 36-degree high banked turns and the old concrete surface. For this race, one of the most popular in NASCAR, the new concrete surface with its new progressive banked turns between 24 and 30 degrees made its NEXTEL Cup debut.

## Pre-Race News

* Kenny Wallace, who was the driver of the #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet until after the Watkins Glen race, replaced the injured Kyle Petty in the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge. Sterling Marlin piloted the #78 car, but did not make the starting lineup.
* Aric Almirola made his Nextel Cup debut in the Dale Earnhardt, Inc. #01 Chevrolet.
* Matt Kenseth clinched a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup by taking the green flag.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 00 | David Reutimann | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | Burger King |
| 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats |
| 01 | Aric Almirola | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | U.S. Army |
| 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Ward Burton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Food City |
| 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's, CARQUEST Auto Parts |
| 6 | David Ragan | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | AAA |
| 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford | Camping World |
| 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Jack Daniel's |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge Dealers, UAW |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Valvoline, Stanley Tools |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | FedEx Freight |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | Alltel |
| 15 | Paul Menard | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Menards, Turtle Wax Ice |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Dish Network |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | J.J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Elliott Sadler | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge Dealers, UAW |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Bill Elliott | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | U.S. Air Force |
| 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont Automotive Finishes |
| 25 | Casey Mears | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | National Guard, GMAC |
| 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Irwin Industrial Tools |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Shell, Pennzoil Platinum |
| 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | RCR Chevrolet |
| 34 | Stanton Barrett | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | Kingsport Iron & Metal, Thompson Metal |
| 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 360 OTC |
| 37 | Kevin Lepage | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | Long John Silver's |
| 38 | David Gilliland | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | M&M's |
| 40 | David Stremme | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 41 | Reed Sorenson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline |
| 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios, Betty Crocker |
| 44 | Dale Jarrett | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | UPS |
| 45 | Kenny Wallace | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Wells Fargo |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 49 | John Andretti | BAM Racing | Dodge | Paralyzed Veterans of America |
| 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 66 | Jeff Green | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | Haas Automation, Best Buy |
| 70 | Johnny Sauter | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | Haas Automation |
| 78 | Sterling Marlin | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | Furniture Row Racing |
| 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | Red Bull |
| 84 | A.J. Allmendinger | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | Red Bull |
| 88 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Snickers |
| 96 | Tony Raines | Hall of Fame Racing | Chevrolet | DLP HDTV |
| 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Office Depot |

## Qualifying

Kasey Kahne won the pole position on the newly rebanked and resurfaced track. This was Kahne's 14th start on the point. Juan Pablo Montoya joined Kahne on the front row; Montoya's second starting position is the best of his NASCAR career so far.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Make | Team | Time | Avg. Speed (mph) |
| 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | 16.016 | 119.805 |
| 2 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 16.064 | 119.447 |
| 3 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 16.103 | 119.158 |
| 4 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 16.105 | 119.143 |
| 5 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | 16.110 | 119.106 |
| 6 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 16.122 | 119.017 |
| 7 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing | 16.122 | 119.017 |
| 8 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | 16.135 | 118.922 |
| 9 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 16.159 | 118.745 |
| 10 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 16.161 | 118.730 |
| 11 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | 16.166 | 118.694 |
| 12 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 16.174 | 118.635 |
| 13 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 16.182 | 118.576 |
| 14 | 4 | Ward Burton | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | 16.192 | 118.503 |
| 15 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 16.217 | 118.320 |
| 16 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | 16.225 | 118.262 |
| 17 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 16.235 | 118.189 |
| 18 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 16.237 | 118.175 |
| 19 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing | 16.247 | 118.102 |
| 20 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 16.251 | 118.073 |
| 21 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | 16.254 | 118.051 |
| 22 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 16.266 | 117.964 |
| 23 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 16.283 | 117.841 |
| 24 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Ford | Robby Gordon Motorsports | 16.294 | 117.761 |
| 25 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 16.306 | 117.674 |
| 26 | 21 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Wood Brothers Racing | 16.315 | 117.610 |
| 27 | 38 | David Gilliland | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | 16.318 | 117.588 |
| 28 | 49 | John Andretti | Dodge | BAM Racing | 16.323 | 117.552 |
| 29 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 16.350 | 117.358 |
| 30 | 25 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 16.353 | 117.336 |
| 31 | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | 16.355 | 117.322 |
| 32 | 45 | Kenny Wallace | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 16.371 | 117.207 |
| 33 | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | 16.372 | 117.200 |
| 34 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 16.389 | 117.079 |
| 35 | 01 | Aric Almirola | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 16.402 | 116.986 |
| 36 | 40 | David Stremme | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 16.439 | 116.722 |
| 37 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 16.445 | 116.680 |
| 38 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing | 16.453 | 116.623 |
| 39 | 66 | Jeff Green | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing | 16.469 | 116.510 |
| 40 | 18 | J.J. Yeley | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 16.510 | 116.220 |
| 41 | 15 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 16.539 | 116.017 |
| 42 | 96 | Tony Raines | Chevrolet | Hall of Fame Racing | 16.544 | 115.982 |
| 43 | 84 | A.J. Allmendinger | Toyota | Red Bull Racing Team | 16.375 | 117.179 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 00 | David Reutimann | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | 16.499 | 116.298 |
| 45 | 78 | Sterling Marlin | Chevrolet | Furniture Row Racing | 16.509 | 116.228 |
| 46 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Red Bull Racing Team | 16.535 | 116.045 |
| 47 | 37 | Kevin Lepage | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports | 16.545 | 115.975 |
| 48 | 34 | Stanton Barrett | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports | 16.685 | 115.001 |
Failed to qualify: David Reutimann (#00), Sterling Marlin (#78), Brian Vickers (#83), Kevin Lepage (#37) and Stanton Barrett (#34).

## Race

Carl Edwards won the Sharpie 500 for his second win of 2007 and the sixth of his career. Together, he and second-place finisher Kasey Kahne led 487 of the race's 500 laps. Kahne alone led 305 of them, more than in any other race in his career.
The rest of the Top 5 finishers were Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Denny Hamlin suffered an engine failure and did not finish. It was the first such occurrence in 53 races.
Owing largely to the new, wider racing surface, there were only nine cautions at a track which typically sees 15 or more in a 500-lap Cup race. The first of those did not come until lap 127.
Jeff Gordon left with a 359-point lead over Stewart on top of the championship standings. Kurt Busch retained a 158-point lead over Earnhardt Jr. for the 12th and final position in the Chase. Gordon, Hamlin, Edwards, Matt Kenseth, and Stewart have assured themselves of participation in the NASCAR "playoff."

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Make | Team | Sponsor | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 6 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | Office Depot | 500 | 182 | running | 190 | $297,050 |
| 2 | 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | McDonalds, Dodge Dealers | 500 | 305 | running | 180 | $265,541 |
| 3 | 15 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | Jack Daniel's | 500 | 0 | running | 165 | $180,125 |
| 4 | 23 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | The Home Depot | 500 | 0 | running | 160 | $178,386 |
| 5 | 17 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Budweiser | 500 | 1 | running | 160 | $164,008 |
| 6 | 19 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing | Miller Lite | 500 | 2 | running | 155 | $145,608 |
| 7 | 7 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing | Alltel | 500 | 2 | running | 151 | $139,775 |
| 8 | 22 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | Cheerios, Betty Crocker | 500 | 0 | running | 142 | $144,238 |
| 9 | 20 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | Kellogg's, CARQUEST Auto Parts | 500 | 3 | running | 143 | $116,875 |
| 10 | 34 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | Dish Network | 500 | 0 | running | 134 | $120,300 |
| 11 | 25 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats | 500 | 0 | running | 130 | $125,695 |
| 12 | 10 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | RCR Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 127 | $134,641 |
| 13 | 40 | 18 | J.J. Yeley | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | Interstate Batteries | 500 | 0 | running | 124 | $131,758 |
| 14 | 36 | 40 | David Stremme | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | Coors Light | 500 | 0 | running | 121 | $97,700 |
| 15 | 29 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | Target | 500 | 0 | running | 118 | $123,558 |
| 16 | 13 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | Shell, Pennzoil Platinum | 500 | 0 | running | 115 | $140,561 |
| 17 | 2 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | Texaco, Havoline | 500 | 0 | running | 112 | $131,050 |
| 18 | 11 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | Valvoline, Stanley Tools | 500 | 0 | running | 109 | $102,300 |
| 19 | 18 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | DuPont Automotive Finishes | 500 | 2 | running | 111 | $137,111 |
| 20 | 24 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Ford | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Camping World | 500 | 3 | running | 108 | $95,975 |
| 21 | 9 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | Lowe's | 499 | 0 | running | 100 | $142,911 |
| 22 | 30 | 25 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | National Guard, GMAC | 498 | 0 | running | 97 | $106,425 |
| 23 | 16 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | NAPA Auto Parts | 498 | 0 | running | 94 | $104,958 |
| 24 | 41 | 15 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Menards, Turtle Wax Ice | 498 | 0 | running | 91 | $90,675 |
| 25 | 26 | 21 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Wood Brothers Racing | U.S. Air Force | 498 | 0 | running | 88 | $110,514 |
| 26 | 3 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | Irwin Industrial Tools | 498 | 0 | running | 85 | $97,525 |
| 27 | 39 | 66 | Jeff Green | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing | Haas Automation, Best Buy | 498 | 0 | running | 82 | $110,563 |
| 28 | 42 | 96 | Tony Raines | Chevrolet | Hall of Fame Racing | DLP HDTV | 498 | 0 | running | 79 | $96,145 |
| 29 | 21 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | Dodge Dealers, UAW | 497 | 0 | running | 76 | $106,030 |
| 30 | 27 | 38 | David Gilliland | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | M&M's | 497 | 0 | running | 73 | $114,789 |
| 31 | 5 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | Caterpillar | 496 | 0 | running | 70 | $104,123 |
| 32 | 32 | 45 | Kenny Wallace | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | Wells Fargo | 496 | 0 | running | 67 | $93,902 |
| 33 | 14 | 4 | Ward Burton | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Food City | 494 | 0 | running | 64 | $85,495 |
| 34 | 33 | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | UPS | 494 | 0 | running | 61 | $84,135 |
| 35 | 43 | 84 | A.J. Allmendinger | Toyota | Red Bull Racing Team | Red Bull | 491 | 0 | running | 58 | $84,000 |
| 36 | 35 | 01 | Aric Almirola | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | U.S. Army | 485 | 0 | running | 55 | $91,890 |
| 37 | 31 | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | 360 OTC | 481 | 0 | running | 52 | $83,755 |
| 38 | 8 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | Snickers | 478 | 0 | crash | 49 | $114,678 |
| 39 | 12 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | DeWalt | 452 | 0 | crash | 46 | $131,176 |
| 40 | 28 | 49 | John Andretti | Dodge | BAM Racing | Paralyzed Veterans of America | 416 | 0 | electrical | 43 | $83,425 |
| 41 | 4 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | AAA | 414 | 0 | crash | 40 | $119,100 |
| 42 | 38 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing | Haas Automation | 280 | 0 | running | 37 | $83,155 |
| 43 | 37 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | FedEx Freight | 209 | 0 | engine | 34 | $102,268 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||||||||
| 44 | | 00 | David Reutimann | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | Burger King | | | | | |
| 45 | | 78 | Sterling Marlin | Chevrolet | Furniture Row Racing | Furniture Row Racing | | | | | |
| 46 | | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Red Bull Racing Team | Red Bull | | | | | |
| 47 | | 37 | Kevin Lepage | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports | Long John Silver's | | | | | |
| 48 | | 34 | Stanton Barrett | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports | Kingsport Iron & Metal, Thompson Metal | | | | | |