# 2007 Brickyard 400

The 2007 Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, the 14th running of the event, was the twentieth race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the first of the season that was televised by NASCAR on ESPN. It was held on July 29, 2007 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana.

## Pre-race

Two Nextel Cup Series teams announced changes in their ownership just before this race:
* Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged with Ginn Racing, taking over the No. 01 team of Mark Martin and Aric Almirola, and closing the Nos. 13 and 14 teams after Ginn had released Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin because of sponsorship difficulties. The No. 14 and No. 15 teams switched positions in the standings, guaranteeing Paul Menard, the driver of the No. 15, a starting spot. Regan Smith, who had shared driving duties with Martin, was reassigned to the Craftsman Truck Series.
* Terry Labonte filled in for Michael Waltrip in the No. 55 Toyota which originally made Bill Elliott, winner of the 2002 race, and his No. 21 Wood Brothers/JTG Racing team ineligible for the past champion's provisional since Labonte's championship is more recent than Elliott's. However, with the closing of the Nos. 13 and 14 teams from Ginn, Elliott was assured of racing in this event.
* Originally, there were 51 cars on the initial entry list, including the No. 13 team, which was left without a driver and sponsor. The No. 14 team was entered with Smith as the driver, but because of the merger between DEI and Ginn Racing, the final entry list only included 49 cars.

## Qualifying

| RANK | DRIVER | NBR | CAR | TIME | SPEED | |
| 1 | Reed Sorenson | 41 | Dodge | 48.858 | 184.207 | |
| 2 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 42 | Dodge | 49.048 | 183.494 | |
| 3 | Ryan Newman | 12 | Dodge | 49.053 | 183.475 | |
| 4 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | 8 | Chevrolet | 49.068 | 183.419 | |
| 5 | Kasey Kahne | 9 | Dodge | 49.080 | 183.374 | |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | 2 | Dodge | 49.159 | 183.079 | |
| 7 | Jeff Burton | 31 | Chevrolet | 49.167 | 183.050 | |
| 8 | Greg Biffle | 16 | Ford | 49.174 | 183.024 | |
| 9 | Casey Mears | 25 | Chevrolet | 49.177 | 183.012 | |
| 10 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Chevrolet | 49.233 | 182.804 | |
| 11 | Tony Raines | 96 | Chevrolet | 49.246 | 182.756 | |
| 12 | David Stremme | 40 | Dodge | 49.259 | 182.708 | |
| 13 | Mark Martin | 01 | Chevrolet | 49.273 | 182.656 | |
| 14 | Tony Stewart | 20 | Chevrolet | 49.275 | 182.648 | |
| 15 | Jamie McMurray | 26 | Ford | 49.287 | 182.604 | |
| 16 | Scott Riggs | 10 | Dodge | 49.333 | 182.434 | * |
| 17 | Elliott Sadler | 19 | Dodge | 49.342 | 182.400 | |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | 5 | Chevrolet | 49.396 | 182.201 | |
| 19 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 | Chevrolet | 49.498 | 181.826 | |
| 20 | Kevin Harvick | 29 | Chevrolet | 49.519 | 181.748 | |
| 21 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | Chevrolet | 49.526 | 181.723 | |
| 22 | Scott Wimmer | 33 | Chevrolet | 49.558 | 181.605 | * |
| 23 | J.J. Yeley | 18 | Chevrolet | 49.559 | 181.602 | |
| 24 | Jeff Green | 66 | Chevrolet | 49.676 | 181.174 | |
| 25 | Brian Vickers | 83 | Toyota | 49.689 | 181.127 | * |
| 26 | Clint Bowyer | 07 | Chevrolet | 49.692 | 181.116 | |
| 27 | Dave Blaney | 22 | Toyota | 49.708 | 181.057 | * |
| 28 | Paul Menard | 15 | Chevrolet | 49.711 | 181.046 | |
| 29 | Bobby Labonte | 43 | Dodge | 49.753 | 180.894 | |
| 30 | David Ragan | 6 | Ford | 49.757 | 180.879 | |
| 31 | Matt Kenseth | 17 | Ford | 49.764 | 180.854 | |
| 32 | Bill Elliott | 21 | Ford | 49.783 | 180.785 | |
| 33 | Martin Truex, Jr. | 1 | Chevrolet | 49.797 | 180.734 | |
| 34 | David Reutimann | 00 | Toyota | 49.827 | 180.625 | * |
| 35 | Carl Edwards | 99 | Ford | 49.829 | 180.618 | |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | 49 | Dodge | 49.862 | 180.498 | * |
| 37 | Ricky Rudd | 88 | Ford | 49.998 | 180.007 | |
| 38 | David Gilliland | 38 | Ford | 50.033 | 179.881 | |
| 39 | Johnny Sauter | 70 | Chevrolet | 50.080 | 179.712 | |
| 40 | Ward Burton | 4 | Chevrolet | 50.096 | 179.655 | * |
| 41 | Joe Nemechek | 08 | Dodge | 50.184 | 179.340 | * |
| 42 | Terry Labonte | 55 | Toyota | 50.189 | 179.322 | PC |
| 43 | Kyle Petty | 45 | Dodge | 50.227 | 179.186 | |
| 44 | A.J. Allmendinger | 84 | Toyota | 50.300 | 178.926 | * |
| 45 | Kevin Lepage | 37 | Dodge | 50.340 | 178.784 | * |
| 46 | Dale Jarrett | 44 | Toyota | 50.366 | 178.692 | * |
| 47 | Jeremy Mayfield | 36 | Toyota | 50.411 | 178.532 | * |
| 48 | Kenny Wallace | 78 | Chevrolet | 50.814 | 177.117 | * |
| 49 | Robby Gordon | 7 | Ford | 50.879 | 176.890 | OP |
OP: qualified via owners points
PC: qualified as past champion
PR: provisional
QR: via qualifying race
* - had to qualify on time
Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes: Joe Nemechek (#08), A.J. Allmendinger (#84), Kevin Lepage (#37), Dale Jarrett (#44), Jeremy Mayfield (#36), Kenny Wallace (#78), Regan Smith (#14-WD), ? (#13-WD)

## Race

Pole sitter Reed Sorenson lead the first lap of the race. The first caution flew on lap 15 when Jeff Green crashed in turn 3. Tony Stewart won the race off of pit road and lead the field to the restart on lap 20. Dale Earnhardt Jr. would take the lead from Stewart on the restart. The second caution would fly on the same lap when Ryan Newman crashed in turn 4. Dale Jr. lead the field on the restart on lap 25. On lap 39, the third caution flew when Tony Raines and Kasey Kahne crashed and turn 1. Robby Gordon also spun trying to avoid the wreck. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the race off of pit road and lead the field to the restart on lap 44. On lap 46, a big wreck would occur in turn 1 that took out 8 cars. It started when Jamie McMurray got loose in turn 1 and slid up into Jimmie Johnson which caused a mini chain reaction crash that also collected Scott Riggs, Bill Elliott, Ricky Rudd, Carl Edwards, J. J. Yeley, and Kyle Petty. The race restarted on lap 53. On lap 54, Tony Stewart took the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr. On the same lap, a multi-car crash would occur in turn three. It started when Johnny Sauter came down and got turned by Casey Mears which sent the two spinning while collecting Elliott Sadler and Kyle Petty. The race restarted on lap 60 with Stewart as the leader. On lap 61, the 6th caution of the race would occur when Jimmie Johnson blew a left front tire and hit the wall in turn 3 which ended up causing his car to catch on fire. Juan Pablo Montoya won the race off of pit road but Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr, and Scott Riggs did not pit and Busch lead the field to the restart on lap 68. On lap 76, the 7th caution flew for debris. During pit stops, Kurt Busch's rear bumper fell off after Scott Wimmer made contact with him. Tony Stewart lead the field to the restart on lap 80. On lap 90, the 8th caution flew for debris. Greg Biffle won the race off of pit road and lead the field to the restart on lap 98.

### Final Laps

On lap 103, Kevin Harvick took the lead. With 50 laps to go, Tony Stewart took the lead from Harvick. With 34 to go, Kyle Busch took the lead as green flag pit stops began. Stewart would get the lead back with 32 to go. With 25 to go, the 9th and final caution flew when Dale Earnhardt Jr's engine blew. Stewart lead the field to the restart with 20 to go. Kevin Harvick would pass Stewart in turns 1 and 2. Harvick had built a manageable lead but Stewart closed in on him. Stewart on his radio as he was closing on Harvick said "Here kitty kitty kitty! Come get you some of this!" Stewart made a few attempts to pass Harvick but never could. Finally, with 10 to go, Stewart passed Harvick and took the lead. Harvick started to fall back after he and Stewart touched down the backstretch. Stewart would eventually take home his 2nd and last Brickyard 400 win of his career while also taking his 2nd win on the season and the 2nd in a row. Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, and Reed Sorenson rounded out the top 5 while Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick (who dropped from first to 7th), Jeff Burton, Dave Blaney, and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top 10.

### Results

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team |
| 1. | 20 | Tony Stewart (W) | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2. | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 3. | 24 | Jeff Gordon (W) | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 4. | 5 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 5. | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 6. | 01 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 7. | 29 | Kevin Harvick (W) | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 8. | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 9. | 22 | Dave Blaney | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing |
| 10. | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 11. | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing South |
| 12. | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 13. | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 14. | 4 | Ward Burton | Chevrolet | Morgan-McClure Motorsports |
| 15. | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 16. | 6 | David Ragan (R) | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 17. | 38 | David Gilliland (R) | Ford | Yates/Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing |
| 18. | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 19. | 43 | Bobby Labonte (W) | Dodge | Petty Enterprises |
| 20. | 15 | Paul Menard (R) | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 21. | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Team Red Bull |
| 22. | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 23. | 21 | Bill Elliott (W) | Ford | Wood Brothers/JTG Racing |
| 24. | 88 | Ricky Rudd (W) | Ford | Yates/Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing |
| 25. | 49 | Ken Schrader | Dodge | BAM Racing |
| 26. | 40 | David Stremme | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 27. | 7 | Robby Gordon | Ford | Robby Gordon Motorsports |
| 28. | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports |
| 29. | 10 | Scott Riggs | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports |
| 30. | 55 | Terry Labonte | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing |
| 31. | 33 | Scott Wimmer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 32. | 45 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Petty Enterprises |
| 33. | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 34. | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 35. | 25 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 36. | 18 | J. J. Yeley | Chevorolet | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 37. | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing |
| 38. | 00 | David Reutimann (R) | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing |
| 39. | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (W) | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 40. | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports |
| 41. | 96 | Tony Raines | Chevrolet | Hall of Fame Racing |
| 42. | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing South |
| 43. | 66 | Jeff Green | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing |
| Failed to Quality |||||
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team |
| | 08 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | EM Motorsports |
| | 84 | A. J. Allmendinger (R) | Toyota | Team Red Bull |
| | 37 | Kevin Lepage | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports |
| | 44 | Dale Jarrett (W) | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing |
| | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing |
| | 78 | Kenny Wallace | Chevrolet | Furniture Row Racing |
| Source: |||||