# 2007 USG Sheetrock 400

The 2007 USG Sheetrock 400 was the 19th race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season. It took place during daytime on July 15, 2007, at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois with the broadcast airing on TNT.

## Background

Entry list :
| # | Driver | Team | Make |
| 00 | David Reutimann | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota |
| 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 01 | Mark Martin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing | Dodge |
| 4 | Ward Burton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | David Ragan | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford |
| 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge |
| 13 | Joe Nemechek | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | Sterling Marlin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | Paul Menard | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | J.J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | Elliott Sadler | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | Bill Elliott | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | Casey Mears | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota |
| 37 | Kevin Lepage | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge |
| 38 | David Gilliland | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 40 | David Stremme | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 41 | Reed Sorenson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 44 | Dale Jarrett | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota |
| 45 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 49 | Chad Chaffin | BAM Racing | Dodge |
| 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota |
| 66 | Jeff Green | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet |
| 70 | Johnny Sauter | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Kenny Wallace | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet |
| 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota |
| 84 | A.J. Allmendinger | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota |
| 88 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 96 | Tony Raines | Hall of Fame Racing | Chevrolet |
| 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |

## Qualifying

Unlike the previous week at Daytona, qualifying was complete for this race. Casey Mears won the pole position with a lap of 182.556 miles per hour. Michael Waltrip qualified for only his fourth race of the season. Chad Chaffin once again filled in at BAM Racing and again qualified for the race.
Qualifying :
| Pos. | # | Driver | Make | Team | Time | Avg. Speed (mph) |
| 1 | 25 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.580 | 182.556 |
| 2 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 29.593 | 182.476 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing | 29.595 | 182.463 |
| 4 | 01 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Ginn Racing | 29.622 | 182.297 |
| 5 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 29.626 | 182.272 |
| 6 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.689 | 181.886 |
| 7 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 29.727 | 181.653 |
| 8 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.739 | 181.580 |
| 9 | 45 | John Andretti | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 29.764 | 181.427 |
| 10 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 29.767 | 181.409 |
| 11 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.780 | 181.330 |
| 12 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 29.791 | 181.263 |
| 13 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 29.797 | 181.226 |
| 14 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 29.810 | 181.147 |
| 15 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | 29.828 | 181.038 |
| 16 | 15 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 29.841 | 180.959 |
| 17 | 21 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Wood Brothers Racing | 29.866 | 180.808 |
| 18 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing | 29.885 | 180.693 |
| 19 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 29.894 | 180.638 |
| 20 | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | 29.895 | 180.632 |
| 21 | 00 | David Reutimann | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | 29.900 | 180.602 |
| 22 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 29.911 | 180.536 |
| 23 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 29.923 | 180.463 |
| 24 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | 29.947 | 180.319 |
| 25 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 29.948 | 180.313 |
| 26 | 49 | Chad Chaffin | Dodge | BAM Racing | 29.965 | 180.210 |
| 27 | 13 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | Ginn Racing | 29.967 | 180.198 |
| 28 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | 29.971 | 180.174 |
| 29 | 66 | Jeff Green | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing | 29.975 | 180.150 |
| 30 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 30.015 | 179.910 |
| 31 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | 30.021 | 179.874 |
| 32 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 30.025 | 179.850 |
| 33 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 30.037 | 179.778 |
| 34 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 30.055 | 179.671 |
| 35 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing | 30.058 | 179.653 |
| 36 | 18 | J.J. Yeley | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 30.073 | 179.563 |
| 37 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | Chevrolet | Ginn Racing | 30.093 | 179.444 |
| 38 | 40 | David Stremme | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 30.108 | 179.354 |
| 39 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Ford | Robby Gordon Motorsports | 30.210 | 178.749 |
| 40 | 96 | Tony Raines | Chevrolet | Hall of Fame Racing | 30.213 | 178.731 |
| 41 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | 30.235 | 178.601 |
| 42 | 38 | David Gilliland | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | 30.306 | 178.183 |
| 43 | 4 | Ward Burton | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | 30.070 | 179.581 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | 30.145 | 179.134 |
| 45 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Red Bull Racing Team | 30.171 | 178.980 |
| 46 | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | 30.207 | 178.767 |
| 47 | 84 | A.J. Allmendinger | Toyota | Red Bull Racing Team | 30.228 | 178.642 |
| 48 | 37 | Kevin Lepage | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports | 30.277 | 178.353 |
| 49 | 78 | Kenny Wallace | Chevrolet | Furniture Row Racing | 30.303 | 178.200 |

## Race

Tony Stewart won for the first time in 2007 and for the 30th time in his career. He also led the most laps in the competition, 108 out of 267. His margin of victory over second-place Matt Kenseth was 1.727 seconds. The rest of the top five drivers, in order, were Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer.
Jimmie Johnson led the second-most laps (82), but encountered tire trouble toward the end and wound up in 37th place.
Jeff Gordon (9th) extended his points lead over Denny Hamlin (17th) to 303 points. Dale Earnhardt Jr. led Ryan Newman by 39 points for 12th place and the final spot in the 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. After this race, seven races remained until the "playoff" field was set.

## Results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Make | Team | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 19 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 267 | 108 | running | 195 | $342,161 |
| 2 | 10 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 267 | 1 | running | 175 | $249,866 |
| 3 | 25 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 165 | $179,625 |
| 4 | 14 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 267 | 54 | running | 165 | $192,986 |
| 5 | 1 | 25 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 267 | 5 | running | 160 | $157,075 |
| 6 | 35 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing | 267 | 2 | running | 155 | $150,133 |
| 7 | 23 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 146 | $142,141 |
| 8 | 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 142 | $136,025 |
| 9 | 11 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 267 | 0 | running | 138 | $144,086 |
| 10 | 7 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 267 | 1 | running | 139 | $111,725 |
| 11 | 33 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 130 | $111,875 |
| 12 | 22 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 127 | $123,233 |
| 13 | 6 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 267 | 0 | running | 124 | $108,875 |
| 14 | 4 | 01 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Ginn Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 121 | $118,408 |
| 15 | 30 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 118 | $130,575 |
| 16 | 42 | 38 | David Gilliland | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 115 | $124,264 |
| 17 | 13 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 267 | 0 | running | 112 | $106,450 |
| 18 | 9 | 45 | John Andretti | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 267 | 0 | running | 109 | $104,808 |
| 19 | 5 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 267 | 2 | running | 111 | $131,658 |
| 20 | 12 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 266 | 0 | running | 103 | $129,136 |
| 21 | 41 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | 266 | 0 | running | 100 | $119,683 |
| 22 | 18 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing | 266 | 0 | running | 97 | $87,950 |
| 23 | 37 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | Chevrolet | Ginn Racing | 266 | 0 | running | 94 | $99,858 |
| 24 | 40 | 96 | Tony Raines | Chevrolet | Hall of Fame Racing | 265 | 0 | running | 91 | $95,050 |
| 25 | 32 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 265 | 0 | running | 88 | $122,525 |
| 26 | 20 | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | 265 | 0 | running | 85 | $82,025 |
| 27 | 29 | 66 | Jeff Green | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing | 265 | 0 | running | 82 | $102,072 |
| 28 | 17 | 21 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Wood Brothers Racing | 265 | 0 | running | 79 | $103,339 |
| 29 | 27 | 13 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | Ginn Racing | 264 | 0 | running | 76 | $83,625 |
| 30 | 28 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | 264 | 0 | running | 73 | $80,875 |
| 31 | 26 | 49 | Chad Chaffin | Dodge | BAM Racing | 263 | 0 | running | 70 | $80,175 |
| 32 | 24 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | 262 | 0 | running | 67 | $127,166 |
| 33 | 31 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | 260 | 0 | running | 64 | $101,570 |
| 34 | 38 | 40 | David Stremme | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 257 | 0 | engine | 61 | $79,575 |
| 35 | 36 | 18 | J.J. Yeley | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | 243 | 0 | crash | 58 | $107,258 |
| 36 | 39 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Ford | Robby Gordon Motorsports | 225 | 0 | running | 55 | $79,150 |
| 37 | 8 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 222 | 82 | crash | 57 | $132,861 |
| 38 | 34 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | 214 | 0 | running | 49 | $86,700 |
| 39 | 2 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 211 | 12 | engine | 51 | $104,845 |
| 40 | 15 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | 199 | 0 | crash | 43 | $86,280 |
| 41 | 43 | 4 | Ward Burton | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | 197 | 0 | crash | 40 | $78,080 |
| 42 | 16 | 15 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 132 | 0 | running | 37 | $77,910 |
| 43 | 21 | 00 | David Reutimann | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | 43 | 0 | engine | 34 | $77,976 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 10 | Scott Riggs | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | | | | | |
| 45 | | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Red Bull Racing Team | | | | | |
| 46 | | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | | | | | |
| 47 | | 84 | A.J. Allmendinger | Toyota | Red Bull Racing Team | | | | | |
| 48 | | 37 | Kevin Lepage | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports | | | | | |
| 49 | | 78 | Kenny Wallace | Chevrolet | Furniture Row Racing | | | | | |