# 2007 Auto Club 500

The 2007 Auto Club 500 was the second stock car race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the 11th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 25, 2007, before an audience of 87,000 in Fontana, California, at California Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 250 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Fenway Racing driver Matt Kenseth would manage to dominate a majority of the race to take his 15th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, both drivers for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Auto Club Speedway (previously California Speedway) was a two-mile (3.2 km), low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which hosted NASCAR racing annually from 1997 to 2023. It was also used for open wheel racing events. The racetrack was located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and Riverside International Raceway. The track was owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and was the only track owned by ISC to have its naming rights sold. The speedway was served by the nearby Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 freeways as well as a Metrolink station located behind the backstretch.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 00 | David Reutimann (R) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | Domino's |
| 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats |
| 01 | Mark Martin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Army |
| 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Ward Burton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | State Water Heaters |
| 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's, Carquest |
| 6 | David Ragan (R) | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | AAA |
| 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford | Jim Bean |
| 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Jack Daniel's |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Stanley Tools |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | FedEx Freight |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Mobil 1 |
| 13 | Joe Nemechek | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | CertainTeed |
| 14 | Sterling Marlin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | Panasonic |
| 15 | Paul Menard (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Menards, Quaker State |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Ameriquest Mortgage |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Carhartt |
| 18 | J. J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Elliott Sadler | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Ken Schrader | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Little Debbie |
| 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont Cromax Pro |
| 25 | Casey Mears | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | National Guard, GMAC |
| 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Crown Royal |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Shell, Pennzoil |
| 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless |
| 34 | Kevin Lepage | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports |
| 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 360 OTC |
| 37 | John Andretti | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | Camping World |
| 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 | Energizer |
| 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline |
| 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Dale Jarrett | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | UPS |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Wells Fargo |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 49 | Mike Bliss | BAM Racing | Dodge | Zone Loans |
| 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 66 | Jeff Green | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | Yellow Transportation |
| 70 | Johnny Sauter | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | Best Buy |
| 72 | Brandon Whitt | CJM Racing | Chevrolet | Dutch Quality Stone |
| 78 | Kenny Wallace | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | Furniture Row |
| 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | Red Bull |
| 84 | A. J. Allmendinger (R) | 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, Texas Instruments |
| 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Office Depot |

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, February 23, at 2:30 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Joe Nemechek, driving for Ginn Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.873 and an average speed of 185.219 miles per hour (298.081 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 13 | Joe Nemechek | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 38.873 | 185.219 |
| 2 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.965 | 184.781 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.980 | 184.710 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, February 24, at 2:00 PM EST. The session would last for 50 minutes. Clint Bowyer, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.686 and an average speed of 181.424 miles per hour (291.974 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.686 | 181.424 |
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.691 | 181.401 |
| 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.727 | 181.237 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, February 24, at 5:20 PM EST. The session would last for 50 minutes. Kevin Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 40.380 and an average speed of 178.306 miles per hour (286.956 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 40.380 | 178.306 |
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 40.398 | 178.227 |
| 3 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | 40.441 | 178.037 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, February 23, at 1:30 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. While positions 1-42 would be determined by qualifying speed, the top 35 teams in owner's points would be assured that they would earn a spot in the field if they had managed to make an effort to qualify. The remaining seven positions from positions 36-42 would be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position, position 43, can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past NASCAR Nextel Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline. In the case that iff there was more than one series champion vying for the position, it would be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 38.765 and an average speed of 185.735 miles per hour (298.912 km/h).
Eight drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.765 | 185.735 |
| 2 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 38.810 | 185.519 |
| 3 | 01 | Mark Martin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 38.814 | 185.500 |
| 4 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.830 | 185.424 |
| 5 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.834 | 185.404 |
| 6 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.960 | 184.805 |
| 7 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.009 | 184.573 |
| 8 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.058 | 184.341 |
| 9 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 39.084 | 184.219 |
| 10 | 25 | Casey Mears | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.098 | 184.153 |
| 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 39.099 | 184.148 |
| 12 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.101 | 184.139 |
| 13 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 39.145 | 183.932 |
| 14 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 39.146 | 183.927 |
| 15 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | 39.162 | 183.852 |
| 16 | 66 | Jeff Green | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 39.184 | 183.749 |
| 17 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 39.205 | 183.650 |
| 18 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 39.210 | 183.627 |
| 19 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 39.230 | 183.533 |
| 20 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 39.244 | 183.467 |
| 21 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 39.266 | 183.365 |
| 22 | 15 | Paul Menard (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.275 | 183.323 |
| 23 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.280 | 183.299 |
| 24 | 40 | David Stremme | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 39.315 | 183.136 |
| 25 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 39.359 | 182.932 |
| 26 | 13 | Joe Nemechek | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 39.372 | 182.871 |
| 27 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 39.375 | 182.857 |
| 28 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 39.404 | 182.723 |
| 29 | 18 | J. J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 39.422 | 182.639 |
| 30 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 39.428 | 182.611 |
| 31 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 39.432 | 182.593 |
| 32 | 37 | John Andretti | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | 39.452 | 182.500 |
| 33 | 00 | David Reutimann (R) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 39.467 | 182.431 |
| 34 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.541 | 182.089 |
| 35 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 39.572 | 181.947 |
| 36 | 21 | Ken Schrader | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 39.629 | 181.685 |
| 37 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 39.630 | 181.680 |
| 38 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 39.647 | 181.603 |
| 39 | 6 | David Ragan (R) | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 39.664 | 181.525 |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||
| 40 | 38 | David Gilliland | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.687 | 181.420 |
| 41 | 96 | Tony Raines | Hall of Fame Racing | Chevrolet | 39.697 | 181.374 |
| 42 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford | 39.953 | 180.212 |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | - | - |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 39.500 | 182.279 |
| 45 | 4 | Ward Burton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.555 | 182.025 |
| 46 | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 39.555 | 182.025 |
| 47 | 84 | A. J. Allmendinger (R) | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | 39.561 | 181.997 |
| 48 | 72 | Brandon Whitt | CJM Racing | Chevrolet | 39.801 | 180.900 |
| 49 | 49 | Mike Bliss | BAM Racing | Dodge | 39.849 | 180.682 |
| 50 | 78 | Kenny Wallace | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | 40.200 | 179.105 |
| 51 | 34 | Kevin Lepage | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | - | - |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 25 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 250 | 133 | running | 195 | $342,316 |
| 2 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 2 | running | 175 | $249,011 |
| 3 | 23 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 31 | running | 170 | $212,811 |
| 4 | 8 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 18 | running | 165 | $173,441 |
| 5 | 3 | 01 | Mark Martin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 1 | running | 160 | $171,708 |
| 6 | 6 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 2 | running | 155 | $119,875 |
| 7 | 18 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 250 | 0 | running | 146 | $140,583 |
| 8 | 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 28 | running | 147 | $148,161 |
| 9 | 12 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 9 | running | 143 | $109,525 |
| 10 | 15 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | 250 | 0 | running | 134 | $94,400 |
| 11 | 17 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 130 | $116,800 |
| 12 | 19 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 250 | 0 | running | 127 | $128,275 |
| 13 | 29 | 18 | J. J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 124 | $124,958 |
| 14 | 26 | 13 | Joe Nemechek | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 121 | $90,450 |
| 15 | 13 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 250 | 2 | running | 123 | $108,400 |
| 16 | 39 | 6 | David Ragan (R) | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 250 | 0 | running | 115 | $130,075 |
| 17 | 4 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 3 | running | 117 | $136,786 |
| 18 | 31 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 249 | 0 | running | 109 | $87,450 |
| 19 | 24 | 40 | David Stremme | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 249 | 0 | running | 106 | $90,850 |
| 20 | 22 | 15 | Paul Menard (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 249 | 0 | running | 103 | $87,850 |
| 21 | 42 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford | 249 | 0 | running | 100 | $90,700 |
| 22 | 37 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 249 | 1 | running | 102 | $104,908 |
| 23 | 41 | 96 | Tony Raines | Hall of Fame Racing | Chevrolet | 249 | 0 | running | 94 | $99,500 |
| 24 | 38 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 248 | 0 | running | 91 | $105,670 |
| 25 | 40 | 38 | David Gilliland | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 248 | 0 | running | 88 | $114,314 |
| 26 | 9 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 248 | 0 | running | 85 | $120,475 |
| 27 | 34 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 248 | 0 | running | 82 | $116,233 |
| 28 | 28 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 248 | 0 | running | 79 | $121,436 |
| 29 | 21 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 247 | 0 | running | 76 | $92,200 |
| 30 | 16 | 66 | Jeff Green | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 247 | 0 | running | 73 | $106,608 |
| 31 | 10 | 25 | Casey Mears | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 246 | 0 | running | 70 | $91,275 |
| 32 | 43 | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 246 | 0 | running | 67 | $80,575 |
| 33 | 33 | 00 | David Reutimann (R) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 239 | 0 | accident | 64 | $92,958 |
| 34 | 32 | 37 | John Andretti | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | 220 | 0 | electrical | 61 | $80,150 |
| 35 | 27 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | electrical | 58 | $89,472 |
| 36 | 36 | 21 | Ken Schrader | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 160 | 0 | engine | 55 | $98,989 |
| 37 | 35 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 134 | 0 | running | 52 | $87,550 |
| 38 | 2 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 129 | 20 | engine | 54 | $137,991 |
| 39 | 14 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 112 | 0 | engine | 46 | $87,180 |
| 40 | 5 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 74 | 0 | engine | 43 | $124,433 |
| 41 | 30 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 16 | 0 | accident | 40 | $86,900 |
| 42 | 7 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 14 | 0 | engine | 37 | $105,155 |
| 43 | 20 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 7 | 0 | accident | 34 | $86,963 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | | | | | |
| 45 | | 4 | Ward Burton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | | | | | |
| 47 | | 84 | A. J. Allmendinger (R) | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | | | | | |
| 48 | | 72 | Brandon Whitt | CJM Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 49 | | 49 | Mike Bliss | BAM Racing | Dodge | | | | | |
| 50 | | 78 | Kenny Wallace | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 51 | | 34 | Kevin Lepage | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Martin | 335 |
| 1 | 2 | Jeff Burton | 330 (-5) |
| 5 | 3 | Jeff Gordon | 309 (-26) |
| 3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | 307 (–28) |
| | 5 | David Ragan | 270 (–65) |
| 10 | 6 | Clint Bowyer | 264 (–71) |
| | 7 | Joe Nemechek | 259 (–76) |
| 2 | 8 | J. J. Yeley | 251 (–84) |
| 13 | 9 | Kyle Busch | 239 (–96) |
| 1 | 10 | David Stremme | 236 (–99) |
| 5 | 11 | David Gilliland | 235 (–100) |
| 28 | 12 | Matt Kenseth | 232 (–103) |
| Official driver's standings ||||