2007 Subway 500

2007 Subway 500

Race details
Race 32 of 36 in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season
The 2007 Subway 500 program cover, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the speedway opening.
Date	October 21, 2007 (2007-October-21)
Official name	Subway 500
Location	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia
Course	Permanent racing facility 0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Distance	506 laps, 266.156 mi (428.336 km)
Scheduled Distance	500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km)
Weather	Temperatures up to 82 °F (28 °C); wind speeds up to 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)[1]
Average speed	66.608 miles per hour (107.195 km/h)
Pole position
Driver	Jeff Gordon	Hendrick Motorsports
Time	19.938
Most laps led
Driver	Jeff Gordon	Hendrick Motorsports
Laps	168
Winner
No. 48	Jimmie Johnson	Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network	ABC
Announcers	Jerry Punch, Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree

The 2007 Subway 500, the 32nd race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season and the sixth race in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, ran on Sunday, October 21, 2007, at Martinsville Speedway, located on the outskirts of Martinsville, Virginia. This race was the fifteenth of sixteen series races to use NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow template, which will be made permanent as of the 2008 season.

An overview on Martinsville Speedway, from the bleachers on Turns 1 and 2.

The layout of Martinsville Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Background[]

Qualifying[]

With a lap of 19.938 seconds at a speed of 94.974 miles per hour, seven time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon took his sixth pole at the paperclip and 63rd of his career. Spring Martinsville winner Jimmie Johnson started fourth. South Boston natives Jeff and Ward Burton both struggled in qualifying, having to start 18th and 36th respectively. Chase contender Tony Stewart started 34th.

Race[]

The 2007 running of the race set a record for cautions in this race, with 21 yellow flags flying for 127 laps. The race was eventually decided under caution, when, during the green-white-checkers, David Ragan spun in turn number 1, ending the single attempt at a racing finish. With his third consecutive win at Martinsville, Johnson became the first driver since Rusty Wallace in 1994-1995 to win three straight races at the track.

Results[]

Points[]

Gordon's lead over Johnson in the standings was reduced to 58 points. (See 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup) for complete Chase standings).

For 35th place, and the last guaranteed starting spot, the #22 team (driver Dave Blaney for Bill Davis Racing) extended its lead over the #21 team (Bill Elliott for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing) to 142 points.[1]

References[]