2007 Daytona 500
The 2007 Daytona 500 was a Nextel Cup (now Sprint Cup) event held at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2007. It was the season opener. It was a thrilling yet controversial finish. Mark Martin, 0-for-23 and likely making his final start in NASCAR's biggest race, led coming into Turn Three on the final lap. But Kevin Harvick shot out of nowhere with Harvick and Martin side-by-side exiting turn four. After that, a massive crash exploded behind the duo. Should the caution have been thrown out, as NASCAR "gray area" rules usually dictate, Martin would have been declared the winner. But NASCAR, in a rare decision, waited until the duo crossed the finish line. Instead of Martin, it was Harvick winning by .02 seconds.
| 2007 Daytona 500 | |
| General info | |
|---|---|
| Series | NEXTEL Cup Series |
| Location | Daytona International Speedway |
| Date | February 18, 2007 |
| Qualifying | |
| Pole Sitter | David Gilliland |
| Pole Speed | 186.32 mph |
| Race Data | |
| Winner | Kevin Harvick |
| Margin of Victory | 0.02 seconds |
| Average Speed | 149.333 mph |
| Cautions | 7 for 25 laps |
| Points Leader | Kevin Harvick (+15) |
Qualifying notes[]
Robert Yates Racing returned to its former dominating self this weekend, as David Gilliland qualified on the pole in his first ever attempt at the hallowed speedway at 186.32 mph. His teammate Ricky Rudd, himself returning to the sport after a year-long absence, joined him on the front row. Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon won the Twin Duel qualifying races, although Gordon would be sent to the rear of the 500 starting grid due to a rules violation.
The following drivers failed to qualify for the race: Jeremy Mayfield (#36), Mike Skinner (#23), Regan Smith (#39), Ward Burton (#4), Paul Menard (#15), A.J. Allmendinger (#84), Kevin Lepage (#34), Bill Elliott (#37), Brian Vickers (#83), Kenny Wallace (#78), Frank Kimmel (#71), Mike Bliss (#49), Eric McClure (#04), Stanton Barrett (#30), Kirk Shelmerdine (#27), Brandon Whitt (#72), Derrike Cope (#74), James Hylton (#58)
Additional race data[]
- Leaders: 9
- Time of race: 3:22:55
- Average Speed: 149.333 mph
- Margin of Victory: .020 sec
- Most Spots Improved: Kevin Harvick (+33)
- This was the first that Toyota competed in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Points Race (Not counting the Budweiser Shootout). It was represented in this race by Bill Davis Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing. Another Toyota team, Team Red Bull, attempted the race, but both of its entries did not make the field.
- Mark Martin, for the first time in nineteen years, raced for an owner not named Jack Roush. He had joined Ginn Racing to run a part-time schedule at the start of the 2007 season.
Results[]
| Finish | Start | No. | Name | Sponsor | Make | Laps | Laps Lead | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 34 |  |
Kevin Harvick | Shell/Pennzoil | Chevrolet | 202 | 4 | running |
| 2 | 26 |  |
Mark Martin | U.S. Army | Chevrolet | 202 | 26 | running |
| 3 | 7 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Cingular Wireless | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 4 | 22 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Miccosukee Resorts | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 5 | 35 | 6 | David Ragan (R) | AAA | Ford | 202 | 0 | running |
| 6 | 30 |  |
Elliott Sadler | Dodge Dealers/UAW | Dodge | 202 | 0 | running |
| 7 | 28 |  |
Kasey Kahne | Dodge Dealers/UAW | Dodge | 202 | 0 | running |
| 8 | 1 |  |
David Gilliland | M&M's | Ford | 202 | 18 | running |
| 9 | 18 |  |
Joe Nemechek | CertainTeed/Ginn Resorts | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 10 | 42 |  |
Jeff Gordon (W) | DuPont | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 11 | 16 | 40 | David Stremme | Coors Light | Dodge | 202 | 0 | running |
| 12 | 12 | 18 | J.J. Yeley | Interstate Batteries | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 13 | 33 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Target | Dodge | 202 | 0 | running |
| 14 | 23 | 60 | Boris Said | SoBe No Fear Energy Drink | Ford | 202 | 0 | running |
| 15 | 39 |  |
Robby Gordon | Jim Beam | Ford | 202 | 0 | running |
| 16 | 41 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Yellow Transportation/Haas | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 17 | 38 | 14 | Sterling Marlin (W) | Waste Management | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 18 | 11 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Jack Daniel's | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 19 | 36 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Texaco/Havoline | Dodge | 202 | 0 | running |
| 20 | 17 | 25 | Casey Mears | National Guard/GMAC | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 | running |
| 21 | 27 |  |
Bobby Labonte | Cheerios/Betty Crocker | Dodge | 202 | 0 | running |
| 22 | 43 | 44 | Dale Jarrett (W) | UPS | Toyota | 202 | 0 | running |
| 23 | 14 |  |
Carl Edwards | Office Depot | Ford | 202 | 0 | running |
| 24 | 8 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Carquest/Kellogg's | Chevrolet | 202 | 4 | running |
| 25 | 25 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ameriquest | Ford | 202 | 0 | running |
| 26 | 2 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Snickers | Ford | 202 | 0 | running |
| 27 | 10 |  |
Matt Kenseth | DeWalt | Ford | 202 | 6 | running |
| 28 | 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | FedEx Express | Chevrolet | 201 | 0 | running |
| 29 | 13 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats | Chevrolet | 201 | 13 | running |
| 30 | 15 | 55 | Michael Waltrip (R) | NAPA Auto Parts | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running |
| 31 | 24 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Crown Royal | Ford | 195 | 0 | accident |
| 32 | 5 |  |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (W) | Budweiser | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | accident |
| 33 | 20 | 96 | Tony Raines | DLP HDTV | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | running |
| 34 | 37 |  |
Dave Blaney | Caterpillar | Toyota | 186 | 0 | parked |
| 35 | 19 |  |
Ken Schrader | Little Debbie Snack Cakes | Ford | 185 | 0 | accident |
| 36 | 31 | 66 | Jeff Green | Best Buy/Haas Automation | Chevrolet | 181 | 0 | running |
| 37 | 32 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Valvoline/Stanley Tools | Dodge | 179 | 0 | running |
| 38 | 16 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Alltel | Dodge | 175 | 1 | engine |
| 39 | 21 |  |
Jimmie Johnson (W) | Lowe's | Chevrolet | 173 | 0 | accident |
| 40 | 40 | 00 | David Reutimann (R) | Domino's | Toyota | 173 | 0 | accident |
| 41 | 4 |  |
Kurt Busch | Miller Lite | Dodge | 166 | 95 | running |
| 42 | 29 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Wells Fargo | Dodge | 160 | 0 | running |
| 43 | 3 |  |
Tony Stewart | The Home Depot | Chevrolet | 152 | 35 | accident |
- (R) - Denotes rookie driver
- (W) - Denotes former winner
Points[]
- Kevin Harvick 190
- Mark Martin -15
- Jeff Burton -25
- Mike Wallace -30
- David Ragan -35
- David Gilliland -43
- Joe Nemechek -52
- Jeff Gordon -56
- David Stremme -60
- J.J. Yeley -63
- Elliott Sadler -65
- Reed Sorenson -66
- Boris Said -69
- Robby Gordon -72
- Johnny Sauter -75
- Sterling Marlin -78
- Clint Bowyer -81
- Juan Pablo Montoya -84
- Casey Mears -87
- Bobby Labonte -90
- Dale Jarrett -93
- Kasey Kahne -94
- Kyle Busch -94
- Carl Edwards -96
- Greg Biffle -102
- Ricky Rudd -105
- Martin Truex Jr. -109
- Denny Hamlin -111
- Jamie McMurray -120
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -123
- Tony Raines -126
- Dave Blaney -129
- Ken Schrader -132
- Jeff Green -135
- Ryan Newman -136
- Kurt Busch -140
- Jimmie Johnson -144
- David Reutimann -147
- Tony Stewart -151
- Matt Kenseth -153
- Kyle Petty -153
- Scott Riggs -163
- Michael Waltrip -217
External links[]
| Preceded by: 2007 Budweiser Shootout |
NEXTEL Cup Series Races 2007 |
Succeeded by:<br./>2007 Auto Club 500 |