The 2007 Aaron's 499 was the ninth race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Season, and was run on April 29, 2007, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. This race was the second of the four restrictor plate races on the NASCAR schedule.

2007 Aaron's 499
Race details
Race 9 of 36 in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season
2007 Aaron's 499 program cover
2007 Aaron's 499 program cover
Date April 29, 2007 (2007-April-29)
Official name Aaron's 499
Location Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Distance 192 laps, 510.72 mi (821.924 km)
Scheduled Distance 188 laps, 500.08 mi (804.8 km)
Weather Temperatures reaching up to 82 °F (28 °C); average wind speeds of 8.9 miles per hour (14.3 km/h)[1]
Average speed 154.167 miles per hour (248.108 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 49.857
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 71
Winner
No. 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network Fox Broadcasting Company
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds

Jeff Gordon won this race to pass Dale Earnhardt on the all-time NASCAR list at 77 wins. After he crossed the checkered flag, some spectators threw bottles, cans, and even toilet paper at the #24 car he drove for Hendrick Motorsports. As a result of this incident, in spite of warnings before the race by NASCAR and organizers, a total of 14 people were arrested, and Talladega management revoked their ticket-buying privileges. However, a loophole was later discovered through which these banned fans could buy tickets from third-party ticket brokers, such as StubHub. The race's other top finishers included Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, David Gilliland, and Jamie McMurray in that order.

The race ended with an aborted green-white-checkered finish. Several cars were involved, including Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, McMurray, and Gilliland. Harvick and McMurray were later fined $25,000 and placed on probation for their actions during this accident.[2] The finish had been triggered by an engine failure in the #00 car driven by David Reutimann.

Entry list

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Car #[3] Driver Hometown Make Owner/Team[4] Crew Chief
00 David Reutimann (R) Zephyrhills, FL Toyota Michael Waltrip
01 Regan Smith Cato, NY Chevrolet Bobby Ginn
1 Martin Truex Jr Mayetta, NJ Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
2 Kurt Busch Las Vegas, NV Dodge Roger Penske
4 Ward Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet Larry McClure
5 Kyle Busch Las Vegas, NV Chevrolet Rick Hendrick
6 David Ragan (R) Unadilla, GA Ford Jack Roush
07 Clint Bowyer Emporia, KS Chevrolet Richard Childress
7 Robby Gordon Bellflower, CA Ford Robby Gordon
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr Kannapolis, NC Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
9 Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA Dodge Ray Evernham
09 Mike Wallace St. Louis, MO Chevrolet James Finch
10 Scott Riggs Bahama, NC Dodge James Rocco
11 Denny Hamlin Chesterfield, VA Chevrolet Joe Gibbs
12 Ryan Newman South Bend, IN Dodge Roger Penske
13 Joe Nemechek Lakeland, FL Chevrolet Bobby Ginn
14 Sterling Marlin Columbia, TN Chevrolet Bobby Ginn
15 Paul Menard (R) Eau Claire, WI Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
16 Greg Biffle Vancouver, WA Ford Jack Roush
17 Matt Kenseth Cambridge, WI Ford Jack Roush
18 J.J. Yeley Phoenix, AZ Chevrolet Joe Gibbs
19 Elliott Sadler Emporia, VA Dodge Ray Evernham
20 Tony Stewart Rushville, IN Chevrolet Joe Gibbs
21 Ken Schrader Fenton, MO Ford Wood Brothers
22 Dave Blaney Hartford, OH Toyota Bill Davis
24 Jeff Gordon Vallejo, CA Chevrolet Rick Hendrick
25 Casey Mears Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet Rick Hendrick
26 Jamie McMurray Joplin, MO Ford Jack Roush
29 Kevin Harvick Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet Richard Childress
31 Jeff Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet Richard Childress
34 Kevin Lepage Shelburne, VT Dodge Bob Jenkins
36 Jeremy Mayfield Owensboro, KY Toyota Bill Davis
37 John Andretti Bethlehem, PA Dodge Bob Jenkins
38 David Gilliland (R) Riverside, CA Ford Yates Racing
40 David Stremme South Bend, IN Dodge Chip Ganassi
41 Reed Sorenson Peachtree City, GA Dodge Chip Ganassi
42 Juan Pablo Montoya (R) Bogota, Colombia Dodge Chip Ganassi
43 Bobby Labonte Corpus Christi, TX Dodge Petty Enterprises
44 Dale Jarrett Hickory, NC Toyota Michael Waltrip
45 Kyle Petty Trinity, NC Dodge Petty Enterprises
48 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon, CA Chevrolet Rick Hendrick
49 Mike Bliss Milwaukie, OR Dodge Beth Ann Morgenthau
55 Michael Waltrip Owensboro, KY Toyota Michael Waltrip
60 Boris Said New York, NY Ford Mark Simo
66 Jeff Green Owensboro, KY Chevrolet Gene Haas
70 Johnny Sauter Necedah, WI Chevrolet Gene Haas
78 Kenny Wallace St. Louis, MO Chevrolet Barney Visser
83 Brian Vickers Thomasville, NC Toyota Dietrich Mateschitz
84 AJ Allmendinger (R) Los Gatos, CA Toyota Dietrich Mateschitz
88 Ricky Rudd Chesapeake, VA Ford Yates Racing
96 Tony Raines LaPorte, IN Chevrolet Bill Saunders
99 Carl Edwards Columbia, MO Ford Jack Roush

Qualifying

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In qualifying, both Jeff Gordon and David Gilliland would tie for having the same time. The pole was given to Jeff Gordon, who had more owners points.

Pos[5][6] Car # Driver Make Team Speed Time Behind
1 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 192.069 49.857 0.000
2 38 David Gilliland (R) Ford Robert Yates Racing 192.069 49.857 0.000
3 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing 191.551 49.992 -0.135
4 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Ginn Racing 191.023 50.130 -0.273
5 88 Ricky Rudd Ford Robert Yates Racing 190.924 50.156 -0.299
6 78 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing 190.909 50.160 -0.303
7 25 Casey Mears Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 190.787 50.192 -0.335
8 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 190.757 50.200 -0.343
9 10 Scott Riggs Dodge Evernham Motorsports 190.465 50.277 -0.420
10 6 David Ragan (R) Ford Roush Racing 190.393 50.296 -0.439
11 60 Boris Said Ford No Fear Racing 190.393 50.296 -0.439
12 16 Greg Biffle Ford Roush Racing 190.306 50.319 -0.462
13 5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 190.234 50.338 -0.481
14 00 David Reutimann (R) Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing 190.204 50.346 -0.489
15 4 Ward Burton Chevrolet Morgan McClure Motorsport 190.177 50.353 -0.496
16 99 Carl Edwards Ford Roush Racing 190.162 50.357 -0.500
17 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Racing 190.151 50.360 -0.503
18 36 Jeremy Mayfield Toyota Bill Davis Racing 190.098 50.374 -0.517
19 15 Paul Menard (R) Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Inc. 190.079 50.379 -0.522
20 40 David Stremme Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 189.974 50.407 -0.550
21 70 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet Haas CNC Racing 189.940 50.416 -0.559
22 01 Regan Smith Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Inc. 189.785 50.457 -0.600
23 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Petty Enterprises 189.714 50.476 -0.619
24 42 Juan Pablo Montoya (R) Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 189.665 50.489 -0.632
25 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Roush Racing 189.639 50.496 -0.639
26 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Penske Racing 189.635 50.497 -0.640
27 96 Tony Raines Chevrolet Hall of Fame Racing 189.598 50.507 -0.650
28 12 Ryan Newman Dodge Penske Racing 189.429 50.552 -0.695
29 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 189.223 50.607 -0.750
30 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Evernham Motorsports 188.935 50.684 -0.827
31 18 JJ Yeley Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing 188.872 50.701 -0.844
32 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing 188.675 50.754 -0.897
33 13 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet Ginn Racing 188.493 50.803 -0.946
34 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet Haas CNC Racing 188.448 50.815 -0.958
35 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Petty Enterprises 188.422 50.822 -0.965
36 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Inc. 188.389 50.831 -0.974
37 1 Martin Truex Jr Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Inc. 188.370 50.836 -0.979
38 7 Robby Gordon Ford Robby Gordon Motorsport 188.304 50.854 -0.997
39 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Evernham Motorsports 187.313 51.123 -1.266
40 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 187.101 51.181 -1.324
41 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 186.882 51.241 -1.384
42 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 186.579 51.324 -1.467
43 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing 51.581
Failed to qualify
44 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing 50.388
45 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull Racing 50.406
46 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Bill Davis Racing 50.526
47 84 A.J. Allmendinger (R) Toyota Red Bull Racing 50.527
48 21 Ken Schrader Ford Wood Brothers Racing 50.636
49 09 Mike Wallace Chevrolet Phoenix Racing 50.667
50 34 Kevin Lepage Dodge Front Row Motorsprots 50.834
51 37 John Andretti Dodge Front Row Motorsprots 50.860
52 49 Mike Bliss Dodge BAM Racing 50.942

Race recap

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Race results

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W (*) denotes Rookie of the Year candidate.

Fin[7] St # Driver Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 24 Jeff Gordon Chevy 192 71 running 195 $355,511
2 8 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy 192 12 running 175 $251,736
3 26 2 Kurt Busch Dodge 192 7 running 170 $212,483
4 2 38 David Gilliland (R) Ford 192 0 running 160 $182,689
5 25 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 192 2 running 160 $134,675
6 41 29 Kevin Harvick Chevy 192 0 running 150 $164,536
7 36 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy 192 2 running 151 $149,233
8 20 40 David Stremme Dodge 192 1 running 147 $106,025
9 28 12 Ryan Newman Dodge 192 0 running 138 $133,450
10 37 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevy 192 0 running 134 $126,495
11 9 10 Scott Riggs Dodge 192 0 running 130 $107,050
12 30 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge 192 5 running 132 $138,891
13 34 66 Jeff Green Chevy 192 3 running 129 $120,933
14 17 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 192 3 running 126 $137,641
15 39 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge 192 1 running 123 $110,770
16 4 14 Sterling Marlin Chevy 192 16 running 120 $107,983
17 10 6 David Ragan (R) Ford 192 2 running 117 $127,100
18 23 45 Kyle Petty Dodge 192 0 running 109 $103,083
19 31 18 J.J. Yeley Chevy 192 0 running 106 $116,033
20 35 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge 192 0 running 103 $127,111
21 3 11 Denny Hamlin Chevy 192 48 running 105 $102,550
22 27 96 Tony Raines Chevy 192 0 running 97 $96,425
23 18 36 Jeremy Mayfield Toyota 192 0 running 94 $83,075
24 22 01 Regan Smith Chevy 192 1 running 96 $104,258
25 29 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 192 0 running 88 $101,947
26 6 78 Kenny Wallace Chevy 192 2 running 90 $83,325
27 11 60 Boris Said Ford 191 1 running 87 $80,775
28 32 20 Tony Stewart Chevy 190 7 crash 84 $127,761
29 12 16 Greg Biffle Ford 190 1 crash 81 $97,025
30 21 70 Johnny Sauter Chevy 190 0 crash 73 $79,325
31 24 42 Juan Pablo Montoya (R) Dodge 187 0 running 70 $115,750
32 14 00 David Reutimann (R) Toyota 184 0 engine 67 $78,525
33 5 88 Ricky Rudd Ford 155 0 running 64 $110,458
34 42 31 Jeff Burton Chevy 151 2 running 66 $118,266
35 40 07 Clint Bowyer Chevy 147 0 running 58 $86,125
36 15 4 Ward Burton Chevy 144 0 engine 55 $78,725
37 13 5 Kyle Busch Chevy 130 0 crash 52 $95,800
38 33 13 Joe Nemechek Chevy 130 0 crash 49 $77,450
39 7 25 Casey Mears Chevy 124 5 crash 51 $85,250
40 43 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota 38 0 engine 43 $77,000
41 38 7 Robby Gordon Ford 33 0 engine 40 $76,800
42 16 99 Carl Edwards Ford 27 0 engine 37 $84,630
43 19 15 Paul Menard (R) Chevy 22 0 engine 34 $76,737
Failed to qualify
44 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota
45 83 Brian Vickers Toyota
46 22 Dave Blaney Toyota
47 84 A.J. Allmendinger (R) Toyota
48 21 Ken Schrader Ford
49 09 Mike Wallace Chevrolet
50 34 Kevin Lepage Dodge
51 37 John Andretti Dodge
52 49 Mike Bliss Dodge

Notes

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  • As mentioned, this was Gordon's 77th career win, which earned him sixth place all-time. The day before, he won his 60th career pole position, which surpassed Darrell Waltrip for the most in NASCAR's modern era (since 1971).
  • Gordon won on the anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's birthday and on a track on which he and his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. have won a combined total of 15 Sprint Cup Series races.
  • Despite posting the 20th-best overall lap, Michael Waltrip missed his eighth straight Cup race. That lap was only the eighth-fastest among those drivers having to qualify on time.[1] Archived 2007-04-29 at the Wayback Machine That would have been good enough to make the race, but Dale Jarrett, ironically a teammate at Michael Waltrip Racing, used a past champion's provisional, bumping Waltrip from the field.
  • Also missing from the field was Brian Vickers, who had been the most recent race winner at Talladega prior to this, at the 2006 UAW-Ford 500.
  • The #21 team owned by Wood Brothers/JTG Racing was absent from a Cup starting lineup for the first time since April 2000, also at Talladega. Ken Schrader, Mark Martin, and Michael Waltrip had been the only three drivers to qualify for all restrictor-plate races since NASCAR first placed them on cars at certain tracks in 1987. All those streaks ended that weekend (Martin was replaced in the #01 by Regan Smith).
  • Bill Davis Racing had a mixed weekend; Jeremy Mayfield made his first race outside of those using the Car of Tomorrow, but Dave Blaney missed his first race of the year.

References

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  1. ^ Weather information for the 2007 Aaron's 499at The Old Farmers' Almanac. Accessed 2013-06-19. 2013-06-21.
  2. ^ Smith, Marty (May 2, 2007). "Last-lap hits net fines for Harvick, McMurray". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  3. ^ "2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Aaron's 499 Entry List - Talladega Superspeedway". frcs.pro. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  4. ^ "Race Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  5. ^ "Aarons 499 Qualifying Results and Starting Lineup Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR 2007". NASCAR Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  6. ^ "Qualifying times: Aarons 499". Crash. 2007-04-29. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  7. ^ "2007 Aaron's 499". The Third Turn.
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2007 Subway Fresh Fit 500
Nextel Cup Series
2007 season
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