2007 Coca-Cola 600
Encyclopedia
The 2007 edition of the Coca-Cola 600
, the twelfth race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season was held on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
in Concord, North Carolina
, a suburb of Charlotte
. This race is the longest by distance on the NASCAR calendar, and for the last decade and a half, has started in the late afternoon and ended at night under the lights.
Previously, this race had gone head-to-head against another famous automobile race held during the Memorial Day
weekend in the United States, the Indianapolis 500
. (However, the end of the Indy 500 and the start of this race were held simultaneously in 2007, due to a three-hour delay due to rain at "the Brickyard
.")
winning the pole position with a lap speed of 185.312 miles per hour. It was Newman's sixth pole on this track. Teammate Kurt Busch
had the second-fastest lap. Both Red Bull Racing
cars qualified for the same race for the third time, putting Brian Vickers
and A.J. Allmendinger in the field. Michael Waltrip
failed to qualify for the 11th straight race.
won for the first time as a NEXTEL Cup driver, followed by J.J. Yeley (best career Cup finish), Kyle Petty
(first top-five finish since 1997), Reed Sorenson
(best career Cup finish), and Brian Vickers
(first top-5 ever for Toyota's Cup racing program). All the cars stayed on the track because of adequate fuel mileage, while other contenders like Tony Stewart
, Jimmie Johnson
, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
had to refuel at the end, hoping that the others would run out before the checkered flag.
On lap 54, there was an accident involving 12 cars, including all-star race
winner Kevin Harvick
, Martin Truex, Jr. and Johnny Sauter
. On lap 62, points leader Jeff Gordon
had a hard crash when Tony Raines
ran into him and he spun into the infield. Coming back up the track, he was hit by A.J. Allmendinger and it jacked his car up in the air as it hit the wall. Gordon failed to finish this race for the fifth straight year, and his points lead over Johnson dropped to 132 points.
It was Darian Grubb
's third NEXTEL Cup victory, but the first as a full-time crew chief. Grubb had won two races in 2006 at the #48 when Chad Knaus
was ejected, and subsequently suspended, for violations at the Daytona 500.
Top ten results:
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
, the twelfth race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season was held on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
in Concord, North Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
, a suburb of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. This race is the longest by distance on the NASCAR calendar, and for the last decade and a half, has started in the late afternoon and ended at night under the lights.
Previously, this race had gone head-to-head against another famous automobile race held during the Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend in the United States, the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
. (However, the end of the Indy 500 and the start of this race were held simultaneously in 2007, due to a three-hour delay due to rain at "the Brickyard
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
.")
Qualifying
Qualifying took place on the Thursday night before this race with Ryan NewmanRyan Newman
Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
winning the pole position with a lap speed of 185.312 miles per hour. It was Newman's sixth pole on this track. Teammate Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
had the second-fastest lap. Both Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is a Formula One racing team based in Milton Keynes, England which currently holds an Austrian licence. It is, along with Scuderia Toro Rosso, one of two teams owned by beverage company Red Bull GmbH. The team have won two Constructors' Championship titles, in and , becoming the...
cars qualified for the same race for the third time, putting Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
and A.J. Allmendinger in the field. Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
failed to qualify for the 11th straight race.
The race
Casey MearsCasey Mears
Casey James Mears is the driver of the #13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a former winner of the Coca-Cola 600....
won for the first time as a NEXTEL Cup driver, followed by J.J. Yeley (best career Cup finish), Kyle Petty
Kyle Petty
Kyle Eugene Petty is a former American NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts which are both on SPEED. He also commentates for TNT in the summer. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam...
(first top-five finish since 1997), Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson
Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series...
(best career Cup finish), and Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
(first top-5 ever for Toyota's Cup racing program). All the cars stayed on the track because of adequate fuel mileage, while other contenders like Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
, Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
had to refuel at the end, hoping that the others would run out before the checkered flag.
On lap 54, there was an accident involving 12 cars, including all-star race
2007 NEXTEL All-Star Challenge
The 2007 NEXTEL Open and NEXTEL All-Star Challenge was held on Saturday, May 19, 2007 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte...
winner Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
, Martin Truex, Jr. and Johnny Sauter
Johnny Sauter
Johnathan Joseph Sauter is a NASCAR driver from Wisconsin. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Tim Sauter and Jay Sauter...
. On lap 62, points leader Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
had a hard crash when Tony Raines
Tony Raines
Floyd Anthony Raines is an American race car driver. He is a former National Touring Series champion in the now defunct American Speed Association and 1999 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
ran into him and he spun into the infield. Coming back up the track, he was hit by A.J. Allmendinger and it jacked his car up in the air as it hit the wall. Gordon failed to finish this race for the fifth straight year, and his points lead over Johnson dropped to 132 points.
It was Darian Grubb
Darian Grubb
Darian Grubb was a NASCAR mechanic and crew chief for Stewart-Haas Racing's No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala driven by Tony Stewart. Before being employed at Stewart Haas Racing, Grubb worked for Hendrick Motorsports as an assistant and filled in as Jimmie Johnson's crew chief during...
's third NEXTEL Cup victory, but the first as a full-time crew chief. Grubb had won two races in 2006 at the #48 when Chad Knaus
Chad Knaus
Chad Anthony Knaus is the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief for Jimmie Johnson. He is currently employed at Hendrick Motorsports. Knaus has 52 victories as Jimmie Johnson's crew chief and is the only NASCAR crew chief to win five consecutive championships. He has been a crew chief in...
was ejected, and subsequently suspended, for violations at the Daytona 500.
Top ten results:
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | #25 | Casey Mears Casey Mears Casey James Mears is the driver of the #13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a former winner of the Coca-Cola 600.... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
| 2. | #18 | J.J. Yeley | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Joe Gibbs Racing is a group of NASCAR racing teams owned and operated by former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who first started racing on the NASCAR circuit in 1991, and J. D. Gibbs, his son... |
| 3. | #45 | Kyle Petty Kyle Petty Kyle Eugene Petty is a former American NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts which are both on SPEED. He also commentates for TNT in the summer. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam... |
Dodge Dodge Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide.... |
Petty Enterprises Petty Enterprises Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from... |
| 4. | #41 | Reed Sorenson Reed Sorenson Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series... |
Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships... |
| 5. | #83 | Brian Vickers Brian Vickers Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series... |
Toyota | Team Red Bull Team Red Bull Red Bull Racing Team, also known as Team Red Bull, is a NASCAR team owned by Dietrich Mateschitz. The team is based in Mooresville, North Carolina in the United States and is managed by Jay Frye... |
| 6. | #20 | Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart... |
Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 7. | #88 | Ricky Rudd Ricky Rudd Ricky Rudd is a former American NASCAR driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and Nationwide Series driver Jason Rudd. Rudd is known as the "Iron Man" of NASCAR; holding the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Rudd had made 788... |
Ford | Robert Yates Racing |
| 8. | #8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt Incorporated |
| 9. | #11 | Denny Hamlin Denny Hamlin James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract... |
Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 10. | #48 | Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.... |
Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |