Sixteen drivers have won NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races this season, including all 12 drivers participating in The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. The lead in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup has changed hands following each of the Chase races. Jimmie Johnson led the Chase out of New Hampshire, Jeff Gordon took the lead following Dover and Johnson returned to the top spot after Kansas. Gordon bounced back into the lead with his victory at Talladega.
2007 Season Highlights
• At Talladega, Jeff Gordon won his 77th career race, breaking a tie with Dale Earnhardt for sixth on the all-time win list. Gordon had tied Earnhardt’s mark of 76 wins the prior week in Phoenix.
• Hendrick Motorsports posted five consecutive victories (Phoenix through Charlotte), the first time since 1971 that an organization had won five straight.
• Three drivers have posted career first victories: Casey Mears, Martin Truex Jr. and Juan Pablo Montoya. With his win at Infineon Raceway, Montoya, from Colombia, became the first foreign-born race winner since Canadian Earl Ross in 1974.
All-time Record
Jeff Gordon, with his victory at Talladega, became the all-time leader in restrictor plate wins with 12. He broke a tie with Dale Earnhardt, who had 11.
The following pages contain reviews and analysis of various statistical data which impacts the ongoing standings and the eventual goal of winning the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship.
Qualifying
• There have been 15 different Bud Pole winners, led by Jeff Gordon (six) and Ryan Newman (four). Qualifying was canceled at Texas, second Daytona and Watkins Glen due to inclement weather.
• There has been a first-time Bud Pole winner each season since 1987 – 21 consecutive years.
• Ryan Newman’s pole at Atlanta ended a streak of 20 races without a pole – the longest of his career.
• Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson lead all other drivers, each with 18 top-10 starts this season.
• Every pole winner has led a lap in the race in which he won the pole except for J. J. Yeley at the second Michigan race.
The Races
• There have been 16 different race winners, led by Jimmie Johnson (six).
• There have been four first-time race winners this season: Casey Mears, Martin Truex Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya and Clint Bowyer.
• There have been back-to-back victories four times this season:
Jimmie Johnson (Las Vegas and Atlanta) and (California and Richmond)
Jeff Gordon (Phoenix and Talladega)
Tony Stewart (Chicago and Indianapolis).
• There has been two season sweeps this season: Jimmie Johnson (Richmond) and Jeff Gordon (Talladega).
• Four races have been won from the pole in 2007: Phoenix (Jeff Gordon), first Talladega (Jeff Gordon), second Richmond (Jimmie Johnson) and second New Hampshire (Clint Bowyer).
• Jeff Gordon has posted 18 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes – both more than any other driver. • There have been four final lap passes for the victory this season – three in restrictor-plate races: both Daytonas, Texas and second Talladega.
Sweeps
• There have been 156 season sweeps on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.
• Jimmie Johnson swept both races at Richmond this season – his seventh career season sweep. Johnson has posted at least one season sweep in five of the last six seasons (he did not sweep a track in 2006).
• Jeff Gordon swept Talladega, just the seventh time a driver has won both races in a season at Talladega.
First-Timers
Start Pole Win
Aric Almirola (Las Vegas) Clint Bowyer (Darlington) Casey Mears (Charlotte)
Jon Wood (Las Vegas) J. J. Yeley (Michigan) Martin Truex Jr. (Dover)
AJ Allmendinger (Bristol) Reed Sorenson (Indianapolis) Juan Pablo Montoya (Sonoma)
Regan Smith (Bristol) Clint Bowyer (New Hampshire)
Chad McCumbee (Pocono)
Patrick Carpentier (Watkins Glen)
Jacques Villeneuve (Talladega)
Laps Led Top 10 in Points
David Ragan (Talladega) David Ragan (Daytona)
Juan Pablo Montoya (Sonoma) Martin Truex Jr. (Michigan)
Patrick Carpentier (Watkins Glen)
David Reutimann (California)
The Bud Pole Winner/Race Winner
• The Bud Pole winner (or driver that started first in cases of no qualifying) finishing position:
First 4
2nd-5th 8
6th-10th 3
11th-30th 6
31st or beyond 3
• The lap-leader performance of the Bud Pole winner (or driver that started first in cases of no qualifying):
Led First Lap 22
Led at All 29
Led Most Laps 6
Won Race 4
• The race winner’s starting positions:
Bud Pole 4
Top -Five 6
6th-10th 3
11th-30th 14
31st or beyond 3
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