This past Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway was the fifth of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. That meant the event had significance far beyond the fact that it was the first-ever race for the Car of Tomorrow.
For the first five races of a new season, the weekly guaranteed starting spots for the top 35 teams in car owner point standings are based on the previous season’s final point standings. After five races, the “locked-in” spots are based on current car owner points, creating a weekly drama for teams on the “bubble. ” Coming out of Bristol, the 35th and final guaranteed berth this week goes to the No. 70 Yellow Transportation Chevrolet owned by Gene Haas and driven by Johnny Sauter. There are some incredibly notable entries giving chase, testament to the increasingly competitive environment in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
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