The 2007 Pepsi 400 was the 18th race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and held on July 7, 2007, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2007 Pepsi 400
Race details
Race 18 of 36 in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season
The 2007 Pepsi 400 program cover, featuring Tony Stewart.
The 2007 Pepsi 400 program cover, featuring Tony Stewart.
Date July 7, 2007 (2007-July-07)
Official name Pepsi 400
Location Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4 km)
Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Weather Temperatures reaching up to 93.9 °F (34.4 °C); wind speeds approaching 13.0 miles per hour (20.9 km/h)[1]
Average speed 138.983 miles per hour (223.671 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 2007 Owner's Points
Most laps led
Driver Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing
Laps 55
Winner
No. 26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing
Television in the United States
Network Turner Network Television
Announcers Bill Weber, Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty

It was the final race at Daytona named the Pepsi 400; beginning in 2008, the race was sponsored by Coca-Cola's Coke Zero brand as the Coke Zero 400.

The layout of Daytona International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Background

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Entry list
#[2] Driver Team Make
00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
1 Martin Truex Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
01 Mark Martin Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing South Dodge
4 Ward Burton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
04 Eric McClure Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford
07 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge
09 Mike Wallace Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
10 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge
13 Joe Nemechek Ginn Racing Chevrolet
14 Sterling Marlin Ginn Racing Chevrolet
15 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 J.J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
19 Elliott Sadler Evernham Motorsports Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
21 Bill Elliott Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Toyota
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
25 Casey Mears Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Ford
27 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Chevrolet
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
36 Jeremy Mayfield Bill Davis Racing Toyota
37 Kevin Lepage Front Row Motorsports Dodge
38 David Gilliland Robert Yates Racing Ford
40 David Stremme Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
43 Bobby Labonte Petty Enterprises Dodge
44 Dale Jarrett Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
45 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
49 Larry Foyt BAM Racing Dodge
55 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
60 Boris Said No Fear Racing Ford
66 Jeff Green Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
70 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
84 A.J. Allmendinger Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
88 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford
96 Tony Raines Hall of Fame Racing Chevrolet
99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford

Qualifying

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Boris Said was on the pole with 14 cars left to qualify until a rainstorm stopped qualifying. Eventually, it was cancelled outright, sending home, among others, Said, Michael Waltrip, and Jeremy Mayfield who had each posted three of the six fastest attempts.

All times that were recorded were eliminated, and the starting lineup was set according to the NASCAR rule book. The pole sitter was Jeff Gordon, and Denny Hamlin sat on the outside. Ironically, this was the reverse of the previous week's finishing running order.

It was the first time in the speedway's history that a qualifying session was not completed, covering a total of 97 races. As a result of what happened, on January 21, 2008, NASCAR changed the rules that put those not in the Top 35 Owners' Points into a separate session in order to make the race, also called "The Boris Said Rule".

Starting lineup

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Pos.[2] # Driver Team Make
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
3 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford
4 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
6 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
7 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford
8 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 01 Mark Martin Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
10 1 Martin Truex Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
11 5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
12 07 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
13 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
14 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge
15 26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Ford
16 2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing South Dodge
17 18 J.J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
18 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford
19 43 Bobby Labonte Petty Enterprises Dodge
20 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
21 25 Casey Mears Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
22 19 Elliott Sadler Evernham Motorsports Dodge
23 96 Tony Raines Hall of Fame Racing Chevrolet
24 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford
25 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford
26 40 David Stremme Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
27 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge
28 41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
29 14 Sterling Marlin Ginn Racing Chevrolet
30 66 Jeff Green Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
31 88 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford
32 38 David Gilliland Robert Yates Racing Ford
33 13 Joe Nemechek Ginn Racing Chevrolet
34 45 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge
35 70 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
36 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
37 44 Dale Jarrett Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
38 21 Bill Elliott Wood Brothers Racing Ford
39 10 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge
40 22 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Toyota
41 15 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
42 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
43 78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
Failed to qualify
44 36 Jeremy Mayfield Bill Davis Racing Toyota
45 84 A.J. Allmendinger Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
46 49 Larry Foyt BAM Racing Dodge
47 55 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
48 37 Kevin Lepage Front Row Motorsports Dodge
49 4 Ward Burton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
50 60 Boris Said No Fear Racing Ford
51 09 Mike Wallace Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
52 04 Eric McClure Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
53 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Chevrolet

Race

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Jamie McMurray and Kyle Busch created one of the most memorable finishes, running side-by-side for nearly 32 laps. McMurray defeated Busch to win the Pepsi 400 and claim his second victory and end a 166-race winless streak that had spanned since 2002, when he won in only his second start while subbing for Sterling Marlin. The final margin of victory was .005 seconds, tied for the second-closest margin in NASCAR history since electronic scoring and timing was adopted in 1993. The other Top 5 finishers were Kurt Busch in third, Carl Edwards in fourth, and Jeff Gordon in fifth.

As at the Daytona 500, some of the sport's biggest stars struggled. Kevin Harvick finished 34th while Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, and Denny Hamlin finished 36th, 38th, and 43rd respectively. Despite the fact there were many incidents throughout the race, most were relatively minor and the "Big One" never happened.

Race results

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Fin[3][2][4] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 15 26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Ford 160 3 running 190 $302,500
2 11 5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 20 running 175 $207,275
3 16 2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing South Dodge 160 45 running 170 $197,033
4 7 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 160 0 running 160 $158,325
5 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 9 running 160 $172,261
6 18 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 160 0 running 150 $130,750
7 12 07 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 160 55 running 156 $123,800
8 3 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 160 0 running 142 $151,416
9 27 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 160 0 running 138 $148,916
10 4 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 0 running 134 $156,086
11 32 38 David Gilliland Robert Yates Racing Ford 160 0 running 130 $133,514
12 24 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford 160 0 running 127 $137,250
13 10 1 Martin Truex Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 160 0 running 124 $125,995
14 14 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 160 0 running 121 $129,875
15 25 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford 160 0 running 93 $98,000
16 5 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 160 0 running 115 $132,366
17 9 01 Mark Martin Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 160 0 running 112 $122,283
18 35 70 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 160 0 running 109 $95,100
19 21 25 Casey Mears Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 11 running 111 $119,150
20 17 18 J.J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 160 0 running 103 $123,658
21 41 15 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 160 0 running 100 $92,050
22 26 40 David Stremme Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 160 0 running 97 $91,325
23 40 22 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Toyota 160 0 running 94 $115,658
24 38 21 Bill Elliott Wood Brothers Racing Ford 160 2 running 96 $109,339
25 43 78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 160 1 running 93 $86,575
26 42 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 160 0 running 85 $99,583
27 37 44 Dale Jarrett Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 160 0 running 82 $84,775
28 34 45 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 160 0 running 79 $98,808
29 36 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 160 0 running 76 $86,925
30 33 13 Joe Nemechek Ginn Racing Chevrolet 160 0 running 73 $86,750
31 31 88 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 158 0 running 70 $114,608
32 20 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 157 0 running 67 $118,025
33 22 19 Elliott Sadler Evernham Motorsports Dodge 153 0 running 64 $102,620
34 8 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 147 3 running 66 $131,936
35 19 43 Bobby Labonte Petty Enterprises Dodge 137 1 running 63 $119,961
36 13 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 134 0 running 55 $128,283
37 30 66 Jeff Green Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 131 0 running 52 $100,247
38 6 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 125 0 running 49 $131,086
39 23 96 Tony Raines Hall of Fame Racing Chevrolet 120 0 running 46 $90,425
40 29 14 Sterling Marlin Ginn Racing Chevrolet 114 0 crash 43 $82,280
41 39 10 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge 105 0 engine 40 $90,150
42 28 41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 103 0 running 37 $90,055
43 2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 99 10 running 39 $106,611
Failed to qualify
44 36 Jeremy Mayfield Bill Davis Racing Toyota
45 84 A.J. Allmendinger Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
46 49 Larry Foyt BAM Racing Dodge
47 55 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
48 37 Kevin Lepage Front Row Motorsports Dodge
49 4 Ward Burton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
50 60 Boris Said No Fear Racing Ford
51 09 Mike Wallace Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
52 04 Eric McClure Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
53 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Chevrolet

Notes

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  • Kyle Busch missed, by the slimmest of margins, being the first driver to win a Busch Series and a Nextel Cup Series race on the same day. That morning, he had won the Winn-Dixie 250, postponed from Friday night because of rain.
  • For the first time since 1965, no one from the Petty family was in the starting lineup for a race at Daytona. Kyle Petty was instead a broadcaster for TNT, and John Andretti took his place in the starting lineup.
  • This was the last race which combined the older-design cars with restrictor plates. The next such race, the 2007 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, used the Car of Tomorrow which then became standard in 2008.
  • Two days after this race, International Speedway Corporation, which owns DIS, signed a multi-year deal with Coca-Cola to sell beverages at all its tracks.[1] Archived 2007-07-11 at the Wayback Machine That meant that this race would be renamed the Coke Zero 400 as of 2008.
  • Clint Bowyer finished 7th in the #07 car, the date was 07/07/07.

References

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  1. ^ Weather information at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. ^ a b c "2007 Pepsi 400 race results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28.
  3. ^ "2007 Pepsi 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  4. ^ "Pepsi 400". www.ultimateracinghistory.com. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
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2007 Lenox Industrial Tools 300
Nextel Cup Series
2007 season
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2007 USG Sheetrock 400