2007 Sharp AQUOS 500

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The 2007 Sharp AQUOS 500 was the 25th race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season, and was held on Sunday, September 2, 2007, at California Speedway near Fontana, California, 50 miles east of Los Angeles. After this race, only one more race remained before the field is set for the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup, and through the Bristol race, five drivers - Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth. Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart - have clinched spots in NASCAR's "playoff series".

2007 Sharp AQUOS 500
Race details
Race 25 of 36 in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season
Track map of the speedway at Auto Club Speedway AKA California Speedway
Track map of the speedway at Auto Club Speedway AKA California Speedway
Date September 2, 2007 (2007-09-02)
Location Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California
Course Permanent racing facility
2.0 mi (3.23 km)
Distance 250 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Weather Temperatures up to 107.6 °F (42.0 °C); wind speeds up to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)[1]
Average speed 138.857 miles per hour (223.469 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Penske Racing
Time 39.474
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 97
Winner
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Jerry Punch, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree

This is the second race of the season at California, the 15th since the track was added to the schedule in 1997, and the fourth race to be run here as the replacement for the Southern 500.

The new race sponsor was announced on August 8, 2007, replacing Sony HD. Like its predecessor, Sharp Aquos is a brand of high-definition television set. It was also announced that Stevie Wonder would be the grand marshal, commanding the start of the engines of the 43 cars to start the race.

Pre-Race

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Qualifying

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Kurt Busch won his first pole of the season, edging out Jimmie Johnson by .001 of a second. It was the second such narrow loss by Johnson, who lost by the same margin to J. J. Yeley at Michigan two weeks earlier.

Failed to Qualify: #10-Scott Riggs; #4-Ward Burton; #44-Dale Jarrett

Race

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Kyle Busch dominated the race, leading 97 of 250 laps to take home the 10 bonus points for leading the most laps. However, it was his teammate, Jimmie Johnson (from nearby El Cajon, California) who took charge and held off a charging Carl Edwards for his series high fifth victory of the year and an automatic spot in the 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. Also clinching spots were Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton. Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer will clinch spots by starting the next race, the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. Ricky Rudd was injured in an accident during the race, separating his shoulder, and missed several races with Mike and Kenny Wallace subbing for him.

Results

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Top ten results:

Pos. No. Driver Car Team
1. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
2. #99 Carl Edwards Ford Roush Fenway Racing
3. #5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
4. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
5. #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Incorporated
6. #1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Incorporated
7. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Fenway Racing
8. #83 Brian Vickers Toyota Team Red Bull
9. #2 Kurt Busch Dodge Penske Racing
10. #9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Gillett Evernham Motorsports

Notes and references

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  1. ^ "Weather information for the 2007 Sharp AQUOS 500". Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  2. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2007 Bristol (2) Nextel Cup Entry List". Archived from the original on 2007-09-18. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
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Previous race:
2007 Sharpie 500
Nextel Cup Series
2007 season
Next race:
2007 Chevy Rock & Roll 400