2007 Food City 500
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 5 of 36 in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season | |||
| Date | March 25, 2007 | ||
| Official name | Food City 500 | ||
| Location | Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 0.533 mi (0.857 km) |
||
| Distance | 504 laps, 268.632 mi (432.321 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km) | ||
| Weather | Temperatures reaching up to 82.9 °F (28.3 °C); average wind speed of 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 81.969 miles per hour (131.916 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Time | 15.295 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Laps | 257 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | Fox Broadcasting Company | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds | ||
The 2007 Food City 500 was the fifth race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, and was run on Sunday, March 25, 2007, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.
The race was historic as this marked the competitive debut of NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow vehicle template, which was tested on February 28 at this facility, as the test was extended due to an impending rainstorm and three sessions were held in one day, including a nighttime session. Because of the success in those tests, NASCAR considered making the CoT permanent in the 2008 season. Additionally, in all CoT events, two brands will switch models, as Dodge will use the Avenger and Chevrolet will utilize the Impala brand.
The event was the last to be run on the original concrete surface as resurfacing started following the race, using specially designed resurfacers that will lay a new concrete surface for the Sharpie 500 event in August. In addition, the 36-degree turns will be altered to progressive banking.
The race was also the last for the Top 35 teams in the 2006 Owner's points to be "locked in" for the race. Starting with the next race, the Goody's Cool Orange 500, the current standings was used.
Jeff Gordon won the pole. Dale Jarrett, who had used a provisional the past four races, qualified 30th. A. J. Allmendinger and Jeremy Mayfield made their season debuts after failing to qualify for the previous four races (qualifying 43rd and 23rd, respectively).
The following drivers failed to qualify:
Kevin Lepage (#37), David Reutimann (#00), Michael Waltrip (#55), Joe Nemechek (#13), Johnny Sauter (#70), and Paul Menard (#15) Withdrew: Chad Chaffin (#34)
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