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Autism Speaks 400 Preview

Jun 3, 2007 - 10:37 AM

June 3, 2007Dover International SpeedwayDover, Delaware Race 13 of 36 on Nextel Cup circuit TV: Fox, 1:30 p.m. EDTLaps: 400 Track length: 1 mile Race length: 400 milesQualifying record: Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 161.522 mph, 2004Race record: Mark Martin, Ford, 132.719 mph, 1997DRIVERS TO WATCH----------------Jeff Burton Team: Richard Childress Racing Car: No. 31 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2007 Earnings: $2,809,430Struggled to a 24th-place showing at the Coca-Cola 600 lastweek; is fifth in the standings but trails leader Jeff Gordon by344 points; has five top-five finishes and seven top-10s thisseason; captured his first victory of the season six weeks agoat Texas; finished fourth in this event last year; won later inthe year here in the Dover 400.Kyle Busch Team: Hendrick Motorsports Car: No. 5 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2007 Earnings: $1,718,420Enters this event struggling after a 30th-place showing lastweek in North Carolina; has finished higher than 30th just oncein his last four races; is 11th in the standings with threetop-five finishes and six top-10s; was fifth in this event lastseason and 40th in the fall race.Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Car: No. 8 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2007 Earnings: $1,909,380Finished eighth in last week's Coca-Cola 600, his fifthconsecutive finish of 13th or better; sent shockwaves throughthe NASCAR world when he announced his impending split with DEIat the end of the 2007 season; followed the announcement byrunning eighth at Darlington but was docked 100 points forillegal car parts; has one top-five finish and five top-10s butis 13th in the standings; finished 10th in this event lastseason and 21st in the fall race; has one win in 17 careerstarts at Dover.Jeff Gordon Team: Hendrick Motorsports Car: No. 24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2007 Earnings: $2,995,460Endured a crash last week at the Coca-Cola 600 en route tofinishing 41st, his worst showing of the year; before thedisappointment had a run of five straight top-10 finishes; stillholds a 132-point lead over teammate Jimmie Johnson atop thestandings; reached a landmark milestone at Talladega, recordinghis 77th career victory to pass the late Dale Earnhardt forsixth on NASCAR's all-time list; has completely dominated thecircuit this season, placing inside the top 10 in 10 of 12races; is on pace to capture his fifth career title, leading theseries in poles (6), top-five finishes (9) and top-10s (10);placed 12th in this race last year before coming back to finishthird in the fall race, where he won the pole; won this race in1996.Denny Hamlin Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Car: No. 11 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2007 Earnings: $1,978,430Rebounded from a 21st-place showing at Darlington to finishninth last week in the Coca-Cola 600; has six top-10 finishesthis season; clearly has avoided a sophomore slump, placinginside the top 15 in nine of the last 11 events; finished ninthin this event last season; finished 11th in this race lastseason and ninth in the fall event; has grumbled about his pitcrew's performance, which has forced changes to be made.Jimmie Johnson Team: Hendrick Motorsports Car: No. 48 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2007 Earnings: $2,978,230Ran 10th in Concord but still trails teammate Gordon by 132points; captured his series-leading fourth victory of the seasonat Richmond and moved to second in the standings; finishedsecond at Talladega to continue his fast start to the season;despite collecting eight top-five finishes, has been hurt by apair of finishes outside the top 35; also has captured checkeredflags at Las Vegas, Atlanta and Martinsville; followed up asixth-place finish in this race last year by placing 13th in thefall event.Matt Kenseth Team: Roush Fenway Racing Car: No. 17 Ford Fusion2007 Earnings: $2,556,180The defending champion of this race; has been outstanding sincestruggling to 27th place at Daytona, running inside the top 11in the next seven races; placed 12th at Concord; remains thirdin the standings, 207 points behind Gordon; has five top-fivefinishes this season; placed 10th here in the fall race lastseason.Tony Stewart Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Car: No. 20 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2007 Earnings: $2,318,810Encountered some late fuel troubles at Concord en route to asixth-place showing, his third straight top-10 finish; has madenoise off the track but has been quiet behind the wheel, failingto record a win and collecting just two top-five finishes overthe first 12 races; one of the circuit's most inconsistentdrivers, collecting eight top-10 finishes while placing 25th orworse in the other four events; had no success in the two raceslast year in Dover, finishing 25th and 33rd.2006 Top 10----------- 1. Matt Kenseth (17), Ford 2. Jamie McMurray (9), Ford 3. Kevin Harvick (29), Chevrolet 4. Jeff Burton (17), Chevrolet 5. Kyle Busch (5), Chevrolet 6. Jimmie Johnson (48), Chevrolet 7. Kasey Kahne (9), Dodge 8. Greg Biffle (12), Ford 9. Mark Martin (6), Ford10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8), ChevroletPast Champions--------------2006  Matt Kenseth, Ford, 109.865 mph2005  Greg Biffle, Ford, 122.626 mph2004  Mark Martin, Ford, 97.042 mph2003  Ryan Newman, Dodge, 108.802 mph2002  Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 120.805 mph2001  Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 101.559 mph2000  Tony Stewart, Pontiac, 115.191 mph1999  Mark Martin, Ford, 127.434 mph1998  Mark Martin, Ford, 113.834 mph1997  Mark Martin, Ford, 132.719 mph1996  Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 122.741 mph1995  Kyle Petty, Pontiac, 119.880 mph1994  Rusty Wallace, Ford, 102.529 mph1993  Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 105.600 mph1992  Harry Gant, Oldsmobile, 109.456 mph1991  Ken Schrader, Chevrolet, 120.152 mph1990  Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 123.960 mph1989  Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 121.670 mph1988  Bill Elliott, Ford, 118.726 mph1987  Davey Allison, Ford, 112.958 mph1986  Geoff Bodine, Chevrolet, 115.009 mph1985  Bill Elliott, Ford, 123.094 mph1984  Richard Petty, Pontiac, 118.717 mph1983  Bobby Allison, Buick, 114.847 mph1982  Bobby Allison, Chevrolet, 120.136 mph1981  Jody Ridley, Ford, 116,595 mph1980  Bobby Allison, Ford, 113.866 mph1979  Neil Bonnett, Mercury, 111.269 mph1978  David Pearson, Mercury, 114.664 mph1977  Cale Yarborough, Chevrolet, 123.327 mph1976  Benny Parsons, Chevrolet, 115.436 mph1975  David Pearson, Mercury, 100.820 mph1974  Cale Yarborough, Chevrolet, 119.990 mph1973  David Pearson, Mercury, 119.745 mph1972  Bobby Allison, Chevrolet, 118.663 mph1971  Bobby Allison, Ford, 123.119 mph1970  Richard Petty, Plymouth, 112.103 mph1969  Richard Petty, Ford, 115.772 mph