NEXTEL Dover 400
Final
for this game
Dodge Dealers 400 Preview
Sep 23, 2007 - 12:07 PMSeptember 23, 2007
Dover International Speedway
Dover, Delaware
Race 28 of 37 on Nextel Cup circuit
(27th points race; 2nd of 10 in "Chase for the Nextel Cup")
TV: ABC, 1 p.m. EDT
Laps: 400
Track length: 1 mile
Race length: 400 miles
Qualifying record: Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 161.522 mph, 2004
Race record: Mark Martin, Ford, 132.719 mph, 1997
DRIVERS TO WATCH
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Clint Bowyer
Team: Richard Childress Racing
Car: No. 07 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $3,141,519
Chase Points: 5,195 (4th)
Won his first career Nextel Cup race at New Hampshire in his
64th start, jumping seven spots to fourth in the Chase
standings; finished 12th at Richmond and ran 20th at California,
following a third at Bristol in three races prior to the Chase;
has 13 top-10 finishes in 27 races this season; has three
top-five finishes, including a fourth on the road course at
Sonoma to go along with his solid showing at Bristol and win at
New Hampshire; has finished 30th or worse just three times -
36th at Las Vegas, 35th at Talladega and 37th at the first race
in New Hampshire; finished eighth here in June and in this event
last season.
Jeff Burton
Team: Richard Childress Racing
Car: No. 31 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $4,811,525
Chase Points: 5,119 (11th)
Started the Chase in seventh place, but dropped to 11th with his
second straight 18th place finish; ran fourth at California and
12th at Bristol prior to Richmond; finished out of the top-10
in four races before California; prior to that tough stretch had
registered four top-10 finishes over a six-race span; ran
seventh at first New Hampshire race and third at Sonoma to end a
streak of four consecutive finishes outside the top 10; has
seven top-five finishes and 13 top-10s and has only three
finishes of 34th or worse this season; captured his only victory
of the season at Texas; was 12th at Dover in June and won this
event last year.
Kyle Busch
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 5 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $3,602,368
Chase Points: 5,175 (5th)
Finished fourth at New Hampshire and moved up to fifth in the
Chase standings; ran 20th at Richmond following a third place
showing at California and a ninth at Bristol; has 15 top-10
finishes in 27 races this season, including seven top-fives;
lone win of the season came during the first Bristol race - the
inaugural Car of Tomorrow event; will leave Hendrick Motorsports
at the end of the season for Joe Gibbs Racing; has started five
races in Dover and has three top-five finishes, but was 40th in
this race last season and 17th here in June.
Kurt Busch
Team: Penske Racing
Car: No. 2 Dodge Avenger
2007 Earnings: $4,034,124
Chase Points: 5,108 (12th)
Title hopes to a hit after suffering through engine problems and
finishing 25th at New Hampshire; dropped seven spots to 12th in
the Chase standings; did not qualify for Chase until late in
the Richmond race, where he finished ninth; turned season around
over last nine races before the Chase by finishing out of the
top 10 just twice with 11th place finishes at the Brickyard and
Watkins Glen; won at Pocono, then later at Michigan during the
rain-delayed event; has a pair of third-place finishes at
Talladega and the second Daytona race; the 2004 Nextel Cup
Champion has seven finishes of 25th or worse this season;
finished 42nd here in June, but was fourth at this race last
season.
Carl Edwards
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
Car: No. 17 Ford Fusion
2007 Earnings: $3,447,812
Chase Points: 5,156 (7th)
Finished 12th at New Hampshire, but dropped four spots in the
standings; ran 42nd at Richmond, but prior to that had four
consecutive top-10 finishes, including a win at Bristol and a
runner-up finish at California; also won at Michigan earlier
this year; has seven top-fives and 11 top-10s this year; has
been consistent with only a pair of finishes lower than 30,
including a 42nd at Talladega; has three top-10 finishes at
Dover in six starts including a third here in June and a
runner-up showing to Burton last September.
Jeff Gordon
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 24 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $5,550,848
Chase Points: 5,210 (T-1st)
Rebounded from rough stretch leading up to the Chase by
finishing second to Bowyer at New Hampshire; moved into a
first-place tie with teammate Jimmie Johnson atop standings;
finished fourth at Richmond but was 22nd at California, 19th at
Bristol and 27th at Michigan over previous three races; prior to
Michigan had finished in the top 10 in 10 straight races; was
the first driver to clinch a spot in the "Chase for the
Championship"; spun with less than two laps remaining at Watkins
Glen while leading, costing him a potential fifth win this
season - still managed to finish ninth; was docked 100 points
for failing post-qualifying inspections at Sonoma, where he ran
seventh; has four checkered flags this season and 79 career,
just four shy of tying Cale Yarborough for fifth place all-time;
reached a landmark milestone at Talladega, recording his 77th
career victory to pass the late Dale Earnhardt for sixth
all-time; has four wins and three poles at the "Monster Mile" but
also has five DNF's; was ninth here in June and third last
September.
Denny Hamlin
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Car: No. 11 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $3,918,339
Chase Points: 5,128 (9th)
Won his only race of the season at New Hampshire in July, but
could manage only a 15th -place finish at Loudon to start the
Chase; dropped to ninth in the standings; followed up the at New
Hampshire by finishing dead last at Daytona after wrecking
early in the race with teammate Tony Stewart; has avoided the
sophomore slump by posting 10 top-five and 15 top-finishes this
season; finished second at Darlington and Watkins Glen and has
four third-place finishes at Las Vegas, Martinsville, Phoenix
and Richmond; also finished last at Bristol; was fourth at Dover
in June and ninth here last September.
Kevin Harvick
Team: Richard Childress
Racing Car: No. 29 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $6,283,619
Chase Points: 5,122 (10th)
Was the final driver to clinch a berth in the Chase and opened
with a 17th at New Hampshire despite suffering through a pair of
flat tires; finished seventh at Richmond, ending recent
struggles which included five straight finishes out of the
top-10; has finished 33rd or worse three times in 26 races this
season; was 36th at Watkins Glen on the heels of a 17th at
Pocono; won the season-opening Daytona 500 by nipping Mark
Martin at the finish line; has four top-fives and 11 top 10s
this season; finished second to Juan Pablo Montoya on the road
course at Sonoma; has struggled at Dover recently with a 20th
here in June and a 32nd last September.
Jimmie Johnson
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 48 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $5,468,122
Chase Points: 5,210 (T-1st)
Remains the top seed in the Chase despite being tied with Gordon
by holding a 6-4 edge in season victories for the tiebreaker;
opened the Chase with a sixth at New Hampshire; earned top seed
with consecutive wins at Richmond and California; was 21st at
Bristol, but posted back-to-back third place finishes at
Michigan and Watkins Glen; defending series champion has
suffered through an up-and-down season, finishing 39th at the
Brickyard after a fiery crash on the heels of a 37th at Chicago;
prior to those two poor showings, finished 10th at Daytona
after running fifth at New Hampshire; has also posted victories
this season at Las Vegas, Atlanta, Martinsville and the first
Richmond race; despite collecting 14 top-five finishes, has been
hurt by five finishes outside the top 35; was 15th at Dover in
June and 13th last September.
Matt Kenseth
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
Car: No. 17 Ford Fusion
2007 Earnings: $4,779,110
Chase Points: 5,156 (7th)
Ran seventh at New Hampshire to move up a spot to seventh in the
standings; did not close the regular season strong with a 14th
at Richmond after a seventh at California - a week after
crashing and finishing 39th at Bristol; ran fourth at Michigan
in the rain delayed race; posted fourth straight top-10 finish
by placing 10th at the Brickyard; ran 34th and 42nd,
respectively, prior to the four straight top-10 results;
captured his only victory of the season in the campaign's second
race at California; has eight top-five finishes and 17 top-10s
this season; finished fifth here earlier this year and 10th in
this event last September.
Tony Stewart
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Car: No. 20 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $5,195,377
Chase Points: 5,200 (3rd)
Maintained third spot in the standings by placing third at New
Hampshire; finished second at Richmond for his eighth top-10
finish over the past nine races; recent surge includes fourth at
Bristol as well as running 10th at Michigan on the heels of
winning at Watkins Glen - his third win over the past eight
races; captured back-to-back victories at Chicagoland and at the
Brickyard while placing sixth at Pocono during that stretch;
finished 38th at Daytona prior to his win at Chicago after an
early-race crash with teammate Denny Hamlin; was 40th at Dover
in June and 33rd last September.
Martin Truex Jr.
Team: Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Car: No. 1 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $3,853,346
Chase Points: 5,170 (6th)
Ran fifth at New Hampshire for a solid start to his first Chase;
finished 15th at Richmond, but only needed to start the race to
qualify; has been overshadowed by more famous teammate Dale
Earnhardt Jr., but has outperformed him all season; won his
first career Nextel Cup race here at Dover in June; has six
top-fives and 11 top 10s, including a third at Pocono and second
at Michigan in back-to-back weeks after the win at Dover;
finished second in both Michigan races this year; has only two
finishes outside the top 30 this season - 42nd at California and
37th at Bristol during the early part of the season; ran sixth
here last September.
2006 Top 10
-----------
1. Jeff Burton (31), Chevrolet
2. Carl Edwards (99), Ford
3. Jeff Gordon (24), Chevrolet
4. Kurt Busch (2), Dodge
5. Greg Biffle (16), Ford
6. Martin Truex Jr. (1), Chevrolet
7. Bobby Labonte (43), Dodge
8. Clint Bowyer (07), Chevrolet
9. Denny Hamlin, (11) Chevrolet
10. Matt Kenseth (17), Ford
Past Champions
--------------
2006 Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 111.966 mph
2005 Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 115.054 mph
2004 Ryan Newman, Dodge, 119.067 mph
2003 Ryan Newman, Dodge, 108.802 mph
2002 Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 120.805 mph
2001 Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 101.559 mph
2000 Tony Stewart, Pontiac, 115.191 mph
1999 Mark Martin, Ford, 127.434 mph
1998 Mark Martin, Ford, 113.834 mph
1997 Mark Martin, Ford, 132.719 mph
1996 Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 105.646 mph
1995 Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 124.740 mph
1994 Rusty Wallace, Ford, 112.556 mph
1993 Rusty Wallace, Pontiac, 100.334 mph
1992 Ricky Rudd, Chevrolet, 115.289 mph
1991 Harry Gant, Oldsmobile, 110.179 mph
1990 Bill Elliott, Ford, 126.050 mph
1989 Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 122.909 mph
1988 Bill Elliott, Ford, 109.349 mph
1987 Ricky Rudd, Ford, 124.706 mph
1986 Ricky Rudd, Ford, 114.329 mph
1985 Harry Gant, Chevrolet, 120.546 mph
1984 Harry Gant, Chevrolet, 111.857 mph
1983 Bobby Allison, Buick, 115.942 mph
1982 Darrell Waltrip, Buick, 107.636 mph
1981 Neil Bonnett, Ford, 120.000 mph
1980 Darrell Waltrip, Chevrolet, 116.024 mph
1979 Richard Petty, Chevrolet, 114.366 mph
1978 Bobby Allison, Ford, 119.363 mph
1977 Benny Parsons, Chevrolet, 114.708 mph
1976 Cale Yarborough, Chevrolet, 115.741 mph
1975 Richard Petty, Dodge, 111.372 mph
1974 Richard Petty, Dodge, 113.644 mph
1973 David Pearson, Mercury, 112.853 mph
1972 David Pearson, Mercury, 120.506 mph
1971 Richard Petty, Plymouth, 123.245 mph
1970 Richard Petty, Plymouth, 112.103 mph
1969 Richard Petty, Ford, 115.780 mph
