NEXTEL Subway 500
Final
for this game
Subway 500 Preview
Oct 21, 2007 - 10:27 AMOctober 21, 2007
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Virginia
Race 32 of 37 on Nextel Cup circuit
(31st points race; 6th of 10 in "Chase for the Nextel Cup")
TV: ABC, 1 p.m. EDT
Laps: 500
Track length: .526 miles
Race length: 263 miles
Qualifying record: Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 98.083 mph, 2005
Race record: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 82.223 mph, 1996
DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------
Clint Bowyer Team:
Richard Childress Racing
Car: No. 07 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $3,745,944
Chase Points: 5,802 (3rd)
Kept his solid run in the Chase going with a runner-up finish at
Charlotte after an 11th at Talladega to remain third in the
standings, 68 points behind leader Jeff Gordon; followed up his
first career Nextel Cup win at New Hampshire by running 12th at
Dover and second at Kansas; finished 12th at Richmond and ran
20th at California, following a third at Bristol in three races
prior to the Chase; has 15 top-10 finishes in 30 races this
season; has five 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 23rd at this race
last year.
Jeff Burton
Team: Richard Childress Racing
Car: No. 31 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $5,321,013
Chase Points: 5,514 (10th)
Finished fourth at Lowe's to move up to 10th in the Chase
standings; had dropped to 12th after finishing last at
Talladega, following a 36th at Kansas; started the Chase in
seventh place, but dropped to 11th with his second straight 18th
place finish at New Hampshire, following Richmond; 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 eight top-five finishes and 15 top-10s and has
only five finishes of 34th or worse this season; captured his
only victory of the season at Texas; ran 42nd at this race last
season with engine problems.
Kurt Busch
Team: Penske Racing
Car: No. 2 Dodge Avenger
2007 Earnings: $4,499,906
Chase Points: 5,565 (7th)
Ran 26th at Lowe's and sits seventh in the Chase standings, 315
points behind Gordon; posted an 11th at Kansas after starting
the Chase with a 25th at New Hampshire and 29th at Dover; 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 the first Talladega race and the
second Daytona race; the 2004 Nextel Cup Champion has nine
finishes of 25th or worse this season; ran 27th here last
season.
Kyle Busch
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 5 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $4,057,943
Chase Points: 5,600 (6th)
Bounced back from consecutive poor showings by placing third at
Lowe's; was 36th at Talladega and was run over by Dale Earnhardt
Jr. at Kansas and finished 41st; started Chase with fourth at
New Hampshire and fifth at Dover; ran 20th at Richmond following
a third-place showing at California and a ninth at Bristol; has
17 top-10 finishes in 30 races this season, including eight
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; ran
23rd here last year.
Carl Edwards
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
Car: No. 99 Ford Fusion
2007 Earnings: $3,981,112
Chase Points: 5,640 (5th)
Finished fifth at Lowe's to move up a spot to fifth in the
standings, 240 points behind Gordon; ran 14th at Talladega a
week after wrecking at Kansas and finishing 37th; won at Dover
after finishing 12th at New Hampshire, but failed post-race
inspection and was docked 25 points and fined; penalty dropped
him from third to sixth 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 nine top-fives and
13 top-10s this year; has been consistent with only a trio of
finishes lower than 30, including a 42nd at first Talladega
race; ran 12th in this race last season.
Jeff Gordon
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 24 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $6,347,892
Chase Points: 5,880 (1st)
Consecutive wins at Charlotte and Talladega make him a favorite
to capture fifth title; leads teammate Jimmie Johnson by 68
points with five races to go; ran fifth at Kansas; rebounded
from rough stretch leading up to the Chase by finishing 11th at
Dover and second to Bowyer at New Hampshire; prior to the Chase
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 win - still managed
to finish ninth; was docked 100 points for failing
post-qualifying inspections at Sonoma, where he ran seventh; has
six checkered flags this season and 81 career, just two shy of
tying Cale Yarborough for fifth place all-time; reached a
landmark milestone at the first Talladega race, recording his
77th career victory to pass the late Dale Earnhardt for sixth
all-time; finished second to Johnson here in April.
Denny Hamlin
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Car: No. 11 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $4,335,789
Chase Points: 5,531 (9th)
Finished 20th at Lowe's following a fourth at Talladega to stay
ninth in the Chase standings; title hopes were all but dashed
after 29th at Kansas; ran 38th at Dover, dropping to last among
Chase contenders; was involved in an altercation with Kyle Petty
in the garage following wreck midway through the race at Dover;
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; followed up the win at New Hampshire by finishing dead
last at Daytona after wrecking early in the race with teammate
Tony Stewart; avoided the sophomore slump by posting 11 top-five
and 16 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; finished second here last October.
Kevin Harvick
Team: Richard Childress Racing
Car: No. 29 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $6,802,463
Chase Points: 5,552 (8th)
Title hopes took serious hit with 33rd at Lowe's to fall three
spots in the standings to eighth; ran 20th at Talladega
following a sixth at Kansas; was the final driver to clinch a
berth in the Chase and opened with a 17th at New Hampshire and a
20th at Dover despite suffering through tire issues in both
races; prior to the Chase finished seventh at Richmond, ending
struggles which included five straight finishes out of the
top-10; has finished 33rd or worse four times in 30 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; was ninth in this race last year.
Jimmie Johnson
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 48 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $6,211,141
Chase Points: 5,812 (2nd)
Dropped out of the top spot in the Chase after finishing second
to Gordon at Talladega and remains there after a 14th at Lowe's;
now sits 68 points behind his Hendrick teammate; ran third at
Kansas prior to Talladega; opened the Chase with a 14th at Dover
following 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 16 top-five finishes, has been
hurt by five finishes outside the top 35; won the last two
races at Martinsville.
Matt Kenseth
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
Car: No. 17 Ford Fusion
2007 Earnings: $5,261,499
Chase Points: 5,438 (12th)
Chase struggles continued at Lowe's by running 34th; followed
back-to-back 35th-place finishes at Dover and Kansas with a 26th
at Talladega to all but end title hopes; ran seventh at New
Hampshire; 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 11th here last October.
Tony Stewart
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Car: No. 20 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $5,718,671
Chase Points: 5,682 (4th)
Remained fourth in the standings by running seventh at Lowe's;
sits 198 points behind Gordon; finished 39th at Kansas after
placing eighth at Talladega; had moved within two points of the
lead with a ninth at Dover after placing third at New Hampshire;
finished second at Richmond to enter the Chase on a hot streak;
recent surge includes fourth at Bristol as well as running 10th
at Michigan on the heels of winning at Watkins Glen - his third
win; captured back-to-back victories at Chicagoland and at the
Brickyard while placing sixth at Pocono; finished 38th at
Daytona prior to his win at Chicago after an early-race crash
with teammate Denny Hamlin; was fourth here last October.
Martin Truex Jr.
Team: Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Car: No. 1 Chevrolet Impala
2007 Earnings: $4,254,231
Chase Points: 5,502 (11th)
Ran 17th at Lowe's following 42nd at Talladega and a 38th at
Kansas; started first Chase with a 13th at Dover following a
fifth at New Hampshire; 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 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 other finishes outside the top 30 this season -
42nd at California and 37th at Bristol during the early part of
the season; ran 36th here last October.
2006 Top 10
-----------
1. Jimmie Johnson (48), Chevrolet
2. Denny Hamlin (11), Chevrolet
3. Bobby Labonte (43), Dodge
4. Tony Stewart (20), Chevrolet
5. Jeff Gordon (24), Chevrolet
6. Casey Mears (42), Dodge
7. Kasey Kahne (9), Dodge
8. Jeff Green (66), Chevrolet
9. Kevin Harvick (29), Chevrolet
10. Kyle Petty (45), Dodge
Past Champions
--------------
2006 Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 70.446 mph
2005 Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 69.695 mph
2004 Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 66.103 mph
2003 Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 67.658 mph
2002 Kurt Busch, Ford, 74.651 mph
2001 Ricky Craven Ford, 75.750 mph
2000 Tony Stewart, Pontiac, 73.859 mph
1999 Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 72.347 mph
1998 Ricky Rudd, Ford, 73.35 mph
1997 Jeff Burton, Ford, 73.072 mph
1996 Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 82.223 mph
1995 Rusty Wallace, Ford, 72.145 mph
1994 Rusty Wallace, Ford, 76.700 mph
1993 Rusty Wallace, Pontiac, 79.078 mph
1992 Mark Martin, Ford, 78.086 mph
1991 Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 75.139 mph
1990 Geoff Bodine, Ford, 77.423 mph
1989 Darrell Waltrip, Chevrolet, 79.025 mph
1988 Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 74.740 mph
1987 Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 72.808 mph
1986 Ricky Rudd, Ford, 76.882 mph
1985 Harry Grant, Chevrolet, 73.022 mph
1984 Geoff Bodine, Chevrolet, 73.264 mph
1983 Darrell Waltrip, Chevrolet, 66.460 mph
1982 Harry Grant, Buick, 75.073 mph
1981 Morgan Shepherd, Pontiac, 75.019 mph
1980 Darrell Waltrip, Chevrolet, 69.049 mph
1979 Richard Petty, Chevrolet, 76.562 mph
1978 Darrell Waltrip, Chevrolet, 77.971 mph
1977 Cale Yarborough, Chevrolet, 77.405 mph
1976 Darrell Waltrip, Chevrolet, 71.759 mph
1975 Richard Petty, Dodge, 69.282 mph
1974 Cale Yarborough, 73 Chevrolet, 69.936 mph
1973 David Pearson, 71 Mercury, 70.251 mph
1972 Richard Petty, 72 Plymouth, 72.657 mph
1971 Richard Petty, 71 Plymouth, 77.707 mph
1970 Bobby Isaac, 69 Dodge, 68.512 mph
1969 Richard Petty, 69 Ford, 64.405 mph
1968 Cale Yarborough, 68 Mercury, 66.686 mph
1967 Richard Petty, 67 Plymouth, 67.446 mph
1966 Jim Paschal, 66 Plymouth, 69.156 mph
1965 Fred Lorenzen, 65 Ford, 66.765 mph
1964 Fred Lorenzen, 64 Ford, 70.098 mph
1963 Richard Petty, 63 Plymouth, 64.823 mph
1962 Richard Petty, 62 Plymouth, 66.430 mph
1961 Junior Johnson, 61 Pontiac, 66.280 mph
1960 Richard Petty, 60 Plymouth, 63.940 mph
1959 Lee Petty, 57 Oldsmobile, 59.440 mph
1958 Bob Welborn, 57 Chevrolet, 61.160 mph
1957 Buck Baker, 57 Chevrolet, N/A
1956 Buck Baker, 56 Dodge, 60.950 mph
