Modified Wed, Oct 07, 2009 10:27 AM
NASCAR - Sprint Cup - Pepsi 500 Preview
tool name
close x
Date: Sunday, October 11th
Start Time: 3:31 p.m. (et)
Site: Auto Club Speedway (1997) -- Fontana, California
Track: Two-mile oval
Laps: 250
Miles: 500
Capacity: 92,000 (Grandstand)
Total purse: $6,204,988
Payouts: 1st Place - $314,611; 2nd Place - $185,375; 3rd Place - $178,091
Year: 6th
On TV: ABC
Announcers: Dr. Jerry Punch, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
On Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)/SIRIUS XM Satellite
Race record: 155.012 m.p.h. (Jeff Gordon, 1997)
Qualifying record: 188.425 m.p.h. (Kyle Busch, 2005)
2008 Finish
Defending champion: Jimmie Johnson
Runner up: Greg Biffle
Pole winner: Jimmie Johnson (180.397 m.p.h.)
Top 10:
1. Jimmie Johnson (Start: 1)
2. Greg Biffle (15)
3. Denny Hamlin (21)
4. Kevin Harvick (33)
5. Matt Kenseth (37)
6. Carl Edwards (26)
7. Kyle Busch (11)
8. Kasey Kahne (4)
9. David Reutimann (12)
10. Clint Bowyer (31)
Average speed: 138.857 m.p.h.
Time of race: 3 hours, 36 minutes, 3 seconds
Margin of victory: 2.076 seconds
Caution flags: 8 for 34 laps
Lead changes: 20 among 9 drivers
Past winners
2008 Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 138.857 m.p.h.
2007 Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 131.502 m.p.h.
2006 Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 144.462 m.p.h.
2005 Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 136.356 m.p.h.
2004 Elliott Sadler, Ford, 128.324 m.p.h.
Last race
Race: Price Chopper 400 (October 4th)
Site: Kansas Speedway -- Kansas City, Kansas
Miles: 400
Laps: 267
Finish line order: Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Juan Pablo Montoya, Denny Hamlin
Time of Race: 2 hours, 55 minutes, 13 seconds
Average speed: 137.144 m.p.h.
Margin of victory: 0.894 second
Caution flags: 6 for 23 laps
Lead changes: 26 among 14 drivers
Lap leaders: M. Martin 1-11; D. Earnhardt Jr. 12-52; T. Stewart 53; M. KensethM. Martin 1-11; D. Earnhardt Jr. 12-52; T. Stewart 53; M. Kenseth54; C. Edwards 55; M. Truex Jr. 56-57; E. Sadler 58-59; J.Andretti 60; B. Keselowski 61; J. Johnson 62-70; T. Stewart 71;G. Biffle 72-90; J. Johnson 91; G. Biffle 92; J. Johnson 93; G.Biffle 94-101; J. Johnson 102-126; T. Stewart 127; G. Biffle128-130; J. Johnson 131-147; J. Montoya 148; G. Biffle 149-201;T. Stewart 202-205; D. Hamlin 206; Kurt Busch 207-208; G. Biffle209-237; T. Stewart 238-267.
Entry list
#00 David Reutimann (Zephyrhills, FL) Toyota/Aaron's Dream Machine
#1 Martin Truex Jr (Mayetta, NJ) Chevrolet/Guitar Hero 5
#2 Kurt Busch (Las Vegas, NV) Dodge/Miller Lite
#5 Mark Martin (Batesville, AR) Chevrolet/Kellogg's/CARQUEST
#6 David Ragan (Unadilla, GA) Ford/UPS
#07 Casey Mears (Bakersfield, CA) Chevrolet/Jack Daniel's
#7 Robby Gordon (Orange, CA) Toyota/TBA
#9 Kasey Kahne (Enumclaw, WA) Dodge/Budweiser
#09 Mike Bliss (Milwaukie, OR) Dodge/Miccosukee Resorts
#11 Denny Hamlin (Chesterfield, VA) Toyota/FedEx Ground
#12 David Stremme (South Bend, IN) Dodge/Penske Racing
#13 Max Papis (Como, Italy) Toyota/GEICO
#14 Tony Stewart (Columbus, IN) Chevrolet/Office Depot
#16 Greg Biffle (Vancouver, WA) Ford/3M/Scotch Blue
#17 Matt Kenseth (Cambridge, WI) Ford/R & L Carriers
#18 Kyle Busch (Las Vegas, NV) Toyota/M&M's
#19 Elliott Sadler (Emporia, VA) Dodge/Stanley Dodge
#20 Joey Logano (Middletown, CT) Toyota/Home Depot
#24 Jeff Gordon (Vallejo, CA) Chevrolet/DuPont/Pepsi
#26 Jamie McMurray (Joplin, MO) Ford/Crown Royal
#29 Kevin Harvick (Bakersfield, CA) Chevrolet/Shell/Pennzoil
#31 Jeff Burton (South Boston, VA) Chevrolet/Caterpillar
#33 Clint Bowyer (Emporia, KS) Chevrolet/Prilosec OTC/Wal-mart
#34 John Andretti (Indianapolis, IN) Chevrolet/Taco Bell
#36 Michael McDowell (Glendale, AZ) Toyota/Wave Energy Drink
#37 Tony Raines (LaPorte, IN) Chevrolet/Long John Silver's
#39 Ryan Newman (South Bend, IN) Chevrolet/Stewart Haas Racing
#42 Juan Pablo Montoya (Bogota, Colombia) Chevrolet/Target
#43 Reed Sorenson (Peachtree City, GA) Dodge/Rosie's Organic Chicken
#44 AJ Allmendinger (Los Gatos, CA) Dodge/Dassault Systems
#47 Marcos Ambrose (Launceston, Australia) Toyota/Little Debbie/Kingsford
#48 * Jimmie Johnson (El Cajon, CA) Chevrolet/Lowe's
#55 Michael Waltrip (Owensboro, KY) Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts
#64 Mike Wallace (St. Louis, MO) Toyota/TBA
#66 Dave Blaney (Hartford, OH) Toyota/Prism Motorsports
#71 David Gilliland (Torrance, CA) Chevrolet/TRG Motorsports
#77 Sam Hornish Jr (Defiance, OH) Dodge/Mobil 1
#78 Regan Smith (Cato, NY) Chevrolet/Furniture Row Racing
#82 Scott Speed (Manteca, CA) Toyota/Red Bull
#83 Brian Vickers (Thomasville, NC) Toyota/Red Bull
#87 Joe Nemechek (Lakeland, FL) Toyota/NEMCO Motorsports
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr (Kannapolis, NC) Chevrolet/Amp Energy/Nat'l Guard
#96 Bobby Labonte (Corpus Christi, TX) Ford/DLP
#98 Paul Menard (Eau Claire, WI) Ford/Menards/Energizer
#99 Carl Edwards (Columbia, MO) Ford/AFLAC
Leading contenders
| Name | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmie Johnson | 14th | 16th | 11th | Won | Won |
| Greg Biffle | 36th | 2nd | 24th | 17th | 2nd |
| Denny Hamlin | 6th | 19th | 3rd | ||
| Matt Kenseth | 22nd | 7th | 7th | 7th | 4th |
| Carl Edwards | 6th | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 6th |
| Kyle Busch | 24th | Won | 8th | 3rd | 7th |
| Kasey Kahne | 2nd | 6th | Won | 10th | 8th |
| Dale Earnhardt Jr | 34th | 41st | 2nd | 5th | 11th |
| Brian Vickers | 13th | 3rd | 41st | 8th | 12th |
| Jeff Gordon | 37th | 21st | 5th | 22nd | 15th |
| Ryan Newman | 5th | 18th | 33rd | 39th | 16th |
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 33rd | 20th | |||
| Tony Stewart | 18th | 5th | 9th | 13th | 22nd |
| Kurt Busch | 11th | 12th | 27th | 9th | 39th |
| Mark Martin | 3rd | 11th | 12th |
Notes
Domination was the order of the day last season, as Jimmie Johnsoncaptured the Pepsi 500 for the second consecutive year. Johnson led 228 of the250 laps, as he defeated Greg Biffle by over two seconds. As the Chase headsto California, Johnson trails Mark Martin by a mere 18 points, although helost ground with his ninth-place finish in Kansas, while Martin placedseventh.Johnson recorded the 28th of his 44 career wins at this race in 2007, as heclipped Carl Edwards by just under two seconds. Johnson, who led four timesfor 84 laps, took the checkered flag 1.868 seconds ahead of Edwards. Polesitter Kurt Busch finished ninth after leading for 21 laps. Kyle Busch, whoplaced third, led seven times for a race-high 97 laps.In 2006, Kasey Kahne completed a weekend sweep, as he crossed the finish line3.427 seconds ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr for his sixth career Sprint Cuptitle. Kahne, who registered victory at the Nationwide Series race the nightbefore, dominated this race, leading eight times for a race-high 130 laps. Infront of an estimated 102,000, Kahne reclaimed the lead with just two lapsremaining for the win. Pole sitter Kurt Busch, who led for the first 11 laps,faded to a 27th-place finish.California Speedway opened in 1997, marking the first time NASCAR's premierseries competed on a California oval in nearly 17 years, the last time beingthe Los Angeles Times 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway in 1980. However, at leastone road race was held each year in California during that span. There havebeen 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track opened in 1997.In 2005, Kyle Busch recorded the first win of his career, as he clipped GregBiffle by 0.554 of a second. In front of 100,000 fans, Busch reclaimed thelead on lap 244 of the 254-lap event and held on for the checkered flag.Busch, who started 25th on the grid, led five separate times for a race-high95 laps. Pole sitter Carl Edwards finished 4th, leading twice for 21 laps.The 2004 race saw Elliott Sadler battling the elements and the rest of thefield to post his third career Sprint Cup victory. In 99-degree temperatures,Sadler, who started 17th on the grid, outlasted Kasey Kahne by 0.263 of asecond for his second 2004 win.With his win last year, Johnson became the first pole sitter to capture thisrace. In 18 previous races at the Auto Club, the pole winner is 1-for-18. WhenKyle Busch won in 2005, he came for the 25th spot on the grid to win thisrace, the furthest a driver has started and captured the checkered flag.Stewart will attempt to get off the schneid at Auto Club Speedway, a trackwhere he is 0-for-16 in his career. His best finish is 4th in 1999 and 2001.Television star Kelsey Grammer will be the Grand Marshall and will the commandto start engines. The honorary starter will the Audrina Patridge from the TVshow, "The Hills." Christian Slater from the new TV show "The Forgotten," willdrive the 2010 Chevy Camaro Pace Car. The national anthem will be sung byJesse McCartney.The "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship continues on October 17 at Lowe'sMotor Speedway in Charlotte. Jeff Burton won last year's NASCAR Banking 500.10/07 10:15:51 ETtool name
close xLatest Comment View all comments
Racing Top Stories
-
NASCAR isn't fast-tracking fuel injection
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – If fuel injection comes to NASCAR, it won’t be before the 2011 season, officials confirmed Saturday. -
Busch clinches Nationwide title with start
Kyle Busch has won the Nationwide Series championship. -
Volkswagen program head in Homestead
The head of Volkswagen's motor sports program is at Homestead-Miami Speedway, fueling speculation that the automaker is interested in joining Toyota as the second foreign manufacturer in NASCAR. -
Deficit won't alter Martin's mood, or approach
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – For all the attention directed at Jimmie Johnson's quest to win his fourth straight Sprint Cup championship, one man can still sneak away with the championship – 50-year old Mark Martin. -
Remarks just 'heat of the moment,' Stewart says
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Tony Stewart said he has nothing against Dale Earnhardt Jr. despite some not-too-kind characterizations after a wreck in last Sunday’s race at Phoenix. -
Edwards nabs Nationwide pole at Homestead
Carl Edwards will start on the pole for Saturday's Ford 300 Nationwide Series race after topping the charts in qualifying at Homestead-Miami Speedway. -
Harvicks get twin win Friday night
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Kevin and Delana Harvick were an extremely happy couple Friday night. -
A twin win for Harvicks in Trucks Series finale
Kevin and Delana Harvick were an extremely happy couple Friday night. -
Title is big, but Busch wanted more
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Kyle Busch still wonders what could have been. -
Hamlin to have knee surgery
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Driver Denny Hamlin will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee next Wednesday but expects a full recovery within a few weeks.
Get sports updates
Keep up with the latest sports stories with our e-mail newsletters, delivered to your inbox!
@Nyx.CommentBody@