The 2007 Pennsylvania 500, the twenty-first race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season was held on Sunday, August 5, 2007 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

2007 Pennsylvania 500
Race details
Race 21 of 36 in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season
The 2007 Pennsylvania 500 program cover.
The 2007 Pennsylvania 500 program cover.
Date August 5, 2007 (2007-August-05)
Official name Pennsylvania 500
Location Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Weather Temperatures reaching up to 89.1 °F (31.7 °C); wind speeds up to 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)[1]
Average speed 131.627 miles per hour (211.833 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Time 52.949
Most laps led
Driver Kurt Busch Penske Racing
Laps 175
Winner
No. 2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Jerry Punch, Andy Petree and Rusty Wallace
The layout of Pocono Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Background

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#[2] Driver Team Make
00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
01 Mark Martin Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
1 Martin Truex Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing South Dodge
4 Ward Burton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 P.J. Jones Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford
07 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge
10 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge
15 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 J.J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
19 Elliott Sadler Evernham Motorsports Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
21 Bill Elliott Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Toyota
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
25 Casey Mears Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Ford
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
36 Jeremy Mayfield Bill Davis Racing Toyota
37 Kevin Lepage Front Row Motorsports Dodge
38 David Gilliland Robert Yates Racing Ford
40 David Stremme Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
43 Bobby Labonte Petty Enterprises Dodge
44 Dale Jarrett Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
49 Mike Bliss BAM Racing Dodge
55 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
66 Jeff Green Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
70 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
84 A.J. Allmendinger Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
88 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford
96 Tony Raines Hall of Fame Racing Chevrolet
99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford

Qualifying

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole position after being allowed to requalify when a rainstorm interrupted his attempt which resulted in a 45-minute rain delay. NASCAR allowed Earnhardt to put on new tires and cool down his car because of the delay, when temperatures cooled down.

Pos.[3] # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 52.949 169.975
2 2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing South Dodge 52.984 169.863
3 5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.009 169.782
4 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 53.023 169.738
5 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 53.070 169.587
6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 53.097 169.501
7 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.153 169.323
8 25 Casey Mears Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.170 169.268
9 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 53.281 168.916
10 41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 53.367 168.644
11 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.428 168.451
12 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 53.432 168.438
13 1 Martin Truex Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 53.476 168.300
14 19 Elliott Sadler Evernham Motorsports Dodge 53.496 168.237
15 07 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.549 168.070
16 10 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge 53.590 167.942
17 96 Tony Raines Hall of Fame Racing Chevrolet 53.596 167.923
18 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.598 167.917
19 22 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Toyota 53.615 167.863
20 88 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 53.639 167.788
21 21 Bill Elliott Wood Brothers Racing Ford 53.640 167.785
22 26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Ford 53.697 167.607
23 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.758 167.417
24 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 53.788 167.324
25 01 Mark Martin Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 53.809 167.258
26 43 Bobby Labonte Petty Enterprises Dodge 53.822 167.218
27 18 J.J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 53.842 167.156
28 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 53.875 167.053
29 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 53.881 167.035
30 7 Robby Gordon* Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford 53.911 166.942
31 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 53.982 166.722
32 66 Jeff Green Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 53.993 166.688
33 38 David Gilliland Robert Yates Racing Ford 54.026 166.586
34 40 David Stremme Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 54.133 166.257
35 15 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 54.196 166.064
36 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford 54.254 165.886
37 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 54.293 165.767
38 4 Ward Burton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 54.349 165.596
39 55 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 54.353 165.584
40 44 Dale Jarrett Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 54.355 165.578
41 70 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 54.361 165.560
42 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 54.692 164.558
Last car to make it on time (not locked in by owner's points)
43 36 Jeremy Mayfield Bill Davis Racing Toyota 54.367 165.542
Failed to qualify
44 49 Mike Bliss BAM Racing Dodge 54.382 165.496
45 84 A.J. Allmendinger Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 54.651 164.681
46 37 Kevin Lepage Front Row Motorsports Dodge 54.982 163.690
47 78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 55.454 162.297

Kevin Lepage (#37), Mike Bliss (#49), Kenny Wallace (#78) and A. J. Allmendinger (#84) all failed to make the race.

Race

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Kurt Busch celebrating winning the Pennsylvania 500.

Outside polesitter Kurt Busch would be the class of the field, dominating for 175 of 200 laps and taking his first victory since the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in March 2006. While Busch dominated, the main story of the day was that of the polesitter. Dale Jr.'s team had brought an overly aggressive shock package to Pocono, and it was not working for them as the car was tight despite numerous adjustments. Their struggles hit a low point when Earnhardt Jr. spun the car in turn three. The team changed the shock and Dale Jr. rallied back to second place. Despite this comeback, Busch had overtaken Earnhardt Jr. for the critical 12th position in points.

Jeff Gordon extended his points lead over Denny Hamlin to 366 points.

Race results

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Fin[4][5][6] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing South Dodge 200 175 running 195 $212,108
2 1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 200 8 running 175 $218,708
3 6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 165 $157,200
4 11 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 160 $155,136
5 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 155 $148,936
6 24 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 150 $136,361
7 4 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 200 1 running 151 $127,350
8 15 07 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 1 running 147 $88,925
9 25 01 Mark Martin Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 200 0 running 138 $87,325
10 8 25 Casey Mears Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 134 $94,475
11 18 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 130 $111,391
12 3 5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 2 running 132 $87,650
13 20 88 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 200 0 running 124 $104,533
14 37 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 200 1 running 126 $122,191
15 17 96 Tony Raines Hall of Fame Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 118 $81,100
16 9 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 200 0 running 115 $106,425
17 23 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 112 $114,186
18 21 21 Bill Elliott Wood Brothers Racing Ford 200 1 running 114 $89,214
19 32 66 Jeff Green Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 200 4 running 111 $94,958
20 19 22 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Toyota 200 0 running 103 $95,483
21 29 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 200 0 running 100 $76,625
22 13 1 Martin Truex Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 200 1 running 102 $94,170
23 12 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 200 0 running 94 $83,375
24 16 10 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge 200 0 running 91 $75,350
25 34 40 David Stremme Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 200 0 running 88 $67,525
26 35 15 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 200 0 running 85 $66,775
27 5 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 200 0 running 82 $110,616
28 10 41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 200 5 running 84 $88,533
29 28 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 200 0 running 76 $66,125
30 26 43 Bobby Labonte Petty Enterprises Dodge 199 1 running 78 $103,411
31 43 36 Jeremy Mayfield Bill Davis Racing Toyota 199 0 running 70 $62,825
32 14 19 Elliott Sadler Evernham Motorsports Dodge 198 0 running 67 $83,520
33 36 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford 198 0 running 64 $99,550
34 42 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 198 0 running 61 $73,933
35 27 18 J.J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 58 $90,033
36 41 70 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 55 $61,900
37 30 7 P. J. Jones Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford 198 0 running 52 $61,725
38 39 55 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 194 0 fuel pump 49 $71,147
39 33 38 David Gilliland Robert Yates Racing Ford 192 0 running 46 $88,689
40 22 26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Ford 177 0 crash 43 $69,325
41 31 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 159 0 fuel pump 40 $61,180
42 40 44 Dale Jarrett Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 151 0 fuel pump 37 $61,030
43 38 4 Ward Burton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 109 0 engine 34 $61,197
Failed to qualify
44 49 Mike Bliss BAM Racing Dodge
45 84 A.J. Allmendinger Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
46 37 Kevin Lepage Front Row Motorsports Dodge
47 78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet

Notes

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  • Kurt Busch has led a track record 175 laps.
  • Kurt's track record for most laps led can't be broken because in 2012 Pocono revised the distances of their races down from 500 to 400 miles. Making the distances of the events only 160 laps. In 2020, when Pocono started the doubleheader weekend, the Saturday Cup event was revised down to 325 miles/130 laps, and the Sunday Cup event was revised down to 350 miles/140 laps.

References

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  1. ^ Weather information for the 2007 Pennsylvania 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. ^ "2007 Pennsylvania 500 race results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28.
  3. ^ "2007 Pennsylvania 500 qualifying results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  4. ^ "2007 Pennsylvania 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  5. ^ "2007 Pennsylvania 500 race results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28.
  6. ^ "Pennsylvania 500". www.ultimateracinghistory.com. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
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Nextel Cup Series
2007 season
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2007 Centurion Boats at the Glen