The 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup was the ten-race

playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eit ...

which concluded the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. It began with the

Sylvania 300 The ISM Connect 300 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stock car race that was , traditionally held in mid-September at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, the other one being the Ambetter 301 in July. The New England ...

on September 16, 2007 at

New Hampshire Motor Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire, which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1990, as well as the longest-running motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mil ...

and ended with the

Ford 400 The Dixie Vodka 400 is a NASCAR Cup Series race held at Homestead–Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. The inaugural race was held in 1999 and was the final race in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2002 until 2019, as well as the final race of the ...

on November 18 of the same year at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with

Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Kenneth Johnson (born September 17, 1975) is an American professional auto racing driver. A seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, he competes part-time in the series driving for Petty GMS Motorsports. Johnson's seven Cup championships, ...

winning the 2007

NASCAR Nextel Cup The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. ...

Championship. The entry requirements for the Chase changed this year. Previously, the top ten drivers in the points standings and anyone else within 400 points of the leader after the

Chevy Rock and Roll 400 The Federated Auto Parts 400 is an annual NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, being the second of two races at the track with the first one being the Toyota Owners 400 in the spring. As of 202 ...

would qualify for the Chase. This year, the top twelve drivers in the points standings after the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 automatically qualified for the Chase with each drivers' point total reset to 5,000 points, with a ten-point bonus for each race won during the first 26 races. In addition, as NASCAR makes the full-time transition to the

Car of Tomorrow The Car of Tomorrow (abbreviated as CoT) was the common name used for the chassis of the NASCAR Cup Series (2007 –2012) and Xfinity Series (since 2011 full-time) race cars. The car was part of a five-year project to create a safer vehicle ...

, half of the races used the new template, and the other half used the older template, which was officially retired from Cup competition following the Ford 400. The title "Chase for the Nextel Cup" was also retired, as the season ending playoff will be renamed the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" in

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

Final standings

''Key: S-Starts; P-Poles; W-Wins; T5-Top 5 finishes; T10-Top 10 finishes; DNF-Did not finish; Pts-Points.''
''NOTES:
1. The original seedings saw Edwards placed fourth ahead of Kurt Busch based on most second-place finishes, while Denny Hamlin was seeded sixth based on the same criteria, followed by Truex, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton and Harvick, with further tiebreakers based on third-place finishes, etc.
2. Kurt Busch by most wins finished in seventh place ahead of Jeff Burton.
3. Those in boldface were invited to the 2007 Nextel Cup Banquet November 30 in New York.

Standings Plus/Minus Through The Chase

''Chg = Change in position.'' ''n/c = No change in position.'' ''Std = Standing After Race''

Standings at beginning of Chase

#Jimmie Johnson, 5,060 points, leader #Jeff Gordon, 5,040, -20 #Tony Stewart, 5,030, -30 #Carl Edwards, 5,020, -40 #Kurt Busch, 5,020, -40 #Denny Hamlin, 5,010, -50 #Martin Truex, Jr., 5,010, -50 #Matt Kenseth, 5,010, -50 #Kyle Busch, 5,010, -50 #Jeff Burton, 5,010, -50 #Kevin Harvick, 5,010, -50 #Clint Bowyer, 5,000, -60

Standings at end of the "regular season"

At the conclusion of the "regular season" (the 2007 Chevy Rock & Roll 400), these were the point standings before the Chase adjustments were made. Also indicated are how far up or down in the standings a driver went when the Chase points were awarded: # Jeff Gordon, 3,849 pts., leader, down one spot. # Tony Stewart, -312 pts, down one spot. # Denny Hamlin, -359, down three spots. # Jimmie Johnson, -410 pts., up three spots. # Matt Kenseth, -419 pts., down three spots. # Carl Edwards, -427 pts., up two spots. # Jeff Burton, -521 pts., down three spots. # Kyle Busch, -547 pts., down one spot. # Clint Bowyer, -670 pts., down three spots. # Kurt Busch, -689 pts. and two wins, up five spots. # Martin Truex, Jr., -689 pts. and one win, up four spots. # Kevin Harvick, -694 pts., up one spot.

Races

Drivers in ''italics'' did not qualify for the 2007 Chase. ''KEY:'' S — Standard. CoT — Car of Tomorrow.
≠ — Did not qualify for 2006 Chase.

Race results

''(NOTE: Actual finish is in parentheses.)''

Race 1 - 2007 Sylvania 300

Finishing Order #Clint Bowyer (1) #Jeff Gordon (2) #Tony Stewart (3) #Kyle Busch (4) #Martin Truex Jr. (5) #Jimmie Johnson (6) #Matt Kenseth (7) #Carl Edwards (12) #Denny Hamlin (15) #Kevin Harvick (17) #Jeff Burton (18) #Kurt Busch (25) Standings after race: #Jimmie Johnson, 5,210, Leader via most wins tiebreaker. #Jeff Gordon, 5,210 #Tony Stewart, 5,200, -10 #Clint Bowyer, 5,195, -15 #Kyle Busch, 5,175, -35 #Martin Truex, Jr., 5,170, -40 #Matt Kenseth, 5,156, -54 #Carl Edwards, 5,147, -63 #Denny Hamlin, 5,128, -82 #Kevin Harvick, 5,122, -88 #Jeff Burton, 5,119, -91 #Kurt Busch, 5,108, -102

Race 2 - 2007 Dodge Dealers 400

Finishing Order #Carl Edwards (1) · #Kyle Busch (5) #Jeff Burton (7) #Tony Stewart (9) #Jeff Gordon (11) #Clint Bowyer (12) #Martin Truex, Jr. (13) #Jimmie Johnson (14) #Kevin Harvick (20) #Kurt Busch (29) #Matt Kenseth (35) #Denny Hamlin (38) Standings after race (before penalty): #Jeff Gordon, 5,340 #Tony Stewart, 5,338, -2 #Carl Edwards, 5,337, -3 #Jimmie Johnson, 5,336, -4 #Kyle Busch, 5,330, -10 #Clint Bowyer, 5,322, -18 #Martin Truex, Jr., 5,294, -46 #Jeff Burton, 5,265, -75 #Kevin Harvick, 5,225, -115 #Matt Kenseth, 5,224, -116 #Kurt Busch, 5,189, -151 #Denny Hamlin, 5,182, -158 Standings after race (after penalty): #Jeff Gordon, 5,340, leader #Tony Stewart, 5,338, -2 #Jimmie Johnson, 5,336, -4 #Kyle Busch, 5,330, -10 #Clint Bowyer, 5,322, -18 #Carl Edwards, 5,312, -28 #Martin Truex, Jr., 5,294, -46 #Jeff Burton, 5,265, -75 #Kevin Harvick, 5,225, -115 #Matt Kenseth, 5,224, -116 #Kurt Busch, 5,189, -151 #Denny Hamlin, 5,182, -158

Race 3 -
2007 LifeLock 400 The 2007 LifeLock 400 was the 29th race in the 2007 NASCAR season and the third race of the ten in the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship Series. The event, held at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, was run on September 30, 2007. T ...

Finishing order #Clint Bowyer (2) #Jimmie Johnson (3) #Jeff Gordon (4) #Kevin Harvick (6) #Kurt Busch (11) #Denny Hamlin (29) #Matt Kenseth (35) #Jeff Burton (36) #Carl Edwards (37) #Martin Truex Jr. (38) #Tony Stewart (29) #Kyle Busch (41) Standings after race: #Jimmie Johnson, 5,506, leader #Jeff Gordon, 5,505, -1 #Clint Bowyer, 5,492, -14 #Tony Stewart, 5,384, -17 #Kevin Harvick, 5,380, -126 #Kyle Busch, 5,370, -136 #Carl Edwards, 5,346, -142 #Martin Truex Jr., 5,348, -158 #Kurt Busch, 5,379, -177 #Jeff Burton, 5,370, -186 #Matt Kenseth, 5,287, -219 #Denny Hamlin, 5,258, -248

Race 4 - 2007 UAW-Ford 500

Finishing order #Jeff Gordon (1) #Jimmie Johnson (2) #Denny Hamlin (4) #Kurt Busch (7) #Tony Stewart (8) #Clint Bowyer (11) #Carl Edwards (14) #Kevin Harvick (20) #Matt Kenseth (26) #Kyle Busch (36) #Martin Truex Jr. (42) #Jeff Burton (43) Standings after race: #Jeff Gordon 5,690, leader #Jimmie Johnson 5,681, -9 #Clint Bowyer 5,627, -63 #Tony Stewart 5,536, -154 #Kevin Harvick 5,488, -202 #Carl Edwards 5,485, -205 #Kurt Busch 5,475, -215 #Kyle Busch 5,430, -260 #Denny Hamlin 5,428, -262 #Martin Truex, Jr. 5,390, -300 #Matt Kenseth 5,372, -318 #Jeff Burton 5,354, -336

Race 5 - 2007 Bank of America 500

Finishing order #Jeff Gordon (1) #Clint Bowyer (2) #Kyle Busch (3) #Jeff Burton (4) #Carl Edwards (5) #Tony Stewart (7) #Jimmie Johnson (14) #Martin Truex Jr. (17) #Denny Hamlin (20) #Kurt Busch (26) #Kevin Harvick (33) #Matt Kenseth (34) Standings after race: #Jeff Gordon 5880, leader #Jimmie Johnson 5,812, -68 #Clint Bowyer 5,802, -78 #Tony Stewart 5,682, -198 #Carl Edwards 5,640, -240 #Kyle Busch 5,600, -280 #Kurt Busch 5,565, -315 #Kevin Harvick 5,552, -328 #Denny Hamlin 5,531, -349 #Jeff Burton 5,514, -366 #Martin Truex Jr. 5,502, -378 #Matt Kenseth 5,438, -442

Race 6 - 2007 Subway 500

Finishing order #Jimmie Johnson (1) #Jeff Gordon (3) #Kyle Busch (4) #Matt Kenseth (5) #Denny Hamlin (6) #Clint Bowyer (9) #Kevin Harvick (10) #Carl Edwards (11) #Jeff Burton (12) #Tony Stewart (13) #Martin Truex Jr. (19) #Kurt Busch (31) Standings after race: #Jeff Gordon 6055, leader #Jimmie Johnson 6002, -53 #Clint Bowyer 5940, -115 #Tony Stewart 5806, -249 #Carl Edwards 5770, -285 #Kyle Busch 5764, -290 #Kevin Harvick 5686, -369 #Denny Hamlin 5681, -374 #Jeff Burton 5646, -409 #Kurt Busch 5635, -420 #Martin Truex Jr. 5608, -447 #Matt Kenseth 5593, -462

Race 7 - 2007 Pep Boys Auto 500

Finishing order #Jimmie Johnson (1) #Carl Edwards (2) #Matt Kenseth (4) #Jeff Burton (5) #Clint Bowyer (6) #Jeff Gordon (7) #Kurt Busch (8) #Kevin Harvick (15) #Kyle Busch (20) #Denny Hamlin (24) #Tony Stewart (30) #Martin Truex Jr. (31) Standings after race: #Jeff Gordon 6201, leader #Jimmie Johnson 6192, -9 #Clint Bowyer 6090, -111 #Carl Edwards 5940, -261 #Tony Stewart 5879, -322 #Kyle Busch 5873, -328 #Kevin Harvick 5809, -392 #Jeff Burton 5801, -400 #Kurt Busch 5782, -419 #Denny Hamlin 5777, -424 #Matt Kenseth 5752, -448 #''Martin Truex Jr. 5688, -513'' NOTE: Drivers in ''Italics'' are mathematically eliminated from winning the championship.

Race 8 - 2007 Dickies 500

Finishing order #Jimmie Johnson (1) #Matt Kenseth (2) #Martin Truex Jr. (3) #Kyle Busch (4) #Jeff Burton (6) #Jeff Gordon (7) #Kurt Busch (8) #Kevin Harvick (10) #Tony Stewart (11) #Clint Bowyer (19) #Carl Edwards (26) #Denny Hamlin (29) Standings after race: #Jimmie Johnson 6382, leader #Jeff Gordon 6352, -30 #Clint Bowyer 6201, -181 #Kyle Busch 6043, -339 #Carl Edwards 6025, -357 #Tony Stewart 6009, -373 #''Jeff Burton 5951, -431'' #''Kevin Harvick 5943, -439'' #''Kurt Busch 5929, -453'' #''Matt Kenseth 5928, -454'' #''Denny Hamlin 5858, -524'' #''Martin Truex Jr. 5858, -524'' NOTES: 1. Drivers in ''Italics'' are mathematically eliminated from winning the championship.
2. Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart were mathematically eliminated when Jimmie Johnson started the

2007 Checker Auto Parts 500 The 2007 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil, the next to last race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season and the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup ran on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at Phoenix International Raceway in the Phoenix suburb of A ...

Race 9 -
2007 Checker Auto Parts 500 The 2007 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil, the next to last race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season and the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup ran on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at Phoenix International Raceway in the Phoenix suburb of A ...

Finishing order #Jimmie Johnson (1) #Matt Kenseth (3) #Tony Stewart (4) #Kevin Harvick (6) #Martin Truex Jr. (7) #Kyle Busch (8) #Jeff Burton (9) #Jeff Gordon (10) #Clint Bowyer (11) #Kurt Busch (12) #Denny Hamlin (16) #Carl Edwards (42) Standings after race: #Jimmie Johnson 6572, leader #Jeff Gordon 6486, -86 #''Clint Bowyer 6331, -241'' #''Kyle Busch 6185, -387'' #''Tony Stewart 6169, -403'' #''Matt Kenseth 6103, -469'' #''Kevin Harvick 6093, -479'' #''Jeff Burton 6089, -483'' #''Carl Edwards 6067, -505'' #''Kurt Busch 6056, -516'' #''Martin Truex, Jr. 6009, -593'' #''Denny Hamlin 5973, -599'' NOTE: Drivers in ''italics'' are mathematically eliminated from winning the championship.

Race 10 -
2007 Ford 400 The 2007 Ford 400 was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series stock car race that was held on November 18, 2007 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. The 267-lap race was the thirty-sixth in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, as well as the final ...

Finishing order #Matt Kenseth (1) #Kurt Busch (2) #Denny Hamlin (3) #Jeff Gordon (4) #Carl Edwards (5) #Martin Truex, Jr. (6) #Jimmie Johnson (7) #Jeff Burton (8) #Kevin Harvick (19) #Kyle Busch (20) #Tony Stewart (30) #Clint Bowyer (39) Final standings: #Jimmie Johnson, 6,723 pts, 2007 Series Champion #Jeff Gordon, -77 pts #Clint Bowyer, -346 pts #Matt Kenseth, -425 pts #Kyle Busch, -430 pts #Tony Stewart, -481 pts #Kurt Busch, -492 pts* #Jeff Burton, -492 pts #Carl Edwards, -501 pts #Kevin Harvick, -524 pts #Martin Truex Jr., -559 pts #Denny Hamlin, -580 pts * - Kurt Busch finished one place ahead of Jeff Burton based on most wins (Two wins vs. one).

Television

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

carried the entire Chase for the Nextel Cup in 2007, marking the first time that the entire Chase was carried on network television. (In previous years, it had been on a combination of

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

and

TNT Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...

.) The commentators for ABC were

Jerry Punch Gerald Punch (born August 20, 1953) is an American auto racing and college football commentator working for ESPN, as well as a physician. Punch also does local radio spots in Knoxville. Punch is currently a Principal Investigator for an award- ...

and

Rusty Wallace Russell William "Rusty" Wallace Jr. (born August 14, 1956) is an American former NASCAR racing driver. He has won the 1984 NASCAR Cup series Rookie of the Year and the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. Over the course of his successful care ...

, who are joined by newcomer

Andy Petree Joseph Andrew Petree III (born August 15, 1958), is a former NASCAR crew chief, driver, team owner, and broadcaster who has worked as the rules analyst for ''Fox NASCAR'' and the Vice President of Competition at Richard Childress Racing. After ra ...

, a former team owner and Dale Earnhardt's crew chief in 1993 and 1994. The hosts were Brent Musburger (race) and

Suzy Kolber Suzy Kolber (; born ) is an American football sideline reporter, co- producer, and sportscaster for ESPN. She was one of the original anchors of ESPN2 when it launched in 1993. Three years later, she left ESPN2 to join Fox Sports, and rejoined ...

(studio).

References

External links and sources

Official NASCAR site

RacingOne

Jayski's Silly Season Site

Speed Channel

ThatsRacin.com

RacinFreek.com hosted by Freewebs.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup Chase for the Nextel Cup Chase for the Nextel Cup Chase for the Nextel Cup Chase for the Nextel Cup