Qualifying
Qualifying was rained out which dashed the dreams of most of the road racing aces. This caused the starting lineup to be set by car owner points. Jeff Gordon was on the pole next to Denny Hamlin. Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton started third and Tony Stewart rounded out the top five.
Because of the rain many of the ringers like Boris Said, Klaus Graf, Marcos Ambrose and Brian Simo didn't have enough car owner points to make the field.
After qualifying was rained out Bill Elliot handed over his race car to Boris Said. Even though Boris was not able to qualify his car for the race he took over the Wood Brothers #21. Boris was allowed to start the race, but he had to drop to the tail of the field for the start.
Drop Of The Green
Matt Kenseth got a huge jump on the start and lead the race into turn one. Jeff Gordon quickly rebounded, passed him on the back straightaway and lead lap one. The first lap saw Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart cross the line as the top three.
Tony Stewart moved up to second putting the two big favorites in the top two positions early in the running.
David Regan got stuck in the kitty litter on lap ten and brought out an early caution. This sent everyone except the top twelve racers to pit road for an early stop.
Tony Stewart got a great run on the restart and took the lead into turn one. Tony then checked out on the field until the first round of stops. The early part of the race continued to be all Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart.
Storylines
A late restart with just 18 laps remaining saw a bit of excitement. Juan Pablo Montoya was down low throwing a block as the drivers dove into turn one. Montoya was hit from behind by Martin Truex Jr. Montoya wiggled and got into the side of Kevin Harvick. Montoya and Harvick then got into a pushing match on the track and had to be physically separated.
Both drivers were racing in the top six when this incident occurred.
In Harvick's interview the pit reporter asked him what they were talking about. Harvick said that "I was talking about kicking his a** because that's how I felt about him."
It will be interesting to see if NASCAR hands down any penalties for "actions detrimental to the sport" for this shoving match. In my opinion things like this are the farthest thing in the world from detrimental. NASCAR will get some great press for this harmless altercation.
Chasing The Checkers
The final green flag flew with just eight laps to go. Jeff Gordon lead Tony Stewart as they took that final green flag.
Tony was pushing Gordon, waiting for any mistake. With two laps to go it came. Jeff Gordon spun out in turn one all by himself. This handed the lead to Tony Stewart who had Carl Edwards hot on his heels. Carl Edwards was pushing and spun out of second place all by himself on the final lap.
Tony settled down and drove a smooth finish. Tony Stewart claimed the victory in Watkins Glen. This was Stewart's third win in the last four NEXTEL Cup races.
Top Ten
- Tony Stewart
- Denny Hamlin
- Jimmie Johnson
- Ron Fellows
- Robby Gordon
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kyle Busch
- Carl Edwards
- Jeff Gordon
- Greg Biffle
The Points
Jeff Gordon clinched his place in the 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup with another solid top ten finish. It is impossible for him to finish outside of the top twelve in points.
At the bottom of the top twelve Kurt Busch maintained his twelfth place position. Dale Earnhardt Jr's engine problems cost him one spot in the points. This allowed Ryan Newman to move up into thirteenth. Newman is 96 points behind Kurt Busch in the standings.
With four races remaining until the cutoff Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are the only drivers left with a realistic chance of breaking into the Chase.
The top twelve are now:
- Jeff Gordon -0
- Denny Hamlin -344
- Matt Kenseth -432
- Tony Stewart -445
- Carl Edwards -560
- Jeff Burton -578
- Jimmie Johnson -595
- Kyle Busch -627
- Clint Bowyer -717
- Kevin Harvick -729
- Martin Truex Jr. -797
- Kurt Busch -855
Next Week
Michigan International Speedway hosts their second NEXTEL Cup race of the 2007 season next Sunday. When the series was here in June Carl Edwards won a fuel mileage race as Jimmie Johnson ran out of gas while trying to conserve. Michigan often hosts strategic battles and this weekend could see another race won by the crew chief.
