2007 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400


The 2007 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 was the third race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. It was held on March 11, 2007 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The race was the first at the newly refurbished track, which now has a progressive banking in the turns on the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval, a new garage area which is fan-friendly known as "The Neon Garage" named for the lighted signs through the city's gambling areas, and a new pit road that was built closer to the grandstands.
Kasey Kahne won the pole and Jimmie Johnson won the race, making this his third overall win at the 1.5 mile oval track.

Race summary

won his third straight Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, defeating teammate Jeff Gordon by 2.795 seconds. Gordon finished in second place for the second straight time. Denny Hamlin was third, Matt Kenseth fourth and Mark Martin fifth.
Martin retained his points lead after three races with 495 points, six ahead of Gordon.
Because of the new asphalt concerns, NASCAR cut the size of fuel cells from 18 gallons to 13 gallons, similar to what had been used on restrictor plate tracks from October 2002 until October 2006, and also for the two 2006 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway to force more pit stops to change tires.

Results

Pos.No.DriverCarTeamLapsStatus
1.#48Jimmie JohnsonChevroletHendrick Motorsports267Running
2.#24Jeff GordonChevroletHendrick Motorsports267Running
3.#11Denny HamlinChevroletJoe Gibbs Racing267Running
4.#17Matt KensethFordRoush Fenway Racing267Running
5.#01Mark MartinChevroletGinn Racing267Running
6.#99Carl EdwardsFordRoush Fenway Racing267Running
7.#20Tony StewartChevroletJoe Gibbs Racing267Running
8.#12Ryan NewmanDodgePenske Racing South267Running
9.#5Kyle BuschChevroletHendrick Motorsports267Running
10.#26Jamie McMurrayFordRoush Fenway Racing267Running
11.#8Dale Earnhardt, Jr.ChevroletDale Earnhardt, Inc.267Running
12.#1Martin Truex Jr.ChevroletDale Earnhardt, Inc.267Running
13.#43Bobby LabonteDodgePetty Enterprises267Running
14.#19Elliott SadlerDodgeEvernham Motorsports267Running
15.#31Jeff BurtonChevroletRichard Childress Racing267Running
16.#16Greg BiffleFordRoush Fenway Racing266Running
17.#7Robby GordonFordRobby Gordon Motorsports266Running
18.#18J.J. YeleyChevroletJoe Gibbs Racing266Running
19.#96Tony RainesChevroletHall of Fame Racing266Running
20.#40David StremmeDodgeChip Ganassi Racing266Running
21.#38David GillilandFordRobert Yates Racing265Running
22.#42Juan Pablo Montoya†DodgeChip Ganassi Racing265Running
23.#10Scott RiggsDodgeEvernham Motorsports265Running
24.#78Kenny WallaceChevroletFurniture Row Racing265Running
25.#66Jeff GreenChevroletHaas CNC Racing265Running
26.#2Kurt BuschDodgePenske Racing South265Running
27.#29Kevin HarvickChevroletRichard Childress Racing265Running
28.#45Kyle PettyDodgePetty Enterprises265Running
29.#21Jon Wood†FordWood Brothers/JTG Racing264Running
30.#88Ricky RuddFordRobert Yates Racing264Running
31.#41Reed SorensonDodgeChip Ganassi Racing263Running
32.#15Paul Menard†ChevroletDale Earnhardt, Inc.263Running
33.#44Dale JarrettToyotaMichael Waltrip Racing263Running
34.#14Sterling MarlinChevroletGinn Racing251Engine
35.#9Kasey KahneDodgeEvernham Motorsports251Accident
36.#07Clint BowyerChevroletRichard Childress Racing239Running
37.#6David Ragan†FordRoush Fenway Racing236Running
38.#13Joe NemechekChevroletGinn Racing156Accident
39.#70Johnny SauterChevroletHass CNC Racing147Running
40.#25Casey MearsChevroletHendrick Motorsports141Running
41.#80Aric AlmirolaChevroletJoe Gibbs Racing46Accident
42.#22Dave BlaneyToyotaBill Davis Racing17Accident
43.#4Ward BurtonChevroletMorgan-McClure Motorsports15Accident

†-Rookie of the Year candidate

Failed to qualify

The following 10 drivers failed to qualify for the race: A. J. Allmendinger‡, Mike Bliss, John Andretti, Brian Vickers, David Reutimann‡, Jeremy Mayfield, Brandon Whitt‡, Kevin Lepage, Michael Waltrip, and Ken Schrader.
Allmendinger, Bliss, Mayfield, and Whitt have missed all three races for which they have attempted to qualify. Waltrip has missed the last two. Reutimann had made both previous races. Vickers had missed the Daytona 500 and made the Auto Club 500. Schrader missed making a field for the first time since the November 2003 Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Also of note: Regan Smith‡ was to have qualified in the #39 car, but the car was withdrawn and Smith did not make an attempt.