Aaron's 499

Failed to qualify: (9) #55 Michael Waltrip, #83 Brian Vickers, #22 Dave Blaney, #84 AJ Allmendinger, #21 Ken Schrader, #09 Mike Wallace, #34 Kevin Lepage, #37 John Andretti, #49 Mike Bliss.

Race Comments: Before an estimated crowd of 160,000, Jeff Gordon got his 77th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory, moving into sole possession of sixth on the all-time winners list. Prior to the green flag the following driver dropped to the rear for the reason indicated: #40 Stremme (unapproved impound adjustment).

TIME OF RACE:  3 hours, 18 minutes, 46 seconds                                      AVERAGE SPEED: 154.167 mph                           MARGIN OF VICTORY:  Under caution

BUDWEISER POLE AWARD:  Jeff Gordon (192.069 mph, 49.857 secs.)

CHECKERS/RALLY’S DOUBLE DRIVE-THRU CHALLENGE AWARD: Kurt Busch (171.490 seconds – total amount of time spent in pits)

COMMIT LOZENGES “COMMIT TO WIN” AWARD:  Jeff Gordon

DIRECTV CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE AWARD: Todd Parrott (crew chief for David Gilliland)

DOW AUTOMOTIVE “STRATEGIC CALL OF THE RACE” AWARD: Jeff Gordon

EA SPORTS “MOVE OF THE RACE” AWARD:  Jeff Gordon

GOODYEAR GATORBACK FASTEST LAP AWARD:  Jeff Gordon (199.371 mph, Lap 122)

MOBIL 1 “COMMAND PERFORMANCE DRIVER OF THE RACE” AWARD:  Kurt Busch

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP LEADER BONUS:  Jeff Gordon ($10,000) ++

RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD:  David Ragan

SUNOCO DIAMOND PERFORMANCE AWARD:  Jeff Gordon

U.S.G. “IMPROVING THE FINISH” AWARD:  Kevin Harvick (35 places)

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD: Jeff Gordon (71 laps)

CAUTION FLAGS: 8 cautions for 26 laps. 74-77 (Debris); 82-84 (Car #07-Accident, Turn 3); 126-129 (Car #25-Accident, Turn 4); 132-136 (Car #1, 5, 13, 31, 88 & 96-Accident, Backstretch); 163-165 (Car #12 & 42-Accident, Turn 2); 176-178 (Debris); 186-190 (Oil on track); 192 (Car #16, 19, 20 & 70-Accident, Turn 2).

LAP LEADERS: 42 lead changes among 20 drivers. Jeff Gordon 1, Sterling Marlin 2-5, J. Gordon 6-12, Marlin 13-18, Jimmie Johnson 19, Marlin 20, Johnson 21-24, Marlin 25-28, Johnson 29-30, Marlin 31, Johnson 32-33, Jeff Green 34-36, Tony Stewart 37-43, J. Gordon 44-46, Jeff Burton 47-48, J. Gordon 49-63, Denny Hamlin 64-67, J. Gordon 68-73, Greg Biffle 74, Matt Kenseth 75, J. Gordon 76-80, Kurt Busch 81-85, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 86-87, Ku. Busch 88-89, Johnson 90-91, Kasey Kahne 92-93, Johnson 94, Kahne 95-97, Casey Mears 98-102, Kenseth 103, J. Gordon 104-118, David Stremme 119, J. Gordon 120-125, Regan Smith 126, Boris Said 127, Kenny Wallace 128-129, J. Gordon 130-134, Elliott Sadler 135, Ragan 136-137, Kenseth 138, Hamlin 139-182, Jamie McMurray 183-184, J. Gordon 185-192.

++Rollover money awarded at year’s end; amount not included in race winnings

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES TOP 12    (Wins)

 1 –Jeff Gordon                       1,521              (2)

 2 –Jeff Burton                        1,318              (1)

 3 –Matt Kenseth                    1,292              (1)

 4 –Jimmie Johnson               1,290              (3)

 5 –Denny Hamlin                   1,189              (0)

 6 –Tony Stewart                    1,078              (0)

 7 –Jamie McMurray               1.059              (0)

 8 –Kyle Busch                        1,054              (1)

 9 –Kevin Harvick                    1,052              (1)

10–Kurt Busch                        1,038              (0)

11–Clint Bowyer                     1,021              (0)

12–Carl Edwards                     1,004              (0)

 

MANUFACTURERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

                                        Pts      Wins

Chevrolet                         78        8

Ford                                 53        1

Dodge                              40        0

Toyota                             27        0

 

DOW AUTOMOTIVE STRATEGIC CALL OF

THE RACE AWARD        Car #     Pts.

Jimmie Johnson            (#48)          3

Tony Stewart                 (#20)          1

Matt Kenseth                 (#17)          1

 

MOBIL 1 COMMAND PERF. AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Mark Martin                    (#01)          4

Kurt Busch                     (#  2)          2

Jeff Green                      (#66)          2

 

BUDWEISER POLE AWARD STANDINGS

Jeff Gordon                                        4

David Gilliland                                  1

Denny Hamlin                                    1

Kasey Kahne                                     1

Ryan Newman                                   1

 

RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Juan Pablo Montoya                       100

David Ragan                                     96

Paul Menard                                     62

David Reutimann                              56

AJ Allmendinger                               24

Brandon Whitt                                     2

 

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD

                                        Car #     Pts.

Tony Stewart                   (#20)        3

Jeff Gordon                      (#24)        3

Jimmie Johnson              (#48)        1

 

DIRECTV CREW CHIEF OF THE YEAR

                                          Car #     Pts.

Mike Ford                           (#11)        2

Todd Parrott                      (#38)        2

Ryan Pemberton                (#01)        2

 

CHECKERS/RALLY’S DOUBLE DRIVE-THRU CHALLENGE AWARD

                                 Car #        Pts.

Mark Martin                        (#01)        4

Denny Hamlin                    (#11)        2

Jimmie Johnson                (#48)        1

 

USG ‘IMPROVING THE FINISH’ AWARD

                                      Car #         Pts.

Matt Kenseth                 (#17)            3

Kevin Harvick                 (#29)            3

Johnny Sauter               (#70)            1

 

CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Hendrick                         (#24)        102

Hendrick                         (#48)          58

RCR                               (#31)          50

 

GOODYEAR GATORBACK FASTEST LAP

AWARD                          Car #        Pts.

Jeff Gordon                    (#24)          3

Jimmie Johnson            (#48)          2

Denny Hamlin                (#11)          1

 

COMMIT LOZENGES ‘COMMIT TO WIN’ AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Jeff Gordon                    (#24)          4

Kasey Kahne                 (#  9)          2

Jimmie Johnson            (#48)          1

 

SUNOCO DIAMOND PERF. AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Jimmie Johnson            (#48)          3

Jeff Gordon                    (#24)          2

Matt Kenseth                 (#17)          1