2007 Kobalt Tools 500
# 2007 Kobalt Tools 500

The 2007 Kobalt Tools 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the 48th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 11, 2007, before an audience of 105,000 in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 325 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson would make a late-race charge for the lead, completing a final pass for the lead with three laps left in the race to take his 25th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory, his second victory of the season, and his second consecutive victory. To fill out the top three, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart and Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth would finish second and third, respectively. This is also the final race to run the generation 4 NASCARs.

## Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 00 | David Reutimann (R) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | Domino's |
| 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats |
| 01 | Mark Martin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Army |
| 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Ward Burton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | State Water Heaters |
| 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's, Carquest |
| 6 | David Ragan (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | AAA |
| 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford | Motorola |
| 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Jack Daniel's |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Stanley Tools |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | FedEx Ground |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Alltel |
| 13 | Joe Nemechek | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | Ginn Resorts |
| 14 | Sterling Marlin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | Panasonic |
| 15 | Paul Menard (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Menards, Quaker State |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | Jackson Hewitt |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | J. J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Elliott Sadler | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Ken Schrader | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Little Debbie |
| 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Casey Mears | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | National Guard, GMAC |
| 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Racing | Ford | Crown Royal |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Shell, Pennzoil |
| 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless |
| 33 | Scott Wimmer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Camping World |
| 34 | Kevin Lepage | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | Front Row Motorsports |
| 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 360 OTC |
| 37 | John Andretti | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | Huddle House |
| 38 | David Gilliland | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | M&M's |
| 40 | David Stremme | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 41 | Reed Sorenson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline |
| 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Dale Jarrett | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | UPS |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | National Tire and Battery |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 49 | Mike Bliss | BAM Racing | Dodge | Zone Loans |
| 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 66 | Jeff Green | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | Yellow Transportation |
| 70 | Johnny Sauter | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | Best Buy |
| 78 | Kenny Wallace | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | Furniture Row |
| 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | Red Bull |
| 84 | A. J. Allmendinger (R) | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | Red Bull |
| 88 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Snickers |
| 96 | Tony Raines | Hall of Fame Racing | Chevrolet | DLP HDTV, Texas Instruments |
| 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Racing | Ford | Office Depot |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, March 16, at 3:30 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Kurt Busch, driving for Penske Racing South, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.165 and an average speed of 190.091 miles per hour (305.922 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 29.165 | 190.091 |
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.310 | 189.150 |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.343 | 188.938 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, March 17, at 10:00 AM EST. The session would last for 50 minutes. Jimmie Johnson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.297 and an average speed of 189.234 miles per hour (304.543 km/h)

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.297 | 189.234 |
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.340 | 188.957 |
| 3 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.422 | 188.430 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 17, at 1:20 PM EST. The session would last for one hour. Kurt Busch, driving for Penske Racing South, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.371 and an average speed of 188.758 miles per hour (303.777 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 29.371 | 188.758 |
| 2 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.433 | 188.360 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.439 | 188.322 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, March 9, at 6:10 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. While positions 1-42 would be determined by qualifying speed, the top 35 teams in owner's points would be assured that they would earn a spot in the field if they had managed to make an effort to qualify. The remaining seven positions from positions 36-42 would be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position, position 43, can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past NASCAR Nextel Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline. In the case that iff there was more than one series champion vying for the position, it would be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.

Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing South, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.707 and an average speed of 193.124 miles per hour (310.803 km/h).

Eight drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 28.707 | 193.124 |
| 2 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 28.891 | 191.894 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.907 | 191.788 |
| 4 | 01 | Mark Martin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 28.909 | 191.774 |
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.918 | 191.714 |
| 6 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 28.928 | 191.648 |
| 7 | 40 | David Stremme | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 28.949 | 191.509 |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.950 | 191.503 |
| 9 | 49 | Mike Bliss | BAM Racing | Dodge | 29.011 | 191.100 |
| 10 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.039 | 190.916 |
| 11 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 29.051 | 190.837 |
| 12 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.074 | 190.686 |
| 13 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.088 | 190.594 |
| 14 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.118 | 190.398 |
| 15 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.122 | 190.372 |
| 16 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 29.134 | 190.293 |
| 17 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 29.150 | 190.189 |
| 18 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 29.152 | 190.176 |
| 19 | 13 | Joe Nemechek | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 29.186 | 189.954 |
| 20 | 18 | J. J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.202 | 189.850 |
| 21 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.204 | 189.837 |
| 22 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 29.204 | 189.837 |
| 23 | 15 | Paul Menard (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 29.207 | 189.818 |
| 24 | 00 | David Reutimann (R) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 29.225 | 189.701 |
| 25 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.246 | 189.564 |
| 26 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 29.261 | 189.467 |
| 27 | 38 | David Gilliland | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.274 | 189.383 |
| 28 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 29.317 | 189.105 |
| 29 | 21 | Ken Schrader | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.323 | 189.067 |
| 30 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.358 | 188.841 |
| 31 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | 29.360 | 188.828 |
| 32 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.412 | 188.495 |
| 33 | 96 | Tony Raines | Hall of Fame Racing | Chevrolet | 29.425 | 188.411 |
| 34 | 25 | Casey Mears | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.433 | 188.360 |
| 35 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 29.442 | 188.302 |
| 36 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.496 | 187.958 |
| 37 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.626 | 187.133 |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||
| 38 | 6 | David Ragan (R) | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.846 | 185.753 |
| 39 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford | 29.888 | 185.492 |
| 40 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 30.049 | 184.499 |
| 41 | 66 | Jeff Green | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 30.071 | 184.364 |
| 42 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 30.210 | 183.515 |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 29.701 | 186.660 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 33 | Scott Wimmer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.372 | 188.751 |
| 45 | 4 | Ward Burton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.392 | 188.623 |
| 46 | 37 | John Andretti | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | 29.487 | 188.015 |
| 47 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 29.560 | 187.551 |
| 48 | 78 | Kenny Wallace | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | 29.565 | 187.519 |
| 49 | 34 | Kevin Lepage | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | 29.666 | 186.881 |
| 50 | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 29.897 | 185.437 |
| 51 | 84 | A. J. Allmendinger (R) | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | - | - |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 135 | running | 195 | $233,261 |
| 2 | 13 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 325 | 121 | running | 175 | $165,461 |
| 3 | 21 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 325 | 11 | running | 170 | $145,016 |
| 4 | 32 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 325 | 2 | running | 165 | $134,516 |
| 5 | 16 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 325 | 0 | running | 155 | $126,200 |
| 6 | 15 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 325 | 2 | running | 155 | $87,925 |
| 7 | 14 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 146 | $86,625 |
| 8 | 18 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 142 | $109,520 |
| 9 | 11 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 325 | 1 | running | 143 | $104,433 |
| 10 | 4 | 01 | Mark Martin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 134 | $112,183 |
| 11 | 17 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 325 | 14 | running | 135 | $110,408 |
| 12 | 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 30 | running | 132 | $118,561 |
| 13 | 7 | 40 | David Stremme | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 325 | 0 | running | 124 | $75,875 |
| 14 | 22 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 121 | $116,133 |
| 15 | 37 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 118 | $83,475 |
| 16 | 6 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 325 | 1 | running | 120 | $110,911 |
| 17 | 19 | 13 | Joe Nemechek | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 112 | $70,075 |
| 18 | 2 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 325 | 1 | running | 114 | $92,670 |
| 19 | 30 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 106 | $88,650 |
| 20 | 39 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford | 324 | 0 | running | 103 | $75,725 |
| 21 | 9 | 49 | Mike Bliss | BAM Racing | Dodge | 324 | 0 | running | 100 | $86,783 |
| 22 | 20 | 18 | J. J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 97 | $100,233 |
| 23 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 324 | 0 | running | 94 | $111,000 |
| 24 | 28 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | Ginn Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 91 | $84,333 |
| 25 | 36 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 1 | running | 93 | $117,736 |
| 26 | 42 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 323 | 0 | running | 85 | $102,283 |
| 27 | 35 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | 323 | 1 | running | 87 | $88,572 |
| 28 | 34 | 25 | Casey Mears | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 79 | $78,375 |
| 29 | 26 | 70 | Johnny Sauter | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 76 | $67,700 |
| 30 | 27 | 38 | David Gilliland | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 323 | 0 | running | 73 | $95,289 |
| 31 | 23 | 15 | Paul Menard (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 70 | $67,500 |
| 32 | 8 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 322 | 0 | running | 67 | $75,425 |
| 33 | 38 | 6 | David Ragan (R) | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 322 | 0 | running | 64 | $104,125 |
| 34 | 40 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 322 | 0 | running | 61 | $67,275 |
| 35 | 41 | 66 | Jeff Green | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 322 | 0 | running | 58 | $75,240 |
| 36 | 43 | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 320 | 0 | running | 55 | $67,205 |
| 37 | 29 | 21 | Ken Schrader | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 318 | 0 | running | 52 | $87,384 |
| 38 | 33 | 96 | Tony Raines | Hall of Fame Racing | Chevrolet | 318 | 0 | running | 49 | $75,885 |
| 39 | 12 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 306 | 0 | running | 46 | $114,291 |
| 40 | 24 | 00 | David Reutimann (R) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 295 | 0 | running | 43 | $67,060 |
| 41 | 25 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 280 | 0 | running | 40 | $85,015 |
| 42 | 31 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | 227 | 5 | crash | 42 | $67,270 |
| 43 | 10 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 221 | 0 | engine | 34 | $74,334 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 33 | Scott Wimmer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 4 | Ward Burton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 37 | John Andretti | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | | | | | |
| 47 | | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | | | | | |
| 48 | | 78 | Kenny Wallace | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 49 | | 34 | Kevin Lepage | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | | | | | |
| 50 | | 36 | Jeremy Mayfield | Bill Davis Racing | Toyota | | | | | |
| 51 | | 84 | A. J. Allmendinger (R) | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Mark Martin | 629 |
| | 2 | Jeff Gordon | 621 (-8) |
| | 3 | Jeff Burton | 618 (-11) |
| | 4 | Jimmie Johnson | 601 (–23) |
| | 5 | Matt Kenseth | 567 (–62) |
| 7 | 6 | Tony Stewart | 507 (–122) |
| 1 | 7 | Kevin Harvick | 482 (–147) |
| | 8 | Denny Hamlin | 480 (–149) |
| 9 | 9 | Clint Bowyer | 479 (–150) |
| 7 | 10 | Carl Edwards | 471 (–158) |
| | 11 | David Stremme | 463 (–166) |
| 3 | 12 | J. J. Yeley | 462 (–167) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
