2006 Pepsi 400
# 2006 Pepsi 400

The 2006 Pepsi 400 was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event held on July 1, 2006, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Tony Stewart, driver of No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet, won the race after starting second to Boris Said, and led 86 of the 160 laps. Actor Brandon Routh was the grand marshal.

## Qualifying

| Pos | Car # | Driver | Make | Primary Sponsor | Speed | Time | Behind |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 60 | Boris Said | Ford | SOBE - No Fear | 186.143 | 48.350 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | The Home Depot | 185.651 | 48.478 | -0.128 |
| 3 | 40 | David Stremme | Dodge | Coors Light | 185.579 | 48.497 | -0.147 |
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | DuPont / Pepsi / "Superman Returns" | 185.506 | 48.516 | -0.166 |
| 5 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | U.S. Army | 185.464 | 48.527 | -0.177 |
| 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | FedEx Home Delivery | 185.460 | 48.528 | -0.178 |
| 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | UPS | 185.441 | 48.533 | -0.183 |
| 8 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops / Tracker | 185.086 | 48.626 | -0.276 |
| 9 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Lowe's / Shamu's "Believe" | 185.082 | 48.627 | -0.277 |
| 10 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | RL Carriers | 185.006 | 48.647 | -0.297 |
| 11 | 18 | J. J. Yeley | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries | 184.854 | 48.687 | -0.337 |
| 12 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Subway / National Guard | 184.782 | 48.706 | -0.356 |
| 13 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Ford | M&M's | 184.782 | 48.706 | -0.356 |
| 14 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | Kellogg's / Cheez-it | 184.714 | 48.724 | -0.374 |
| 15 | 32 | Travis Kvapil | Chevrolet | Tide-Downy | 184.650 | 48.741 | -0.391 |
| 16 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Miller Lite | 184.494 | 48.782 | -0.432 |
| 17 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Chevrolet | GMAC | 184.328 | 48.826 | -0.476 |
| 18 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Ford | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming | 184.253 | 48.846 | -0.496 |
| 19 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Dodge | NAPA Auto Parts | 184.147 | 48.874 | -0.524 |
| 20 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | Chevrolet | Ginn Clubs & Resorts | 184.136 | 48.877 | -0.527 |
| 21 | 96 | Tony Raines | Chevrolet | DLP HDTV | 184.015 | 48.909 | -0.559 |
| 22 | 00 | Hermie Sadler | Ford | Aaron's | 184.004 | 48.912 | -0.562 |
| 23 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Alltel | 183.981 | 48.918 | -0.568 |
| 24 | 6 | Mark Martin | Ford | AAA | 183.974 | 48.920 | -0.570 |
| 25 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Chevrolet | Harrah's | 183.963 | 48.923 | -0.573 |
| 26 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Smirnoff Ice | 183.951 | 48.926 | -0.576 |
| 27 | 27 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Chevrolet | Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine | 183.861 | 48.950 | -0.600 |
| 28 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Dodge | Stanley Tools / Valvoline | 183.767 | 48.975 | -0.625 |
| 29 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Office Depot | 183.580 | 49.025 | -0.675 |
| 30 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Jack Daniel's | 183.580 | 49.025 | -0.675 |
| 31 | 21 | Ken Schrader | Ford | U.S. Air Force Spl Operations Command | 183.572 | 49.027 | -0.677 |
| 32 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Hershey's | 183.456 | 49.058 | -0.708 |
| 33 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Tire Kingdom | 183.441 | 49.062 | -0.712 |
| 34 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Dodge | Pillsbury / Cinnabon | 183.359 | 49.084 | -0.734 |
| 35 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Budweiser | 183.322 | 49.094 | -0.744 |
| 36 | 66 | Jeff Green | Chevrolet | Best Buy | 182.741 | 49.250 | -0.900 |
| 37 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Target | 182.704 | 49.260 | -0.910 |
| 38 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Dodge Dealers / UAW / AskDrZ.com | 182.622 | 49.282 | -0.932 |
| 39 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless | 182.596 | 49.289 | -0.939 |
| 40 | 42 | Casey Mears | Dodge | Texaco / Havoline | 182.009 | 49.448 | -1.098 |
| 41 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Dodge | Caterpillar | 181.855 | 49.490 | -1.140 |
| 42 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Dodge | Dodge Dealers / UAW / AskDrZ.com | 181.594 | 49.561 | -1.211 |
| 43 | 61 | Chad Chaffin | Chevrolet | Taco Bell | 183.554 | 49.032 | -0.682 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||||
| 44 | 4 | Scott Wimmer | Chevrolet | AERO Exhaust | | | |
| 45 | 49 | Kevin Lepage | Dodge | LoansDepot.com | | | |
| 46 | 78 | Kenny Wallace | Chevrolet | Furniture Row Racing | | | |
| 47 | 34 | Chad Blount | Dodge | Makoto Ginger Dressing | | | |
| 48 | 72 | Kertus Davis | Dodge | Dutch Quality Stone | | | |

## Race summary

The race began at 8:18 p.m. with Stewart passing Said to lead the first lap. The first seven laps were run caution-free before a beach ball was found on the back straightaway. On lap 16, Jeff Burton and Casey Mears, who had had a previous incident in an earlier practice session, made contact, spinning Burton out and bringing out the caution. By the time the green flag was waved again on lap 21, Jeff Gordon had assumed the lead. Gordon continued to lead until lap 33, when he was passed by Stewart who led the race until the caution came back out for debris. Most of the leaders came to pit road; however, Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not, and thus took the lead from Stewart. Stewart would not lead again until lap 111, when he took the lead from Matt Kenseth. On lap 148, Jimmie Johnson and Bobby Labonte crashed, ending Labonte's race. Said stayed out of the pits on lap 150, giving him the lead. With six laps remaining, Gordon was involved in a crash with Greg Biffle, J. J. Yeley, and Mark Martin, bringing out the caution for the final time. Said led the field back to the green flag with three laps remaining, but was passed by Stewart on the next lap. Stewart would subsequently win the race, his second consecutive Pepsi 400 win after winning the race in 2005 as well.

## Race results

| Pos | Grid | Car | Driver | Team | Make |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 14 | 5 | Kyle Busch | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 16 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing | Dodge |
| 4 | 1 | 60 | Boris Said | No Fear Racing | Ford |
| 5 | 10 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 13 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 7 | 40 | 42 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 8 | 26 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 32 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 30 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 23 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge |
| 12 | 31 | 21 | Ken Schrader | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 13 | 35 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 25 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Ford |
| 15 | 39 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 3 | 40 | David Stremme | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 17 | 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 17 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 5 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 28 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 21 | 21 | 96 | Tony Raines | Hall of Fame Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 18 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Ford |
| 24 | 20 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | MB2 Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 38 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 26 | 36 | 66 | Jeff Green | Hass CNC Racing | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 41 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge |
| 28 | 33 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 29 | 8 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 15 | 32 | Travis Kvapil | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 12 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 9 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 24 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 34 | 37 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 35 | 43 | 61 | Chad Chaffin | Front Row Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 42 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 37 | 11 | 18 | J. J. Yeley | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | 19 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Waltrip-Jasper Racing | Dodge |
| 39 | 29 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 40 | 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 41 | 22 | 00 | Hermie Sadler | MBA Racing | Ford |
| 42 | 34 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 43 | 27 | 27 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Chevrolet |
| Source: ||||||
