Jeff Gordon made a last lap pass on teammate Jimmie Johnson en route to his sixth victory at NASCAR's longest venue. It was also the first Car of Tomorrow race at Talladega, and the race itself failed to receive rave reviews from the drivers.
For most of the mid-portion of the event, the drivers were content to just ride along in single file. It wasn't until Jimmie Johnson made the bottom line work with a little help from his teammate Casey Mears. Eventually, the lower lane surpassed race leaders Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch who were riding the high line. Jeff Gordon ducked out of line on the last lap and received a push from rival Tony Stewart, as he passed his teammate and took the checkered flag.
Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, and Ryan Newman were among the critics following the race. In fact, Ryan Newman had the quote of the week.
"To see single-file racing and the guy that wins the race is sitting in the back all day just lounging around...If we’re going to do that why don’t we just make it a 100-mile race and we’ll tear them all up in the first fifty.”
1. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon: I think Staples is one of Jeff Gordon’s sponsors because it seemed as if he can just push the Easy Button and things work out to his advantage.
2. (2) 48-Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie Johnson wants to get his Easy Button back from Jeff Gordon.
3. (3) 20-Tony Stewart: Tony Stewart could not commit to one line late in the race.
4. (4) 07-Clint Bowyer: This year’s success story, Clint Bowyer, continues to hang tough with the formidable Hendrick duo.
5. (5) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards’ 14th place finish was the highest among Ford drivers.
6. (10) 2-Kurt Busch: Though neither Penske Racing car won, they displayed great teamwork at Talladega.
7. (9) 29-Kevin Harvick: Kevin Harvick’s engine was down to its last breath.
8. (11) 11-Denny Hamlin: Is it just me, or does Denny Hamlin run better in the FedEx Ground car?
9. (6) 5-Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, again!
10. (7) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Martin Truex Jr’s engine woes set off a string of engine failures for DEI and Richard Childress Racing drivers.
11. (8) 17-Matt Kenseth: I cannot remember the last time that Matt Kenseth was ranked this low.
12. (12) 31-Jeff Burton: Jeff Burton has entered into obscurity ever since the Chase for the Championship began.
13. (16) 12-Ryan Newman: Weird stat, but Jeff Gordon was won in three of the four races in which Ryan Newman has finished in the top five in 2007.
14. (15) 25-Casey Mears: Casey Mears has yet to finish outside of the top ten since the Chase for the Championship begun at New Hampshire last month. No other driver has accomplished that.
15. (13) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: Dale Earnhardt Jr passes Ryan Newman as the driver with the worst luck in 2007. But it is a close race.
16. (14) 16-Greg Biffle: The euphoria of victory for Greg Biffle ended abruptly at Talladega.
Past Suite 16 Rankings
UAW Daimler Chrysler 400, at Las Vegas
Goody's Orange Cool 500, at Martinsville
Subway Fresh Fit 500, at Phoenix
Crown Royal/Jim Stewart 400, at Richmond
Dodge Avenger 500, at Darlington
Citizens Bank 400, at Michigan
Toyota Save Mart 350, at Infineon
LENOX Industrial Tools 300, at New Hampshire
USG Sheetrock 400, at Chicagoland
All-State 400, at Indianapolis
Centurion Boats At The Glen, Watkins Glen
3M Performance 400, at Michigan
Sharp Aquos 500, at California
Chevy Rock & Roll 400, at Richmond
Sylvania 300, at New Hampshire
