Race 5 - Toyota/SaveMart 350

Race 5 - Toyota/SaveMart 350
For the first time in event history, the annual NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway was held in March, rather than the May or June date previously used. The 5th race of the 2007 season saw many new faces, as so-called road course "ringers" took their best shot at stealing a trophy from Cup Series regulars. The race also saw the largest entry list, with 9 drivers leaving the raceway on Friday after failing to qualify. In what was the wildest race of the season, fans saw zany pit strategies and a multitude of crashes as many "bubble" drivers attempted to lock themselves into the new top 35 in owner points that will help set the starting field for the remainder of the season.

Carl Edwards, not known as a road course specialist, stole the show on Friday as he captured his first pole of the season. He led early until an early caution for a persistent mist allowed Greg Biffle to take the lead courtesy of pit strategy. Biffle had to pit, however, on lap 8 with what he believed to be a flat tire, allowing ringer Jacques Villeneuve to take the lead in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. Another caution came out lap 16 for the weather, but when the green flag flew on lap 19 the sun came out and stayed that way for the remainder of the afternoon.

J.R. Fitzpatrick, driving for David Ragan who cancelled his road course attempt in order to focus on his Busch Series campaign, took the lead from Villeneuve on lap 20. However, a vicious accident one lap later ended his chance at victory. While attempting to maneuver around lapped traffic of Scott Pruett, who was down a cylinder, the leader snagged fenders and the two cars careened into the pit road barrier. Both cars were demolished, and Villeneuve and Kevin Harvick, the 2nd and 3rd place cars, also piled in. Clint Bowyer suffered minor cosmetic damage, but stayed out and inherited the lead for the restart on lap 24. 4 laps later, the exact same incident occurred. This time, it was 8th and 9th place drivers that were eliminated, as Elliott Sadler and Jimmie Johnson tangled heading towards the final corner.

The saying "cautions breed cautions" could not have been more accurate during this event. Tony Stewart led on the restart, but the caution flew by turn 4a, as Terry Labonte and Scott Riggs looped their vehicles but avoided serious damage. The next restart saw J.J. Yeley leading, but once again caution flew quickly, as Scott Wimmer spun off the bumper of Martin Truex Jr. in turn 2. More pit strategy saw the running order shuffled, as Yates teammates Jeremy Mayfield and road course specialist Ron Fellows were 1st and 2nd on lap 37.

Mayfield would hold off a feisty Fellows until the Canadian driver finally overtook the #88 Ford on lap 49. Seconds later, the 7th caution flew as Villeneuve, motoring around with a heavily damaged car, blew an engine and stalled in the esses. Fellows retained the lead through pit stops, but just seconds after the green flag flew and melee unfolded in turn 1. Todd Kluever was hooked by Kyle Busch and spun across the track, collecting P.J. Jones, Reed Sorenson, Jeff Burton, and Stewart. Most received minor damage, but Jones and Sorenson were sidelined by the incident.

Johnny Sauter took the lead when the green flag flew again, and led until lap 61, when Jeff Gordon and Jason Leffler tangled in turn 3a. Fellows cycled back to the lead as pit strategies unfolded once again, and continued to dominate the race until the 10th caution flew for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s hard crash in turn 11. While running 2nd, Earnhardt Jr. appeared to blow a left front tire and careened hard into the tire barrier. Most of the leaders then hit pit road to top off, leaving a very unexpected top 5 of Terry Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Jamie McMurray, and Kasey Kahne. They were the top 5 at the lap 74 restart, and stayed in position through half a lap, when Jeff Gordon was dumped by Paul Menard in the esses.

Ron Fellows would move back in front for the lap 77 restart, and saw the longest green flag run of the day. The field remained incident free long enough for the leaders to make green flag pit stops. Fellows ducked down on lap 92, but was hit by what looked like very bad timing. J.J. Yeley spun off the nose of Truex Jr. in turn 1 on lap 95, bringing out yet another caution period. Due to the long distance around the track, Fellows was able to stay on the lead lap and cycled back to the lead. The green flag run wouldn't last long however, as Tony Stewart spun out in turn 2 courtesy of Kasey Kahne. Fellows stayed on track and held the lead for the restart with 10 laps to go.

The 14th caution flag flew just one lap later, as Scott Riggs clipped a tire barrier in turn 1, leaving it rolling in the middle of the track and prompting a debris caution. Fellows continued to lead, and appeared to have no challengers for the victory. However, on the lap 105 restart, Fellows slowed entering the esses. Several cars passed by, but his powerless vehicle was soon clobbered by J.J. Yeley and Matt Kenseth, creating a dustup that also damaged Kluever, Kahne, and Hamilton Jr. Kyle Busch and Casey Mears would sneak past and take the top 2 positions, as Fellows sunk down the running order. Unfortunately for Busch, he and many others ducked down pit road under the caution period to grab one last gulp of fuel, as the fear of running out of gas on the long course struck many crew chiefs. That left Mears, the Daytona 500 champion, in the lead for the restart with 3 laps to go, and he wouldn't have any challengers as a large accident in turn 1 ended the race under caution. 7th through 12th tangled just seconds after taking the final green flag, when Jeff Burton, McMurray, Riggs, Yeley, Kluever, and Kurt Busch went into the dirt. Mears would then cruise under the yellow and checkered flags, winning the 2nd race of the season and cementing his place as a solid Chase contender once again.

Results (I put LL for the lead lap finishers as margins don't matter with a yellow flag finish):


Standings:


Owner Points:

Evernham Team Review

Kahne- 29th after starting 24th. Road Courses are like this anyway.

Leffler: 33rd after starting 34th. Again just glad i leave the team next season.

Riggs: 8th after starting 29th. First Top 10 of the Season.