Lap-by-lap: Atlanta
Lap-by-Lap: Atlanta
By NASCAR.COM
October 28, 2007
06:09 PM EDT
Jimmie Johnson wins the Pep Boys Auto 500 under caution and cuts Jeff Gordon's lead in the points standings with three races left.
Lap 328 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 14: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s tire comes off and he slams into the wall collecting Jamie McMurray. The race is over.
Lap 327 -- GREEN FLAG: Jimmie Johnson gets the green-white-checkered under way.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Carl Edwards
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. Reed Sorenson
5. Jamie McMurray
Lap 323 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson takes the lead as Denny Hamlin runs out of fuel.
Lap 322 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 13: On the restart Denny Hamlin runs out of the gas bunching all the cars up. Martin Truex Jr. rear ends Hamlin and Kyle Busch also spins. Jeff Burton hits Jamie McMurray but both continue.
Lap 322 -- GREEN FLAG: Denny Hamlin brings the field to the green.
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. Jamie McMurray
5. Reed Sorenson
Lap 319 -- LEAD CHANGE: • Denny Hamlin is the only lead lap car to stay out.
• Kyle Busch with four tires but problems in the pits
• Martin Truex Jr. takes four tires and fuel
• Kurt Busch takes four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with two tires
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. with two tires
• Jamie McMurray with two tires
Lap 318 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 12: Johnny Sauter blows a tire and spreads debris all over the track. Now the question is, do you come in or stay out now that the caution has given you a couple extra laps.
Lap 317 -- The top four are separated by one second.
Lap 316 -- Matt Kenseth is on leader Kyle Busch's bumper challenging for the lead.
Lap 313 -- Kurt Busch will pit if the caution doesn't come out. Jimmie Johnson was told to not worry about the win, save fuel instead.
Lap 309 -- Keep an eye on Dale Jarrett who topped off on fuel before the restart. All the leaders are concerned about fuel.
Lap 308 -- Seventeen laps to go and Chasers make up the top-five.
1. Kyle Busch
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Kurt Busch
5. Jimmie Johnson
Lap 301 -- Greg Biffle on pit road taking tires and fuel.
Lap 300 -- Twenty-five laps to go and fuel could be a major issue if the race stays green.
Lap 295 -- Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are up to sixth and seventh.
Lap 291 -- Matt Kenseth is the latest driver that has to worry about fuel as crew chief Robbie Reiser says they are about three laps short.
Lap 290 -- Matt Kenseth is up to second passing Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 289 -- Martin Truex Jr. will lead the most laps today and earn another bonus five points.
Lap 281 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kyle Busch passes Martin Truex Jr. with ease for the lead. Truex's team is worried about fuel and asking their driver to conserve fuel.
Lap 279 -- Jimmie Johnson falls to seventh as Kasey Kahen passes him. Kyle Busch passes Kurt Busch for second.
Lap 273 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. moves into fifth passing Jimmie Johnson.
Lap 272 -- GREEN FLAG: Martin Truex Jr. brings the field to the green.
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Kurt Busch
3. Kyle Busch
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Jimmie Johnson
Lap 270 -- LEAD CHANGE: Martin Truex Jr. wins the race off pit road and retakes the lead.
Lap 269 -- All the leaders hit pit road for what could be the final time.
• Matt Kenseth with an air pressure and four tires
• Kyle Busch takes four tires
• Kurt Busch with four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with a wedge adjustment and tires
• Martin Truex Jr. wins race off pit road
• Jeff Gordon gains three spots on pit road and is now in the top 10
Lap 268 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 11: Ryan Newman blows an engine bringing out the caution and setting the record for cautions at AMS. Ricky Rudd gets the free pass.
Lap 265 -- Points leader Jeff Gordon gets by Jamie McMurray for 11th.
Lap 260 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Kasey Kahne for third.
Lap 253 -- Martin Truex Jr. is more than three seconds behind leader Kyle Busch.
Lap 249 -- Eleven of the top-16 positions belong to Chase drivers. Tony Stewart is the only Chase driver outside the top 16 in 34th.
Lap 245 -- Martin Truex Jr. goes low to pass Kasey Kahne for second.
Lap 244 -- Don't give up on Jeff Gordon yet. He is up to 15th after dealing with a difficult car all day long.
Lap 240 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kyle Busch has a great restart jumping past Kasey Kahne for the lead.
Lap 239 -- GREEN FLAG: Kasey Kahne brings the field to the green.
1. Kasey Kahne
2. Kyle Busch
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Jeff Burton
5. Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 237 -- LEAD CHANGE: A.J. Allmendinger pits giving the lead to Kasey Kahne.
Lap 236 -- LEAD CHANGE: A.J. Allmendinger stays out and leads a lap.
Lap 235 -- All the leaders hit pit road.
• Kasey Kahne no adjustments and four tires winning the race off pit road
• Kyle Busch with a chassis adjustment and four tires
• Kurt Busch with another pit road problem on the right side and he loses a bunch of positions
• Martin Truex Jr. with four tires and no changes but loses four spots on pit road
Lap 234 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 10: Joe Nemechek cuts a tire and spreads debris all ove the track. Bill Elliott gets the free pass.
Lap 228 -- Kurt Busch passes brother Kyle for third.
Lap 222 -- Reed Sorenson is currently in eighth after starting the race in 32nd.
Lap 221 -- So far this has been a good day for Michael Waltrip Racing. both Michael Waltrip and Dale Jarrett are on the lead lap and in the top 21.
Lap 214 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. passes Denny Hamlin for sixth.
Lap 209 -- Jeff Gordon is currently 21st, nine seconds behind leader Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 203 -- GREEN FLAG: Martin Truex Jr. brings the field to the green.
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Kyle Busch
4. Kurt Busch
5. Matt Kenseth
Lap 202 -- Tony Stewart is scored five laps down in the 35th position.
Lap 199 -- All the leaders hit pit road.
• Kasey Kahne with no adjustments and four tires
• Kyle Busch with four tires and no adjustments
• Kurt Busch with a reat-tracking bolt adjustment and four tires
• Martin Truex Jr. takes four tires and no adjustments
• Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman each gain three positions
Lap 197 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 9: David Stremme blows his right-rear tire and hits the wall causing major damage to his No. 40 Dodge. A.J. Allmendinger gets the free pass.
Lap 196 -- Tony Stewart is on pit road with the hood up as he was losing oil pressure.
Lap 193 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has gone from a lap down to eighth.
Lap 187 -- Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson are three-wide battling for 10th.
Lap 183 -- All the Chase drivers are scored on the lead lap except Tony Stewart, who is still two laps down in 32nd position.
Lap 178 -- LEAD CHANGE: Martin Truex Jr. passes Kurt Busch for the lead.
Lap 175 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kurt Busch passes his brother Kyle for the lead. Martin Truex Jr. follows bumping Kyle Busch to third.
Lap 172 -- GREEN FLAG: Kyle Busch brings the field to the green.
1. Kyle Busch
2. Kurt Busch
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Clint Bowyer
Lap 167 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 8: Jeremy Mayfield spins and hits the wall after being bumped by David Ragan on the restart bringing out the caution. Kevin Harvick gets the free pass.
Lap 167 -- GREEN FLAG: Kyle Busch brings the field to the green.
1. Kyle Busch
2. Kurt Busch
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Clint Bowyer
5. Denny Hamlin
Lap 166 -- Paul Menard pitted too soon and will restart at the tail end of the longest line.
Lap 165 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kyle Busch wins the race off pit road and leads for the first time today.
Lap 163 -- All the leaders hit pit road.
• Matt Kenseth with four tires
• Kyle Busch takes two tires to get some clean air and wins the race off pit road
• Kurt Busch with four tires
• Martin truex Jr. with an air pressure adjustment
• Clint Bowyer gains 13 positions with a two-tire stop
Lap 162 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 7: Bobby Labonte blows a tire and goes hard into the wall. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will get the free pass.
Lap 154 -- GREEN FLAG: Martin Truex Jr. brings the field to the green.
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Kurt Busch
5. Kyle Busch
Lap 152 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kevin Harvick pits giving the lead back to Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 151 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kevin Harvick stayed out to lead a lap and collect five bonus points. Casey Mears too fast entering pit road and will start at tail end of longest line.
Lap 149 -- All the leaders hit pit road.
• Kasey Kahne with a wedge and air pressure adjustment
• Kyle Busch with an air pressure adjustment and four tires
• Kurt Busch takes four tires and no changes
• Martin Truex Jr loose but likes it, they make no adjustments
• Matt Kenseth gains four spots on pit road
Lap 148 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 6: David Ragan has a tire go down bringing out the caution. Tony Raines will get the free pass.
Lap 146 -- Kurt Busch is up to second.
Lap 145 -- Tony Stewart is scored two laps down after that pit stop and he is in the 36th position.
Lap 139 -- Kurt Busch passes Denny Hamlin for fourth as he is recovering from his bad pit stop.
Lap 137 -- Tony Stewart is on pit road to fix his loose racecar. He will go a lap down.
Lap 133 -- Martin Truex Jr. has a three-second lead on second-place Kyle Busch.
Lap 124 -- Jeff Gordon is down to seventh.
Lap 121 -- Tony Stewart continues to battle his car as he is down to 20th.
Lap 117 -- Carl Edwards is up to ninth as he passes Jimmie Johnson.
Lap 114 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is on pit road to change four tires and he will go a lap down.
Lap 112 -- Something is wrong with Tony Stewart as he goes from seventh all the way back to 15th. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a tire going down as he is falling off the pace.
Lap 107 -- Kevin Harvick in 24th and Clint Bowyer in 34th are the only two Chase drivers not in the top 15.
Lap 104 -- Martin Truex Jr. brings the field to the green.
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Greg Biffle
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Kyle Busch
Lap 102 -- LEAD CHANGE: Paul Menard pits giving the lead to Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 100 -- LEAD CHANGE: Paul Menard stays out to lead a lap and get five bonus points.
Lap 99 -- All the leaders hit pit road.
• Kasey Kahne makes a wedge adjustment and takes four tires
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. with no adjustments and four tires
• Kurt Busch has a problem with the lug nuts and loses a lot of positions
• Martin Truex Jr. with an air pressure adjustment, four tires and he wins the race off pit road
Lap 98 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 5: David Stremme spins on the frontstretch and doesn't hit anything bringing out the caution. A.J. Allmendinger gets the free pass.
Lap 87 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. easily has the fastest car on the track and is up to fourth after passing Jimmie Johnson. Kurt Busch has a 0.6-second lead on Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 83 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in top-five as he passes Greg Biffle.
Lap 82 -- Martin Truex Jr. has caught Kurt Busch as is challenging for the lead.
Lap 77 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. passes Jeff Gordon for seventh and is one of the fastest cars on the track.
Lap 75 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is on the move and is up to eighth.
Lap 69 -- GREEN FLAG: Kurt Busch brings the field to the green.
1. Kurt Busch
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Kyle Busch
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Denny Hamlin
Lap 67 -- Dale Jarrett, Elliott Sadler and Brian Vickers among the drivers to hit pit road. Jarrett entered too fast and will start at the tail end of the longest line.
Lap 65 -- YELLOW FLAG: The cars are rolling again and pit road is open. Scott Riggs gets the free pass.
Lap 65 -- RED FLAG: The red is out and the cars are stopped to allow track clean up.
Lap 65 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 4: David Gilliland spins and is hit hard by Mark Martin. Both drivers have the window net down and appear to be OK.
Lap 62 -- GREEN FLAG: Kurt Busch brings the field to the green.
1. Kurt Busch
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Kyle Busch
5. Jeff Gordon
Lap 61 -- David Stremme hits the commitment cone and will restart at the tail end of the longest line. Due ot the cone flying in the air, cars hit the brakes and Clint Bowyer suffers some damage after being hit.
Lap 60 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kurt Busch takes the lead from Martin Truex Jr. when he wins the race off pit road.
Lap 59 -- Most of the leaders hit pit road.
• Tony Stewart with a wedge adjustment and four tires
• Kyle Busch with a chassis adjustment
• Kurt Busch with an air presure adjustment and wins the race off pit road
• Martin Truex Jr. takes four tires and makes no adjustments
• Denny Hamlin picks up three spots on pit road
Lap 57 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 3: Juan Montoya blows a right-front tire again to bring out the caution. J.J. Yeley is taking his car to the garage. Robby Gordon will get the free pass.
Lap 57 -- LEAD CHANGE: Martin Truex Jr. passes Kurt Busch for the lead.
Lap 56 -- Tony Stewart passes Jeff Gordon for sixth. Martin Truex Jr. is battling for the lead with Kurt Busch.
Lap 52 -- Ryan Newman passes David Gilliland for 10th.
Lap 50 -- Chase drivers currently occupy eight of the top-10 positions. Greg Biffle in fourth and David Gilliland in 10th are the non-Chase drivers up front.
Lap 46 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Greg Biffle for third.
Lap 43 -- GREEN FLAG: Kurt Busch brings the field to the green.
1. Kurt Busch
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Greg Biffle
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Jeff Gordon
Lap 40 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 2: Caution comes out due to Dave Blaney needing a push to the garage. Michael Waltrip earns the free pass.
Lap 39 -- On the restart, Dave Blaney has no power and is stuck on the backstretch.
Lap 38 -- GREEN FLAG: Kurt Busch brings the field to the green.
1. Kurt Busch
2. Greg Biffle
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Martin Truex Jr.
5. Jeff Gordon
Lap 37 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kurt Busch retakes the lead as Kyle Petty hits pit road. Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit the commitment cone coming down pit road and will restart at the tail end of the longest line.
Lap 36 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kyle Petty stays out and leads a lap collecting five very important bonus points in his quest to stay in the top 35 in owner points.
Lap 35 -- All the leaders hit pit road.
• Kyle Busch loves his car, they make a small track bar adjustment
• Kurt Busch has lug nut issue but still wins race off pit road
• Ryan Newman makes up two positions in the pits
Lap 34 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 1: Juan Montoya blew a right-front tire bringing out the caution.
Lap 33 -- Tony Stewart started 30th and has moved his way up to 12th.
Lap 29 -- Greg Biffle is reporting a vibration and is passed by Jimmie Johnson for second.
Lap 26 -- Martin Truex Jr. passes Kasey Kahne for fifth. Kyle Busch is challenging Kahne for the sixth position.
Lap 22 -- Jeff Gordon gets by Kasey Kahne for fourth.
Lap 21 -- After starting 20th, Martin Truex Jr. is now sixth.
Lap 19 -- Kurt Busch has opened up a two-second lead on Greg Biffle.
Lap 16 -- Kyle Busch is up to ninth after starting 19th.
Lap 12 -- After starting third, Dale Jarrett is down to 10th.
Lap 10 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Kasey Kahne for third. Jeff Gordon is up to fifth.
Lap 5 -- Richard Petty lost his baseball hat while waving the green flag and his hat is currently sitting on the frontstretch.
Lap 2 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kurt Busch passes Greg Biffle for the lead and earns five important bonus points.
Lap 1 -- Polesitter Greg Biffle leads the first lap.
2:18 p.m. -- GREEN FLAG: Greg Biffle brings the field to the green as Richard Petty gets the Pep Boys Auto 500 under way