Jeff Burton and the No. 31 team celebrate their win. Lots more event pix in the Photo Gallery at the end of this page...

Burton Becomes First Repeat Cup Winner at Texas Motor Speedway

DALLAS, TX. (April 15, 2007) - Jeff Burton passed Matt Kenseth with one lap remaining Sunday to win an unpredictable and super-exciting Samsung 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

With a huge crowd on its feet and his wife Kim biting her nails in his pit box, Burton battled Kenseth in fender-to-fender style for the final 15 laps before slipping past with just one lap remaining.

It was Burton’s second victory at the Texas track. He won the inaugural race here back in 1997.

Trailing Burton and Kenseth across the finish line was everybody's favorite Mark Martin, who is running an abbreviated schedule this year with the Ginn Racing team after chasing a championship for several decades.

The 334-lap event before some 200,000 fans, produced some of the most dramatic moments of the year, including multiple spins by former champion Tony Stewart, an accident that knocked both Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and defending champion Jimmie Johnson from contention.

Stewart's first spin resulted from some hard racing contact with Juan Pablo Montoya. The second Stewart spin resulted from Tony trying too hard to make up lost time. Earnhardt slowed for the spin and Busch hit him from the rear.

Jeff Gordon, who led the most laps in the race, finished fourth and slapped the wall at least once during the wide-open NASCAR afternoon.

Jamie McMurray was fifth and Greg Biffle sixth. Martin Truex Jr. was next and Montoya was eighth. Denny Hamlin raced back from a vibration setback to finish ninth. David Stremme rounded out the top 10.

Kurt Busch, a contender much of the day, wound up 11th after he pitted while leading with 291 laps complete. A caution fell while Busch was in the pits and he had to restart the race from the rear of the field.

Earnhardt wound up finishing the day in Kyle Busch's car after the team could not find Busch when repairs to the car were complete.

The race had barely begun when rookie David Ragan and J.J. Yeley collided off turn four, bringing out the afternoon's first caution flag.

The chain reaction accident severely damaged Yeley's Chevy and Ragan's Ford. Several others were also affected, including Ricky Rudd.

Mike Bliss lost control of his Dodge on lap 43 to bring out the second caution. Bliss's car broke loose and spun down the front straightaway, making contact with the inside retaining wall.

With 50 of the 334 laps complete, Gordon continued to lead the way from his pole spot at the start.

The starting lineup was set by point standings, giving Gordon the top spot. Rain washed out qualifying on Friday here.

Gordon was still leading at 100 laps, trailed by teammate Johnson, Burton, Earnhardt, Kurt Busch and Stewart.

Kenseth was running in seventh place ahead of Biffle, Stremme and Edwards.

Clint Bowyer, who came into the race in seventh place in the point standings, slapped the outside wall and dropped back in the field after racing with the leaders in the early stages of the race. Denny Hamlin also fell well back in the pack when his Chevy developed a vibration.

Another caution came out for debris at 117 laps after Ryan Newman grazed the wall.

Earnhardt ran Gordon down by lap 154 and took the lead, with Gordon holding on to the second spot.

Checkered Flag Fast Facts

• Jeff Burton won the Samsung 500, his 19th victory in 446 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
• This is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2007.
• This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 13 races at Texas.
• Burton became the first repeat race winner in 13 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway.
• Burton led just one lap in the Samsung 500, taking the lead for the final circuit. Jeff Gordon led 173 laps, leading the most laps for the second time this season.
• Burton has won at least one race in each of the past two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series seasons.
• Matt Kenseth (second) came within 0.410 second of a weekend sweep at Texas.
• Mark Martin (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in as many races at Texas.
• Jeff Gordon (fourth) remains winless at Texas Motor Speedway. He is also winless on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at Phoenix and Homestead – the only tracks at which he has not won a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race. Gordon has won NASCAR Busch Series races at Phoenix and Homestead

Event News Archive

• 4/10: Storylines: Samsung 500
• 4/11: Entry List (PDF)
• 4/12: Texas Has Gordon's Undivided Attention
• 4/13: By the Numbers: Samsung 500
• 4/13: Friday Practice (PDF)
• 4/13: Qualifying Order (PDF) - cancelled due to rain
• 4/13: Starting Lineup (PDF) - set by powner points - Jeff Gordon on pole
• Race Results (PDF)
• Driver Point Standings (PDF)
• Owner Point Standings (PDF)

Green Flag Fast Facts
The Race: SAMSUNG 500
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
The Date: Sunday, April 15
Green Flag: 3 p.m. (AT), 2 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX, 2:30 p.m. (AT), 1:30 p.m. (ET)
Track Layout: 1.5-mile oval
Distance: 501 laps (334 miles)
Purse: $7,253,642
2006 Winner: Kasey Kahne
2006 Pole: Kasey Kahne
Texas Pre-Race On-Track Schedule (local/CT time): Friday—Practice, 12:30- 2 p.m.; Qualifying, 4:10 p.m. Saturday—Practice, 10:30-11:20 a.m.; Final Practice, 12:20-1:20 p.m.
Pre-Race Point Standings:click here

Television Coverage

Practice: Friday, April 13 (SPEED at 1:30 p.m. AT, 12:30 p.m. ET)

Qualifying: Friday, April 13 (SPEED at 5 p.m. AT, 4 p.m. ET)

Practice: Saturday, April 14 (SPEED at 12:30 p.m. AT, 11:30 p.m. ET)

Final Practice: Saturday, April 14 (SPEED at 2 p.m. AT, 1 p.m. ET)

Pre-Race: Sunday, April 15 (SPEED at 12:30 p.m. AT, 11:30 a.m. ET)

Race: Sunday, April 15 (FOX at 2:30 p.m. AT, 1:30 ET)

Rain Cancels Qualifying; Revised Schedule for Saturday

FORT WORTH, TX (April 13, 2007) - Friday the 13th proved to be really bad luck for nine of the 16 "go or go home" NASCAR Nextel Cup teams at Texas Motor Speedway. Qualifying time trials were cancelled due to rain so the starting grid was set according the rule book, by the current owner point standings.

The top 35 in the standings will race on Sunday, as will Brian Vickers by virtue of his race victory at Talladega in 2006. Dale Jarrett made the field as a former champion, and then Ken Schrader, Scott Riggs, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Paul Menard and Kenny Wallace because they were highest in the standings among those who have tried to make all six previous races this year.

David Reutimann, Jeremy Mayfield, John Andretti, A.J. Allmendinger, Michael Waltrip, Ward Burton, Scott Wimmer and Kevin Lepage did not make the show.

The teams got only two short practice sessions Friday, the first early in the morning cut short by rain after just 28 minutes on the track, and the second late in the day, ending just before severe weather moved through the area.

Kurt Busch had to go to a backup car after slamming the outside retaining wall hard during the opening minutes of the second practice; Busch said something broke when he went into turn three.

Friday practice speeds and the complete starting lineup for Sunday's Samsung 500 are available in the Event News Archive section on this page...

Notes

• DJ Takes The Mic: Former series champion (1999) Dale Jarrett is set for an unusually busy – but exciting – weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Jarrett will serve as an ESPN2 booth analyst during Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series event, the first of 10 scheduled appearances this season. He’ll join lead announcer Marty Reid and analyst Andy Petree. Both broadcasting and racing are Jarrett family traits. Father Ned Jarrett, a two-time series champion, served as an ESPN analyst from 1988 to 2000, and older brother Glenn Jarrett is an experienced pit reporter.
• NASCAR Day Around the Corner: With primary sponsor The Home Depot serving as the exclusive retailer of this year’s NASCAR Day pins, Tony Stewart’s No. 20 Chevrolet will do its part Sunday by running a NASCAR Day-themed paint scheme. Pins will be available at all 1,900 Home Depot stories on Monday, April 16. NASCAR Day is a one-day celebration of the NASCAR spirit and fans. In exchange for a $5 donation, participants receive the special pin. Proceeds benefit the NASCAR Foundation Family of Charities, over 30 nonprofit industry organizations, and this year, The Home Depot’s national nonprofit partner, KaBOOM.
• Jeff Burton To Receive Texas Award: On Wednesday, Jeff Burton will receive the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Sportsmanship Award during annual ceremonies at Texas Motor Speedway’s Grand Ballroom. Stewart also will be honored as the Texas Motor Speedway Racer of the Year.
• Dickies, RCR Teaming Up: Fort Worth-based Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co. – makers of Dickies®, the leading global workwear brand – are pairing up with Richard Childress Racing to offer the 2007 Race to the Riches promotion. It begins May 1, with entrants hoping to win a NASCAR dream weekend in November. The lucky finalist will enjoy dinner with an RCR driver of choice, a garage tour, a pit-crew member experience and a $500,000 prize.
• Texas Luminaries: Pro wrestling star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will serve as Sunday’s grand marshal. Samsung Telecommunications America President Dale Sohn, will be the honorary starter. The contemporary Christian rock group MercyMe will perform the national anthem.

This'N'That
Hendrick Motorsports can accomplish a feat this Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway that hasn't been achieved in over 30 years and has happened only five times -- five consecutive wins by a team. The last time that happened was 1971, by Petty Enterprises. Here's the list:

1971 – Petty Enterprises – 5 wins in a row from 7/14 to 8/1

1967 – Petty Enterprises – 10 in a row from 8/12 to 10/1

1963 – Petty Enterprises – 6 in a row from 4/14 to 5/5

1962 – Petty Enterprises – 6 in a row from 8/5 to 8/21

1956 – Carl Kiekhafer – 16 in a row from 3/25 to 6/3

Photo Gallery - Sunday, April 15


Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton paced the field to start the race.


Pit road was a busy place.


Jeff Gordon (24) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8) each led several laps during the early and mid stages of the race.


Until Matt Kenseth (yellow car) took over in the late stages...This is the pass on the last lap by Burton - for the win.


The checkered flag.


Victory Lane.

Photo Gallery - Saturday, April 14


Kasey Kahne readies for practice...


Tony Stewart (right) talks with crew chief Greg Zipadelli (left); Stewart posted the fastest practice speed Saturday...

Photo Gallery - Friday, April 13 (rain - qualifying cancelled)


David Stremme (left) and Juan Pablo Montoya (right).


Clint Bowyer (left) and Carl Edwards (right).


David Stremme (left) and Casey Mears (right).


Kasey Kahne (left), Elliott Sadler (center) and Jamie McMurray (right) Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.

IMPORTANT: All information, schedules and/or scheduled events is/are subject to change without notice. Please check with the source to confirm.