2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was the 60th season of
Homestead-Miami Speedway
on November 16.
As a result of the merger between
Bud Shootout at Daytona in February. Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports was crowned champion at season's end, making him only the second driver in NASCAR's top division to win three championships in a row, with the first being Cale Yarborough
.
That was final full-season at 36 races of Robby Gordon and Michael Waltrip before they raced 34-35 races in 2009.
Top stories
Car of Tomorrow
All Sprint Cup races utilized the
Ford Fusion and the Toyota Camry. Dodge had used the Avenger
in the 2007 CoT races, but stated that the Charger would be used full-time in 2008.
Economic problems affect NASCAR
The
Economic crisis of 2008, with high gas prices over US $4 a gallon caused NASCAR's largely blue-collar fan base to feel the pinch.[3]
While
Lowe's Motor Speedway
offered discounts on local hotel rooms, novelties and food and drink.
The economy also affected the teams themselves with high
Morgan-McClure Motorsports ceased operations for their single-car team, while Yates Racing had no major sponsor on the No. 28 and No. 38 cars that they run in the series, as their M&M's sponsorships moved to the Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 18 team. The Yates team made do in piecemeal fashion, finding companies to sponsor a few races at a time, a practice that paid the bills but stretched the marketing department. As a result of the cutbacks, half of the one hundred employees at Yates were laid off.
Even better sponsored teams struggled. On July 1,
2007 IndyCar Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti driving because of a lack of sponsorship funding, becoming the first major victim.[5] Ganassi Racing lost 70 jobs as a result of the closure. Other companies also switched teams for 2009. Caterpillar Inc., despite its decade long relationship with Bill Davis Racing and its flagship No. 22, moved to Richard Childress Racing's No. 31 car driven by Jeff Burton, while General Mills, associating itself with Petty Enterprises
since 2000, also left to head for RCR's fourth team.
To counter many of these problems, teams also took on financial partners, much like Fenway Sports Group joining Jack Roush and George N. Gillett Jr. teaming up with Ray Evernham last year. In June 2008, Petty Enterprises sold a majority share to Boston Ventures as another example of the economic struggles.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule
List of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams in 2008 (43 full-time teams).
Limited schedule
Schedule
| No. | Race Title | Track
|
Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Budweiser Shootout
|
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach | February 9 | |
Gatorade Duels
|
February 14 | ||
| 1 | Daytona 500 | February 17 | |
| 2 | Auto Club 500
|
Auto Club Speedway, Fontana | February 24/25 |
| 3 | UAW-Dodge 400
|
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada | March 2 |
| 4 | Kobalt Tools 500
|
Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton | March 9 |
| 5 | Food City 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol | March 16 |
| 6 | Goody's Cool Orange 500
|
Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway | March 30 |
| 7 | Samsung 500
|
Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth | April 6 |
| 8 | Subway Fresh Fit 500
|
Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix
|
April 12 |
| 9 | Aaron's 499
|
Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega | April 27 |
| 10 | Crown Royal presents the Dan Lowry 400 | Richmond International Raceway, Richmond
|
May 3 |
| 11 | Dodge Challenger 500
|
Darlington Raceway, Darlington | May 10 |
Sprint Showdown
|
Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord
|
May 17 | |
Sprint All-Star Challenge
| |||
| 12 | Coca-Cola 600 | May 25 | |
| 13 | Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks
|
Dover International Speedway, Dover
|
June 1 |
| 14 | Pocono 500 | Pocono Raceway, Long Pond | June 8 |
| 15 | LifeLock 400
|
Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn | June 15 |
| 16 | Toyota/Save Mart 350 | Infineon Raceway, Sonoma
|
June 22 |
| 17 | Lenox Industrial Tools 301
|
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon | June 29 |
| 18 | Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola
|
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach | July 5 |
| 19 | LifeLock.com 400
|
Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet | July 12 |
| 20 | Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
|
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway | July 27 |
| 21 | Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500
|
Pocono Raceway, Long Pond | August 3 |
| 22 | Centurion Boats at The Glen
|
Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen | August 10 |
| 23 | 3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo
|
Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn | August 17 |
| 24 | Sharpie 500
|
Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol | August 23 |
| 25 | Pepsi 500
|
Auto Club Speedway, Fontana | August 31 |
| 26 | Chevy Rock & Roll 400
|
Richmond International Raceway, Richmond
|
September 7 |
Chase for the Sprint Cup
| |||
| 27 | Sylvania 300
|
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon | September 14 |
| 28 | Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA
|
Dover International Speedway, Dover
|
September 21 |
| 29 | Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman
|
Kansas Speedway, Kansas City | September 28 |
| 30 | AMP Energy 500
|
Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega | October 5 |
| 31 | Bank of America 500
|
Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord
|
October 11 |
| 32 | Tums QuikPak 500 | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway | October 19 |
| 33 | Pep Boys Auto 500
|
Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton | October 26 |
| 34 | Dickies 500
|
Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth | November 2 |
| 35 | Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil
|
Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix
|
November 9 |
| 36 | Ford 400
|
Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead
|
November 16 |
Television
United States
The 2008 season marked the second year of television contracts with
Nicole Manske (along with Ryan Burr) took over as a part-time host of NASCAR Now show for Erik Kuselias.[7]
No major changes were made by Fox and TNT for the 2008 season.
One innovation was Fox's "Gopher Cam", placed below the track near the inside of the turns for a unique perspective. In the need for a name for their new mascot, Fox turned to internet users and even drivers for suggestions, and the gopher cam mascot was named "Digger".[8] "Digger" is now emblazoned on T-shirts, hats and even as a plush toy.
Another innovation was TNT's "RaceBuddy", an internet application that showed multiple views of the race and radio feeds from drivers (using NASCAR.com Race Day Scanner).
Canada and Mexico
In Canada NASCAR races were seen on
Speed Channel Latin America
held the rights in Mexico and all of Latin America, including the Bud Shootout, the Gatorade Duels and the Sprint All-Star Race.
Outside North America
broadcast six live races and hour-long summaries of the remaining thirty.2008 competition changes
On January 21, 2008, NASCAR announced various competition changes for the 2008 season.[9]
Qualifying procedures
- In all three national series, teams that were not locked into the starting field via the Owners Points exemption qualified together as a group at the end of their respective qualifying sessions. This rule was dubbed "The Boris Said Rule" as per what happened during qualifying for the 2007 Pepsi 400, where Said was the provisional pole sitter when rain washed out the remainder of qualifying, and rules required that all cars must attempt to make a lap before inclement weather stops all activities. The session was washed out, and Said did not make the field as the field was set by the rulebook (Top 35 in points among owners, past race winners and qualifying attempts).
Revisions to pit road rules
- Over-the-wall pit crews in NASCAR's three national series were able to hand push their car no more than three pit boxes away from their assigned pit box—limiting the crews to the same three-box length for pushing as the vehicles could drive through getting onto pit road.
- Outside tires that had been removed from a vehicle during a pit stop could no longer be free-rolled from the outside of the pit box to the wall. The tires were required to be hand-directed to the inner half of the pit box before being released.
Fuel cell size
- Only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ran the same upgraded 17+3⁄4 gallon fuel cell which was used in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Engines
- A new engine combination package introduced in the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series allowed for cost-saving opportunities for teams. Modifications reduced RPMs and horsepower, which helped engines and pieces to last longer. In turn, teams had the opportunity to run multiple races using the same engine components.
Tire usage at non-sanctioned tests
- Teams in all three national series received an allotment of tires to use for non-NASCAR sanctioned tests. Cup Series teams had access to 200 tires over the course of the year (except for tests that were sanctioned by Goodyear); Nationwide teams got 160 tires and Truck teams got 120 tires.
NASCAR fines
- Money collected from fines issued to drivers and others was remitted to the NASCAR Foundation, which supported a variety of charitable initiatives. Previously, fine money had been added to the season-ending point funds paid to drivers based on their finish in the point standings.
Testing
The first tests followed the change of the calendar at Daytona International Speedway in the first two full weeks of January. Teams that finished in odd numbered positions (1, 3, 5, etc.) through the 2007 USG Sheetrock 400 tested January 7 through 9, while even numbered finishers (2, 4, 6, etc.) through that same period tested January 14 through 16. Speed televised nightly reports throughout this period, as well as the events of the annual Media Tour in Charlotte and the tests in Las Vegas (held on January 28 and 29th) and California (held on January 31 and February 1).[10]
The remaining dates and tracks that were announced December 4, 2007 were:
- Phoenix International Raceway – March 3 and 4
- Pocono Raceway – May 27 and 28
- Lowe's Motor Speedway – September 23 and 24
On April 15, an additional practice session was announced by NASCAR at Lowe's to be held on May 5 and 6th due to problems that were unforeseen at both Las Vegas and Texas during their spring races.
2008 season races
Budweiser Shootout
The 2008 NASCAR season and the 2008 edition of
Budweiser Shootout on February 9 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The non-points race, featured the previous season's pole winners and past winners of the event. Following tradition teams randomly picked their starting positions, Kurt Busch drew the pole, but ultimately had to start near the rear due to a crash in final practice. The 2008 race set a record with 23 drivers starting the race, the largest field ever in the event. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first NASCAR race with his new team Hendrick Motorsports
and his first Sprint Cup Series win since May 2006 at Richmond, leading a record 47 of the 70 laps.
| Top ten finishers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finishers 1–5 | Finishers 6–10 | ||||||||
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team |
| 1 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 6 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | 7 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 8 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 5 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 10 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
|
Daytona 500
Pole qualifying
Qualifying for the 2008
cheating scandal in last year's race
.
Gatorade Duels
The
Sprint Cup Series victory. The win also marked the first win by a foreign make since 1954, when Al Keller won at Linden Airport, driving a Jaguar. Bill Elliott driving the #21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing failed to race his way in during the first duel, this will be the first time the Wood Brothers team has not competed in NASCAR's signature event in 46 years. A wreck in the second race on lap 17 took out Jacques Villeneuve, Stanton Barrett, Dario Franchitti, and Jamie McMurray
after Villeneuve got loose in turn 3.
| Gatorade Duels | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top ten finishers (race #1) | Top ten finishers (race #2) | ||||||||
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team |
| 1 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing
|
3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 4 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 4 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
|
| 5 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
|
5 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 6 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 6 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 7 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 7 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 8 | 87 | Kenny Wallace | Chevrolet | Furniture Row Racing | 8 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 9 | 77 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Dodge | Penske Racing | 9 | 44 | Dale Jarrett | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing |
| 10 | 15 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 10 | 34 | John Andretti | Chevrolet | Front Row Motorsports |
| Also qualifying for Daytona 500: Team Red Bull Toyota .
|
Race two finish was extended four laps due to green-white-checker finish rule.
| ||||||||
| Drivers who were top two not in previous season's Top 35 points are in boldface. | |||||||||
Daytona 500
The 50th annual running of the Daytona 500 was held on February 17, 2008, marking the 50th anniversary since the inaugural running in
Penske Racing
teammates of Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch who denied Stewart the win as he tried for the 10th time to win the race.
| Top ten finishers | Failed to qualify | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | race 1 | race 2 |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing
|
A. J. Allmendinger (#84) | Ken Schrader (#49) |
| 2 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing | Bill Elliott (#21) | Patrick Carpentier (#10) |
| 3 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | Boris Said (#60) | Eric McClure (#37) |
| 4 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | Sterling Marlin (#09) | Jacques Villeneuve (#27) |
| 5 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | Carl Long (#08) | Stanton Barrett (#50) |
| 6 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
|
||
| 7 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||
| 8 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Dodge | Robby Gordon Motorsports | ||
| 9 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| 10 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
|
||
| Robby Gordon, the owner/driver of the #7 Dodge, was penalized both 100 championship driver and owner points after NASCAR officials confiscated an unapproved Dodge Charger nose piece on his Car of Tomorrow during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500 on February 8. Gordon's crew chief Frank Kerr was fined $100,000 and suspended for the next six Sprint Cup Series events until April 9. The points penalty dropped him to 40th place after finishing 8th in the season opener. However, on March 5, an appeals committee overturned the point penalty and suspension but increased the fine to $150,000. Gordon's infraction occurred because a nose that Gillett Evernham Motorsports had given the team was not yet approved. The team had switched to Dodge from Ford after Daytona testing and has assistance from Gillett Evernham Motorsports, which gave the nose in question.[11] | ||||||
Auto Club 500
The 2008
Craftsman Truck Series after periods of rain showers fell for most of the day on Friday. As a result, the race lineup was determined by the NASCAR rule book.[12] The race began on late Sunday afternoon but was red flagged and eventually postponed until Monday morning. Veteran NASCAR driver Mark Martin made his 700th Sprint Cup Series start. The first caution of the race was brought out when Denny Hamlin lost control in turn 3 after running over some water that had seeps up through cracks in the track surface. The next caution involved a large wreck when Casey Mears spun out in turn 2 after also running over water. The wreck collected Casey's teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.
ET), NASCAR decided to postpone the remaining race laps until Monday morning at 10:00 AM PT (1:00 PM ET) due to seeping water on the track. When the race resumed, it was Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson leading the race until Carl Edwards took the lead from Johnson to win his first race at Auto Club Speedway. The Nationwide Series race
was run one hour after the conclusion of the Sprint Cup race.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 4 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 5 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 7 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 9 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 10 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was canceled due to rain: Patrick Carpentier (#10), Mike Skinner (#27), Ken Schrader (#49), A. J. Allmendinger (#84), Burney Lamar (#08)
UAW-Dodge 400
The
Las Vegas native, won the pole and led 56 laps in the race before slipping to 11th. Matt Kenseth also ran strong during the race leading 70 laps and was running third with five laps to go when he was spun by Jeff Gordon. Gordon's car hit hard against the inside retaining wall head on at 180 miles per hour, and the wall did not have a SAFER barrier, this caused his car's radiator to fly out from the chassis into the path of oncoming traffic. Kenseth was able to recover from the spin without hitting anything. The wreck brought a red flag on lap 264 as track workers cleaned up, Jeff Gordon walked away sore from the wreck and made the point that SAFER barriers should be installed to the inside walls.[14] Carl Edwards
went on to win his second race in a row and the ninth of his career.
Following the race it was announced that the #99 car driven by Edwards had failed post-race inspection. On March 5, Edwards was docked 100 championship points with team owner Jack Roush also docked 100 owner points. Carl Edwards' crew chief Bob Osbourne was fined $100,000 and suspended for six races until April 30. As the 99 team qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the team did not receive 10 bonus points for the UAW-Dodge 400 victory used for determining the Chase seeding order.[15]
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 6 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 7 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 8 | 28 | Travis Kvapil | Ford | Yates Racing | ||||
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 10 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
Failed to qualify: A. J. Allmendinger (#84), Joe Nemechek (#78), John Andretti (#34), Johnny Sauter (#21; crashed on first lap)
NOTE: Burney Lamar (#08) withdrew prior to qualifying.
Kobalt Tools 500
The
Kobalt Tools 500 was held on March 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Carl Edwards had the car to beat along with Kyle Busch
, although Edwards' engine expired late in the race. Busch would go on to lead 173 laps and win the race.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 3 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 4 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
| 10 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify:
Johnny Benson (#27), John Andretti (#34), Burney Lamar
(#08)
Food City 500
The
green-white-checkered finish rule when Denny Hamlin had fuel pump problems on the final restart. This was 1999 champion Dale Jarrett
's final points race after 668 career starts.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 2 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 3 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 4 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 5 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 7 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 8 | 8 | Aric Almirola | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 9 | 38 | David Gilliland | Ford | Yates Racing | ||||
| 10 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
NOTE: Race extended six laps due to green-white-checkered finish.
Failed to make race as qualifying was canceled due to rain: Patrick Carpentier (#10), Jeff Green (#21), John Andretti (#34).
As a result of the standings after this race, two teams that were not in the Top-35 in owners points, the #83 Red Bull Toyota Camry of Brian Vickers and the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger of Kurt Busch (owners points were given to the #77) were locked into the Top 35 after the first five races.
Goody's Cool Orange 500
The
Goody's Cool Orange 500 was held on March 30 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Kyle Petty failed to make the race after Dario Franchitti tied with his qualifying time, due to the fact that Franchitti was 38th in owners points and Petty was 40th, marking the first time since 2004 that he failed to make a race. Denny Hamlin
won this race, the second for Toyota in Sprint Cup history. The race was notable for having 20 caution periods, the second most ever during a NASCAR Sprint Cup race; only the 22 cautions imposed at the 2005 Coca-Cola 600 has more.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 4 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 6 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 7 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 9 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), Tony Raines (#08), John Andretti (#34), Joe Nemechek (#78)
Samsung 500
The
Samsung 500 was held on April 6 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole. The race was won by Carl Edwards who started 2nd and led 123 laps. The major story of the race weekend was Michael McDowell's near head-on crash during qualifying after he lost control heading into turn 1 on his second lap.[16] McDowell's car slammed into the turn 1 SAFER barrier
and spun upside down for several hundred yards before the car began a series of at least eight barrel rolls, coming to rest at the bottom of the race track near the infield. McDowell exited the car and was ok. Qualifying was delayed 1 hour and 12 minutes as NASCAR officials assessed and repaired damage to the SAFER barrier.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 6 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 8 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 9 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
NOTES: 1. Race extended five laps due to a green-white-checkered finish.
2. During post race inspection Ryan Newman's #12 car was found to be one-eighth of an inch higher beyond the allotted half-inch tolerance. As a result, Newman and car owner Roger Penske were penalized 25 championship driver and 25 championship owner points, respectively. Crew chief Roy McCauley was fined $25,000 and placed on probation until December 31.[17]
Failed to qualify: Dario Franchitti (#40), Chad McCumbee (#45), Burney Lamar (#08)
Subway Fresh Fit 500
The
Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Ryan Newman won the pole. Coverage of the pre-race was interrupted when Fox switched over to cover the remaining Yankees-Red Sox baseball game.[18] Jimmie Johnson won the race by not pitting for fuel during the last laps. The win marked Hendrick Motorsports
' first win of the 2008 season.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 5 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 6 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 9 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), John Andretti (#34)
Aaron's 499
The
Nationwide Series Aaron's 312
race. Kyle Busch won the race after leading only 12 laps. The race featured only eight cautions. Most of those cautions were results of one or two car incidents. However, the last caution was a result of the "Big One" that occurred in the final moments of the race. Because the crash occurred after the white flag had been waved, the race was allowed to finish under caution.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | ||||
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 5 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
| 6 | 28 | Travis Kvapil | Ford | Yates Racing | ||||
| 7 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 9 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 10 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
Failed to qualify: Dave Blaney (#22), J. J. Yeley (#96), John Andretti (#34)
Crown Royal presents the Dan Lowry 400
The
Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Denny Hamlin won the pole and went on to lead 381 of the 400 laps. However, a leaking right-front tire caused him to fall back with 18 laps left. It then appeared that Dale Earnhardt Jr.
whose last Sprint Cup win came at this race two years ago, would be able to win the race and end his winless streak. However Kyle Busch recovered from a restart failure and drove after Earnhardt Jr. With 5 laps left, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. got side by side and Earnhardt Jr. crashed with 3 laps left. The caution flew and the fans were angry with Kyle Busch even though it was clear and obvious that Busch was not at fault; and that he and Earnhardt Jr. were just plain, cleanly racing and refusing to lose. Earnhardt Jr. himself said on the radio and in the post-race ceremonies that Busch was not at fault but nonetheless the fans jeered Busch for the rest of the race and in the days that followed.
Meanwhile, at the time of the contact RCR driver Clint Bowyer caught up with the two leaders and stole the lead from Kyle Busch. On the final restart Clint Bowyer drove off for his second NSCS victory while Kyle Busch fought Mark Martin for second place. It was Bowyer's last win in NASCAR while numbered as 07, and this win brought Chevrolet to winning the most NASCAR wins in history.
The other big story of the race was that Michael Waltrip was parked by NASCAR. With 46 laps left a caution flew when Casey Mears crashed. It was seen that Waltrip's hood was locked on Mears' rear and Waltrip was trying frantically to crash Mears. The hits caused Casey Mears to crash and bring out the yellow. Prior to the hits with Casey, Waltrip had hit the wall because of Casey's racing moves. NASCAR instantly parked Michael Waltrip causing Waltrip to face his first disqualification of his career.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car no. | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 3 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 4 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 5 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 7 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 10 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
NOTE: Race was extended by eight laps due to green-white-checker finish.
Failed to qualify: Ken Schrader (#40), Scott Wimmer (#33), Jon Wood (#21), John Andretti (#34)
Dodge Challenger 500
The
Dodge Challenger 500 was run May 10 at the newly repaved Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Greg Biffle won the pole, breaking Ward Burton's long standing pole speed by 5.6 mph (9.0 km/h), mostly due to the repaved surface on the track. Kyle Busch was the winner of the race. this would be the last race under the "Dodge Challenger 500" name; next year the race will return to the original name of the Southern 500
.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 4 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 7 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 8 | 28 | Travis Kvapil | Ford | Yates Racing | ||||
| 9 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | ||||
| 10 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Johnny Sauter (#70), Jeff Green (#34)
Sprint All-Star Race XXIV
Lowe's Motor Speedway in the Charlotte, North Carolina suburb of Concord. This non-points race involved winners of the 2007 and 2008 season, along with past Sprint Cup champions and All-Star Race winners from the past decade (1998 through 2007) plus the top two finishing drivers of the Sprint Showdown and a driver voted in by fans from the Showdown whose car had to be raceable. On the line was $1,000,000 in prize money for the winner. Kasey Kahne
finished fifth in the Showdown and was voted into the All-Star event and went onto capture the victory, becoming the third driver to qualify from the preliminary race and win the main event and the first chosen by the fan vote to do the same. The only cautions the race had was after all 4 segments ended which was 4 cautions.
Sprint Showdown
| Top Two Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 84 | A. J. Allmendinger | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
| 2 | 77 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| Qualified via Fan Voting | ||||||||
| 5 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
All-Star Race
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing | ||||
| 7 | 77 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Dodge | Penske Racing | ||||
| 8 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 10 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR's longest race in terms of distance, the
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 8 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 44 | David Reutimann | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Jeff Green (#34), Stanton Barrett (#50), Jon Wood (#21), Joe Nemechek (#78), Tony Raines (#08)
Best Buy 400
The
Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Greg Biffle won the pole. A wreck on lap 17 ruined the day for championship contenders Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, and Kasey Kahne. The wreck occurred when Elliott Sadler made slight contact with David Gilliland, Sadler's car spun out and blocked traffic down the narrow backstretch.[20] Polesitter Greg Biffle dominated the early laps leading 164 of them. Although an alternator problem on lap 170 forced Biffle to relinquish his lead to teammate Carl Edwards. Biffle switched batteries and kept going, although he was forced to leave the cooling fans off inside his car. In the final 153 laps there were no cautions allowing Kyle Busch to build a lead over 8 seconds to second place runner Carl Edwards. Busch took the lead from Edwards during green-flag pit stops that ended on lap 237.[21]
Only the top six cars managed to stay on the lead lap.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 9 | 22 | Dave Blaney | Toyota | Bill Davis Racing | ||||
| 10 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Jason Leffler (#70), Chad McCumbee (#45)
Pocono 500
The Pocono 500 was held on June 8 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Kasey Kahne won the pole, he went on to win the race. Starting with Pocono TNT started its six race broadcast schedule. Kyle Busch qualified tenth but in the second practice hit the wall and started from the back. He finished dead last after a crash with Jamie McMurray, but had a big enough cushion in the standings to remain in first place over Jeff Burton by 21 points.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 2 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 6 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 7 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 8 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 9 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
Failed to qualify: J. J. Yeley (#96)
NOTE: Tony Raines (#34) withdrew before the qualifying session.
LifeLock 400
The
green-white-checkered finish extending the race, and fuel economy usage, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first points paying race in 76 attempts in the first win by a driver from North Carolina in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race since October 2006 at Talladega when Brian Vickers won; ironically, Vickers won for Earnhardt's new team, Hendrick Motorsports
. It also marked the first time a Chevrolet has gone to victory lane in the last 14 Sprint Cup races there.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 3 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 4 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
| 5 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 6 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 7 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 8 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||||
| 10 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was cancelled due to rain: Jason Leffler (#70), Tony Raines (#34).
NOTES: 1. Race extended three laps due to green-white-checkered finish.
2. The #87 Denver Mattress car driven by Kenny Wallace as well as the #08 car without a driver were withdrawn earlier in the week.
Toyota/Save Mart 350
The first of two
Infineon Raceway at Sears Point in Sonoma, California on Sunday, June 22. Kasey Kahne won the pole, but Kyle Busch dominated the field again starting from the 30th position and winning. Marcos Ambrose
made his NASCAR debut. He started in 7th but finished in 42nd
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 38 | David Gilliland | Ford | Yates Racing | ||||
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 4 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | ||||
| 7 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing South
| ||||
| 8 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 9 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify:
green-white-checkered finish
.
Lenox Industrial Tools 301
The
Lenox Industrial Tools 301 was raced on Sunday, June 29 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. The big surprise was sprung in qualifying when following a rain delay of nearly two hours, Québécois Patrick Carpentier won the pole position over Bobby Labonte. Another big surprise was when Kurt Busch
won the race, curtailed 17 laps shy of the scheduled distance as severe thunderstorms hit the area under the seventh and final caution.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
| 3 | 96 | J. J. Yeley | Toyota | Hall of Fame Racing | ||||
| 4 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 5 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 6 | 41 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | ||||
| 7 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 9 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 10 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | ||||
NOTE: Race was cut short to 283 laps due to rain.
Failed to qualify: Marcos Ambrose (#21), Tony Raines (#34)
Coke Zero 400
The
Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola was held on July 5 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Martin Truex Jr.'s car was seized by NASCAR, after the roof template would not fit during opening day technical inspection. Penalties of 150 owner and driver points penalties and a $100,000 fine along with his crew chief and his assistant (car chief) were both suspended for six races being announced on July 8. Paul Menard won the pole, the first of his Sprint Cup career. Tony Stewart became extremely ill on lap 73 and was replaced by former teammate J. J. Yeley. Kyle Busch
won his sixth race of the season and the tenth of his career.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 5 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Dodge | Robby Gordon Motorsports | ||||
| 7 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 8 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 10 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
NOTE: Race was extended two laps under a green-white-checkered finish.
Failed to qualify: Scott Riggs (#66), J. J. Yeley (#96)
LifeLock.com 400
The second half of the season began with the
Chicago, Illinois suburb of Joilet
. It also served as the conclusion of TNT's Summer Series schedule. Qualifying was cancelled due to rain, so the field was set by NASCAR's rulebook. Points leader Kyle Busch won his seventh race of the season.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 4 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 5 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 6 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
| 7 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 8 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 10 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was cancelled due to rain: Johnny Sauter (#08) and Tony Raines (#34).
Allstate 400 at The Brickyard
The
and then the race, which was slowed by nine out of eleven competition cautions because of extreme tire wear.| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 7 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 10 | 84 | A. J. Allmendinger | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
Failed to qualify: Bill Elliott (#21), Johnny Sauter (#08), Tony Raines (#34), Stanton Barrett (#50)
Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500
The
Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 was held on August 3 of this year at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. For the second straight week, Jimmie Johnson won the pole, but this time, it was Carl Edwards
getting the win.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 4 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 8 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 9 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
Failed to qualify: Chad Chaffin (#34).
Centurion Boats at The Glen
The
Centurion Boats at The Glen, the second and final road course race of the season, was held on August 10 at Watkins Glen International in the New York village of said racetrack
. Qualifying was canceled due to rain, and the field was set by the rulebook. Kyle Busch swept both road races with his eighth Cup win and sixteenth overall in all three major series, and clinched the top position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 3 | 21 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford | Wood Brothers Racing | ||||
| 4 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | ||||
| 5 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 6 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 9 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 10 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was cancelled due to rain: Boris Said (#60) and Brian Simo (#34).
3M Performance 400
The
Roush Fenway Racing was led by race winner Carl Edwards
, as four of the top five were all from the RFR stable and all five made the top ten.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 3 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 5 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 7 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
| 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 9 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 10 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Johnny Sauter (#08).
Sharpie 500
The
Sharpie 500 was held August 23 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Carl Edwards
, the defending race champion, would start on the pole and in the process, wrapped up a position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He then would go on to win the race, but on-track fireworks ensued afterwards when runner up Kyle Busch, whom Edwards would pass with 30 laps to go on a bump and run, bumped Edwards on the cooldown lap. Edwards then turned Busch.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 7 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 9 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Jeff Green (#34), Johnny Sauter (#08), Patrick Carpentier (#10), Stanton Barrett (#50).
Pepsi 500
The
2009 NASCAR realignment, this became the final race to be held here on Labor Day weekend. In 2009, this race becomes part of the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup, taking over the spot occupied for the fall race at Talladega Superspeedway, and was to have concluded ESPN's portion of the television schedule. Jimmie Johnson
took the pole position, and dominated the race to win.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 7 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyoya | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 8 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 9 | 44 | David Reutimann | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
| 10 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Tony Raines (#70).
Chevy Rock & Roll 400
The final "regular season" race, the
Chicago, Illinois. This race set the field for the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup
with the top 12 drivers becoming eligible, and having their points reset to 5,000 with a ten-point bonus for each win they earned in the first 26 races of the season. As Hanna canceled qualifying for the race, the field was set by rulebook.
| Top ten finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 6 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 44 | David Reutimann | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
| 10 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was canceled due to rain: Joey Logano (#02), Sterling Marlin (#09), Tony Raines (#34).
Drivers in green made Chase for Sprint Cup.
Chase for the Sprint Cup
Sylvania 300
The first race of the 2008 Chase, and the 27th race of the season, the
Sylvania 300, was run September 14 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. Qualifying was canceled due to rain, so for the second week in a row, NASCAR's rulebook set the field. While Kyle Busch suffered mechanical problems with a bad sway bar, Greg Biffle won his first race since last October. Joey Logano
made his NASCAR debut, finishing 32nd
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 7 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 8 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 10 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was canceled due to rain: Tony Raines (#34) and Carl Long (#46).
NOTE: The #02 car, which was to have been driven by Joey Logano was withdrawn as he was entered in the #96 ride.
Camping World RV 400
The
Camping World RV 400
, the second race in the 2008 Chase and the 28th race overall, was run September 21 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Jeff Gordon won his third pole of the season, but it was Greg Biffle winning his second straight race.
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 3 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 5 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 9 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 10 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Chad Chaffin (#34), Johnny Sauter (#08), Stanton Barrett (#50).
Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman
The
shock absorbers that exceeded the maximum allowed by NASCAR, and Jimmie Johnson
, who was second, was awarded the pole and went on to win the race.
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 84 | A. J. Allmendinger | Toyota | Team Red Bull
| ||||
| 10 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
Failed to qualify: Michael McDowell (#00), Johnny Sauter (#08).
AMP Energy 500
The
Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway
will be run in this spot next season.
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 15 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 3 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 4 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 6 | 43 | Bobby Labonte | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | ||||
| 7 | 66 | Scott Riggs | Chevrolet | Haas CNC Racing
| ||||
| 8 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Dodge | Robby Gordon Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 10 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
Failed to qualify:
green-white-checker finish
rule.
Bank of America 500
The
Bank of America 500, the sole night race on the Chase schedule which marks its halfway point and the 31st overall race of the season, was held Saturday night, October 11 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the Charlotte, North Carolina suburb of Concord. Qualifying was cancelled due to rain and the field was set by the rulebook for the eighth time this season. Jimmie Johnson was the polesitter, while Jeff Burton
won the race and became a contender in the 2008 Chase once again.
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 2 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 3 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 4 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 5 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 6 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 7 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 8 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 10 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was cancelled due to rain: Brad Keselowski (#25), Bryan Clauson (#40), Derrike Cope (#75), Scott Speed (#82).
Tums QuikPak 500
The Tums QuikPak 500, race number six in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the 32nd overall race of the season, was held on October 19 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Qualifying was cancelled due to rain, and the field was set by the rulebook for a record ninth time this season. Jimmie Johnson was the winner.
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car No. | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 6 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 7 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 10 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
NOTE: Race extended four laps due to green-white-checker finish rule.
Failed to make race as qualifying was cancelled due to rain: Sterling Marlin (#09), Derrike Cope (#75).
Following the race at NASCAR's Research and Development Center, an inspection found that
Team Red Bull's #83 Toyota, driven by Brian Vickers
, had sheet metal that was thinner than required. As a result, crew chief Kevin Hamlin and car chief Craig Smokstad were suspended indefinitely, Hamlin was fined $100,000 and the team lost 150 owner and driver points.
Pep Boys Auto 500
The
AMP Energy 500 in Talladega, Alabama. For the third consecutive race and 10th overall this season, qualifying was cancelled because of rain, which meant Jimmie Johnson would be on the pole as NASCAR's rulebook set the field once again. Carl Edwards
won his 7th race of the season.
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car No. | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 5 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 6 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 7 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 8 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 10 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was cancelled due to rain: Joey Logano (#02), Bryan Clauson (#40)
NOTE: The #08 car, which was to have been driven by Johnny Sauter, was withdrawn earlier in the week.
Dickies 500
The
Dickies 500, the third-to-last race in the Chase and the season (race eight in the Chase and race 34 in the overall season) was held on November 2 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Jeff Gordon won his fourth pole of the year and his first at the track. Carl Edwards won his second consecutive race at the track making it his eighth win of the season. Brad Keselowski
made his NASCAR debut, finishing 19th
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car No. | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 7 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
| 9 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 44 | David Reutimann | Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
Failed to qualify: Johnny Sauter (#08), Max Papis (#13), Bryan Clauson (#40), Chad McCumbee (#45), Tony Raines (#70)
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
The
Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona
. Jimmie Johnson increased his Championship lead by winning the race and leading the majority of it. The race was delayed for just over an hour due to a light rain shower at lap 44, and a 9 car pileup on lap 273.
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing
| ||||
| 3 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 4 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 6 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 7 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Job Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 9 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 10 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
NOTE: Race extended one lap due to green-white-checker finish rule.
Failed to qualify: Joe Nemechek (#78)
Ford 400
The 2008 season and Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship ended at
Ford 400 on November 16, 2008. Carl Edwards won his ninth race of the season. Also, after 14 straight seasons with at least one victory from 1994 to 2007, Jeff Gordon
failed to keep his winning streak alive in 2008. It would be first time that he didn't win a race since his rookie year in 1993. His 14-season winning streak of at least one race came to a total of 81 wins. His best finish in the 2008 season was 2nd place twice (Martinsville in March, and Texas in November).
| Top ten finishers (Chase drivers highlighted in yellow) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Car make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing
| ||||
| 2 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 3 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 07 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 6 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports
| ||||
| 7 | 28 | Travis Kvapil | Ford | Yates Racing | ||||
| 8 | 5 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 10 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | ||||
Failed to qualify: Max Papis (#13) Sam Hornish Jr. (#77), Ken Schrader (#96)
Results and standings
Drivers' championship
(key) Bold - Pole position awarded by time. Italics - Pole position set by owner's points standings. * – Most laps led.
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | MAR | TEX | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH
|
SON | NHA | DAY | CHI | IND
|
POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN | TAL | CLT | MAR | ATL | TEX | PHO | HOM | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 27 | 2* | 29 | 13 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1* | 13 | 30 | 13 | 39 | 7 | 6 | 6* | 15 | 9 | 23 | 2 | 1* | 3 | 7 | 17 | 33 | 1* | 1 | 2* | 5 | 1* | 9 | 6* | 1* | 2 | 15 | 1* | 15 | 6684 | |
| 2 | Carl Edwards | 19 | 1 | 1* | 42 | 16 | 9 | 1* | 4 | 40 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 2 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1* | 1 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 1* | 4 | 1* | 6615 | |
| 3 | Greg Biffle | 10 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 39 | 9 | 18 | 14 | 43 | 2 | 3* | 15 | 20 | 11 | 21 | 43 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 6467 | |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | 14 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 24 | 8 | 39 | 14 | 38 | 13 | 12 | 30 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 37 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 6408 | |
| 5 | Clint Bowyer | 24 | 19 | 28 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 15 | 25 | 36 | 39 | 26 | 4 | 22 | 9 | 22 | 19 | 6 | 23 | 20 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 6381 | |
| 6 | Jeff Burton | 13 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 37 | 19 | 9 | 21 | 17 | 11 | 42 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 40 | 6335 | |
| 7 | Jeff Gordon | 39 | 3 | 35 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 43 | 13 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 3 | 11 | 30 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 29 | 42 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 41 | 4 | 6316 | |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | 17 | 41 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 24* | 7 | 24 | 43 | 3 | 14 | 27 | 8 | 26 | 40 | 3 | 23 | 8 | 39 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 38 | 11 | 39 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 5 | 13 | 6214 | |
| 9 | Tony Stewart | 3 | 7 | 43 | 2 | 14* | 5 | 7 | 14 | 38* | 4 | 21 | 18 | 41 | 35 | 5 | 10 | 13* | 20 | 5 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 40 | 1* | 11 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 9 | 6202 | |
| 10 | Kyle Busch | 4* | 4 | 11 | 1* | 17 | 38 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1* | 3 | 1* | 43 | 13 | 1* | 25 | 1 | 1* | 15 | 36 | 1* | 2 | 2* | 7 | 15 | 34 | 43 | 28 | 15 | 4 | 29 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 6186 | |
| 11 | Matt Kenseth | 36 | 5 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 30 | 9 | 38 | 41 | 38 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 38 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 39 | 40 | 2* | 5 | 26 | 41 | 8 | 4* | 9 | 15 | 25 | 6182 | |
| 12 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 9 | 40 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6* | 12 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 5* | 35 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 24 | 8* | 16 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 13 | 28 | 36 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 6 | 41 | 6127 | |
Chase for the Sprint Cup cut-off
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | MAR | TEX | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH
|
SON | NHA | DAY | CHI | IND
|
POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN | TAL | CLT | MAR | ATL | TEX | PHO | HOM | Points | |
| 13 | David Ragan | 42 | 14 | 7 | 23 | 21 | 11 | 13 | 27 | 4 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 24 | 8 | 24 | 40 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 30 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 32 | 28 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 24 | 4299 | |
| 14 | Kasey Kahne | 7 | 9 | 6 | 28 | 7 | 17 | 25 | 36 | 23 | 10 | 22 | 1 | 31 | 1* | 2 | 33 | 30 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 40 | 40 | 8 | 19 | 11 | 26 | 21 | 36 | 2 | 33 | 33 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 4085 | |
| 15 | Martin Truex Jr. | 20 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 13 | 21 | 36 | 8 | 37 | 5 | 14 | 34 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 35 | 19 | 16 | 7 | 20 | 43 | 41 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 43 | 10 | 3839 | |
| 16 | Jamie McMurray | 26 | 22 | 25 | 40 | 43 | 8 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 35 | 11 | 23 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 18 | 41 | 32 | 21 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 29 | 39 | 36 | 17 | 32 | 5 | 38 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3809 | |
| 17 | Ryan Newman | 1 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 33 | 19 | 4 | 43 | 8 | 6 | 37 | 21 | 14 | 18 | 42 | 7 | 15 | 36 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 26 | 21 | 6 | 16 | 33 | 36 | 13 | 16 | 43 | 21 | 23 | 16 | 28 | 34 | 21 | 3735 | |
| 18 | Kurt Busch | 2 | 13 | 38 | 11 | 12 | 33 | 23 | 23 | 39 | 42 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 21 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 40 | 38 | 10 | 36 | 15 | 39 | 10 | 6 | 34 | 30 | 21 | 3 | 36 | 6 | 41 | 2 | 43 | 3635 | |
| 19 | Brian Vickers | 12 | 11 | 24 | 9 | 39 | 23 | 16 | 25 | 5 | 28 | 25 | 42 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 42 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 20 | 12 | 36 | 35 | 31 | 15 | 35 | 18 | 11 | 21 | 18 | 42 | 32 | 3580 | |
| 20 | Casey Mears | 35 | 42 | 13 | 17 | 42 | 7 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 36 | 35 | 29 | 17 | 26 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 34 | 33 | 26 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 41 | 26 | 11 | 37 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 29 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 36 | 8 | 3527 | |
| 21 | Bobby Labonte | 11 | 25 | 17 | 12 | 38 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 34 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 32 | 11 | 31 | 39 | 10 | 13 | 29 | 16 | 33 | 42 | 27 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 13 | 14 | 24 | 6 | 17 | 37 | 26 | 39 | 19 | 33 | 3448 | |
| 22 | David Reutimann | 18 | 23 | 37 | 20 | 20 | 39 | 41 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 10 | 27 | 19 | 35 | 40 | 19 | 21 | 14 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 14 | 25 | 9 | 9* | 15 | 17 | 19 | 37 | 32 | 24 | 28 | 10 | 25 | 20 | 3397 | |
| 23 | Travis Kvapil | 30 | 28 | 8 | 29 | 27 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 6 | 16 | 8 | 26 | 11 | 23 | 16 | 22 | 36 | 31 | 41 | 36 | 16 | 36 | 13 | 24 | 28 | 17 | 16 | 23 | 34 | 27 | 42 | 19 | 23 | 32 | 21 | 7 | 3384 | |
| 24 | Elliott Sadler | 6 | 24 | 12 | 43 | 19 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 29 | 20 | 42 | 8 | 42 | 34 | 9 | 19 | 5 | 39 | 12 | 4 | 27 | 15 | 9 | 32 | 34 | 37 | 24 | 27 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 41 | 25 | 35 | 30 | 28 | 3364 | |
| 25 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 32 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 32 | 23 | 30 | 12 | 38 | 38 | 6 | 32 | 38 | 18 | 39 | 40 | 4 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 30 | 17 | 39 | 20 | 25 | 34 | 14 | 40 | 43 | 17 | 17 | 3329 | |
| 26 | Paul Menard | 22 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 32 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 14 | 31 | 36 | 41 | 22 | 25 | 11 | 34 | 29 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 42 | 28 | 24 | 16 | 37 | 34 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 2 | 26 | 27 | 31 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 3151 | |
| 27 | David Gilliland | 28 | 17 | 23 | 32 | 9 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 41 | 20 | 40 | 16 | 16 | 27 | 2 | 28 | 40 | 42 | 20 | 34 | 40 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 41 | 19 | 22 | 40 | 25 | 32 | 27 | 42 | 35 | 27 | 3064 | |
| 28 | Mark Martin | 31 | 16 | 10 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 23 | 10 | 25 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 8* | 6 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 9 | 22 | 12 | 14 | 3022 | |||||||||||||
| 29 | Michael Waltrip | 29 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 23 | 35 | 31 | 24 | 27 | 37 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 37 | 23 | 25 | 2 | 27 | 36 | 43 | 43 | 39 | 19 | 30 | 33 | 28 | 25 | 10 | 35 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 37 | 27 | 24 | 38 | 2889 | |
| 30 | Dave Blaney | 38 | 30 | 26 | 34 | 34 | 43 | 21 | 30 | DNQ | 18 | 9 | 17 | 9 | 22 | 39 | 20 | 33 | 19 | 23 | 35 | 31 | 41 | 41 | 38 | 29 | 22 | 33 | 12 | 31 | 22 | 27 | 22 | 41 | 29 | 20 | 22 | 2851 | |
| 31 | Scott Riggs | 21 | 21 | 36 | 18 | 22 | 41 | 27 | 26 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 28 | 39 | 21 | 33 | DNQ | 34 | DNQ | 20 | 25 | 29 | 34 | 15 | 27 | 25 | 31 | 19 | 25 | 42 | 7 | 19 | 21 | 43 | 25 | 38 | 14 | 2797 | |
| 32 | Reed Sorenson | 5 | 37 | 18 | 31 | 31 | 36 | 24 | 42 | 43 | 12 | 32 | 22 | 26 | 33 | 34 | 6 | 22 | 31 | 17 | 35 | 31 | 33 | 36 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 15 | 35 | 39 | 37 | 31 | 31 | 2795 | ||
| 33 | Robby Gordon | 8 | 18 | 42 | 24 | 24 | 40 | 30 | 29 | 11 | 26 | 33 | 43 | 19 | 36 | 40 | 36 | 26 | 6 | 25 | 33 | 37 | 27 | 37 | 39 | 40 | 42 | 26 | 22 | 37 | 8 | 30 | 40 | 19 | 36 | 28 | 26 | 2770 | |
| 34 | Regan Smith (R) | 37 | 31 | 34 | 38 | 26 | 14 | 35 | 35 | 21 | 21 | 29 | 19 | 21 | 28 | 32 | 27 | 24 | 34 | 31 | 25 | Wth | 29 | 14 | 36 | 23 | 23 | 37 | 32 | 18 | 23 | 42 | 30 | 34 | 23 | 34 | 2672 | ||
| 35 | Sam Hornish Jr. (R) | 15 | 43 | 41 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 20 | 35 | 23 | 38 | 13 | 18 | 42 | 22 | 31 | 39 | 29 | 37 | 21 | 26 | 32 | 22 | 37 | 31 | 38 | 30 | 42 | 33 | DNQ | 22 | 34 | 24 | 23 | 33 | DNQ | 2523 | |
| 36 | A. J. Allmendinger | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 30 | 39 | 27 | 20 | 37 | 12 | 19 | 37 | 43 | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 28 | 34 | 14 | 43 | 38 | 16 | 9 | 43 | 15 | 14 | 26 | 16 | 11 | 2436 | |||||||
| 37 | Joe Nemechek | 41 | 34 | DNQ | 36 | 35 | DNQ | 37 | 40 | 25 | 29 | 31 | DNQ | 34 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 20 | 18 | 39 | 29 | 41 | 38 | 34 | 29 | 43 | 40 | 43 | 35 | 38 | 11 | 37 | 43 | 42 | 38 | DNQ | 36 | 1989 | |
| 38 | Patrick Carpentier (R) | DNQ | DNQ | 40 | 35 | DNQ | 29 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 43 | 40 | 37 | 29 | 32 | 24 | 23 | 31 | 14 | 30 | 18 | 20 | 30 | DNQ | 18 | 25 | 31 | 41 | 29 | DNQ | 1794 | ||||||||
| 39 | Bill Elliott | DNQ | 26 | DNQ | 34 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 36 | 35 | DNQ | 20 | 26 | 35 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 16 | 38 | 31 | 29 | 12 | 1528 | ||||||||||||||
| 40 | Michael McDowell (R) | 26 | 33 | 34 | 26 | 40 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 37 | 21 | 42 | 25 | 43 | 34 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 27 | 29 | DNQ | 1466 | ||||||||||||||||
| 41 | J. J. Yeley | 25 | 29 | 27 | 37 | 25 | 27 | 42 | 39 | DNQ | 34 | 26 | 38 | 24 | DNQ | 41 | DNQ | 3 | DNQ | 24 | 28 | 39 | 1263 | ||||||||||||||||
| 42 | Aric Almirola | 8 | 42 | 33 | 28 | 23 | 35 | 13 | 30 | 18 | 13 | 20 | 35 | 1075 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 43 | Ken Schrader | DNQ | DNQ | 21 | DNQ | 41 | 37 | Wth | 42 | DNQ | 33 | 21 | 41 | 27 | 33 | 16 | 38 | 28 | 35 | 30 | 27 | DNQ | 1040 | ||||||||||||||||
| 44 | Kyle Petty | 34 | 38 | 32 | 41 | 28 | DNQ | DNQ | 32 | 27 | 41 | 36 | 34 | 38 | 24 | 40 | 41 | 39 | 879 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 | Marcos Ambrose | 42 | DNQ | 22 | 3 | 43 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 29 | 21 | 18 | 42 | 844 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 46 | Terry Labonte | 30 | 29 | 17 | 35 | 16 | 38 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 17 | 811 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 47 | Tony Raines | DNQ | DNQ | 40 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 18 | 31 | 17 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 28 | 23 | 34 | 40 | 31 | 32 | DNQ | 37 | 800 | ||||||||||||||||
| 48 | Mike Skinner | DNQ | 30 | 27 | 40 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 35 | 28 | 35 | 31 | 39 | 734 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 49 | Dario Franchitti (R) | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 36 | 22 | DNQ | 32 | QL† | 41 | 43 | DNQ | 38 | Wth | 606 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | Jeremy Mayfield | 23 | 39 | 16 | 39 | 30 | 32 | 38 | 25 | 578 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | Sterling Marlin | DNQ | 22 | 25 | 34 | 31 | 41 | 43 | 42 | 32 | 29 | 482 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 52 | Chad McCumbee | DNQ | DNQ | 17 | 42 | 35 | 25 | 36 | DNQ | 39 | 396 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | Johnny Sauter | DNQ | 37 | 33 | DNQ | 35 | 37 | 28 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 42 | 41 | 20 | DNQ | DNQ | Wth | DNQ | 37 | 387 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 54 | Dale Jarrett | 16 | 33 | 39 | 26 | 37 | 367 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 55 | Scott Speed | DNQ | 30 | 34 | 33 | 40 | 16 | 366 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 56 | Ron Fellows | 29 | 13 | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 57 | Brad Keselowski | DNQ | 19 | 23 | 200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 58 | Boris Said | DNQ | Wth | 41 | 35 | 24 | Wth | 194 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 59 | Jason Leffler | DNQ | 40 | DNQ | 27 | 32 | 192 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 60 | Jon Wood | 36 | DNQ | DNQ | 33 | 33 | 183 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 61 | Kenny Wallace | 43 | Wth | Wth | 12 | 166 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 62 | John Andretti | 40 | 35 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 40 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 149 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 63 | Mike Wallace | 30 | 31 | 143 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 64 | Joey Logano | DNQ | 32 | 39 | DNQ | 40 | 113 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 65 | Max Papis | 35 | 43 | DNQ | DNQ | 92 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 66 | David Stremme | 28 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 67 | P. J. Jones | QL‡ | 37 | 52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 68 | Scott Pruett | 38 | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69 | Brad Coleman | 38 | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 70 | Mike Bliss | 39 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 71 | Brian Simo | 43 | DNQ | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 72 | Eric McClure | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 73 | Jacques Villeneuve | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 74 | Stanton Barrett | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 75 | Carl Long | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 76 | Burney Lamar | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 77 | Johnny Benson
|
DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 78 | Jeff Green | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 79 | Scott Wimmer | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 80 | Brandon Ash | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 81 | Chad Chaffin | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 82 | Bryan Clauson | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 83 | Derrike Cope | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 84 | Kevin Lepage | Wth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 85 | Matt Crafton | QL¶ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | MAR | TEX | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH
|
SON | NHA | DAY | CHI | IND
|
POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN | TAL | CLT | MAR | ATL | TEX | PHO | HOM | Points | |
| † – Nationwide Series race the day before. .
‡ – P. J. Jones qualified for Robby Gordon. ¶ – Matt Crafton qualified for Robby Gordon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note:This list does not include exhibition races.
Deductions
The following drivers (and teams) were penalized both drivers and owners points for violations:
- Carl Edwards (#99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford) – 100 points plus 10 bonus points entering the 2008 Chase – Las Vegas (A post-race inspection found opened oil tank lid after UAW-Dodge 400.)
- Ryan Newman (#12 Penske Racing Dodge) – 25 points – Texas (Car was 1⁄8" higher than 1⁄4" tolerance following Samsung 500.)
- Scott Riggs and Johnny Sauter (#66 and #70 CNC Haas Chevrolets) – 150 points each – Charlotte (Illegal adjustments of wings on both cars; they drove their backup cars in Coca-Cola 600.)
- Martin Truex Jr. (#1 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet) – 150 points – Daytona (Roof on primary car failed inspection prior to Coke Zero 400; drove a backup car.)
- Brian Vickers (#83 Team Red Bull Toyota) – 150 points – Martinsville (A post-race inspection at NASCAR's R&D center found that the car had thinner sheet metal violated the rules following the Tums QuikPak 500.)
Robby Gordon was originally docked 100 points following the Daytona 500 for use of an illegal nose on his car; however, on March 5, the points were given back to his drivers and owners points total, but the team was fined $150,000 instead of $100,000 for said infraction.
Manufacturers' Championship
Chevrolet won the
NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship with 11 wins and 219 points for the season, over second place Ford who also had 11 wins, but only 215 points. Toyota finished third with 207 points, and Dodge fourth with 151 points.[22]
Rookie of the Year
The primary contenders for the Rookie title were Regan Smith and former Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. Smith became the first rookie driver to complete all races entered and nearly won the fall race at Talladega. Hornish meanwhile struggled to quickly adapt to stock cars but finished 7 points behind Smith. Canadian Patrick Carpentier missed the Daytona 500 but won the pole at New Hampshire. Road racer Michael McDowell ran 20 races for Michael Waltrip Racing. 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti managed to run the first 8 races before an injury during the Talladega Nationwide Series race, coupled with owner Chip Ganassi shutting down the No. 40 team, ended Franchitti's bid.
See also
- 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
- 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
- 2008 NASCAR Camping World East Series
- 2008 NASCAR Camping World West Series
- 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
- 2008 NASCAR Corona Series
- 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup
- List of NASCAR all-time cup winners
- 2008 in sports
External links
References
- ^ USA Today: NASCAR changing top series name to Sprint Cup
- ^ NASCAR.com: It's official: CoT will be used full time in '08 season
- ^ High U.S. gas prices pinch NASCAR fans
- ^ NASCAR feeling pinch of struggling U.S. economy
- ^ NASCAR.com: Lack of funding forces Ganassi to shut down #40 team
- ^ NASCAR.com: Eight-Year, Multi-Network TV Deal Announced.
- ^ NASCAR.com: ESPN Makes Changes To Its 2008 Broadcast Team
- ^ "Fox Sports.com: Digger The Gopher Is Born". Archived from the original on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ NASCAR.com: 2008 competition changes
- ^ Daytona 2008 preseason test dates announced
- ^ NASCAR.com: R. Gordon loses 100 points, crew chief suspended
- ^ NASCAR.com: Rain washes out qualifying events Friday at California
- ^ ESPN.com: Did the Auto Club 500 show have to go on? Many drivers said no.
- ^ NASCAR.com: Crash has Gordon wanting safety upgrades at LVMS Archived 2008-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ NASCAR.com: Edwards hit with penalty, loses lead in Cup standings
- ^ NASCAR.com: McDowell OK after near head-on crash in qualifying
- ^ NASCAR.com: Newman hit with 25-point penalty for Texas infraction
- ^ ESPN.com: Fans confused when Fox shifts from Red Sox/Yanks finish to NASCAR
- ^ NASCAR.com:Stewart's late slip hands Kahne Coca-Cola 600 win
- ^ "NASCAR.com: Early Dover wreck ruins day for nearly half of top 12". Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ^ NASCAR.com: Early Dover wreck ruins day for nearly half of top 12
- Turner Sportsand Entertainment Digital Network. Retrieved 2009-09-11.