NASCAR Citizens Bank 400 Recap 2007

The Citizens Bank 400 started out with Jimmie Johnson jumping to the front to lead the first 10 laps. Martin Truex Jr. continued his hot streak by taking the led from Johnson on lap 11. As Truex Jr. increased his lead by 2 seconds Ryan Newman had a tire go down that put him 3 laps down. If you are wondering about our pole sitter, he was scored in 20th place on lap 27. By lap 30 Truex Jr. had almost a 4 second lead on Johnson as green flag pit stops were scheduled for around lap 35.

Truex Jr. finally gave up the lead to Denny Hamlin on lap 38 for fuel and tires as green flag pits stops were almost done. As pit stops cycled through the top five at lap 45 were Truex Jr., Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch. At lap 52 the first caution of the day came out for debris and Juan Montoya received the lucky dog. This spoiled a 2 second lead for Truex Jr. who continued to dominate the field. All the leaders hit pit road and the race was back on at lap 56.

Truex Jr. experimented with a two tire change only and was back in front as the green dropped again. Truex Jr.’s experiment didn’t help him any as Jimmie Johnson passed Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Truex Jr. for the lead.

The second caution of the day came out several laps later as Montoya hit the wall putting Mark Martin back on the lead lap. Once again all the lead lap cars pitted and as the cars were heading back on the track Carl Edwards was penalized for speeding on pit road. He was sent to the back of the lead lap cars which saw him sitting in the 27th slot.

Jeff Gordon led the pack back to racing and as the cars came up to speed Dale Jr. began to go straight to the back. He hit pit road quickly. As this was happening Ryan Newman clipped Jeff Green that scattered cars right and left. Matt Kenseth and Brian Vickers had considerable damage. During the caution Dale Jr. hit pit road a total of 3 times as crew members beat out some damage on the front bumper. As the green flew again Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson made it a Hendrick led field as they started to distance themselves from the rest of the field.

Ten laps into the restart Jimmie Johnson got by Gordon and took the lead. Johnson increased his lead to 3 seconds over Gordon as Carl Edwards moved into the 6th position after having the penalty that put him into 27th earlier.

Around lap 110 fans began to see green flag pits stops from the field. Denny Hamlin again had problems on pit road as the jack fell when the crew was changing right side tires. Just as green flag pit stops ended the 4th caution of the day fell when Elliott Sadler bumps Tony Raines which sent him spinning. The caution only sees leaders Gordon and Truex Jr. on pit road. Jimmie Johnson once again leads the charges to another green flag.

With Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards charging toward the lead Johnson didn’t seem to have the run away power that he had earlier. Edwards got past Busch, and then got into battle with Johnson for the lead position. On lap 132 Edwards showed his power by getting by Johnson and opening a 3 second lead. Very impressive considering that Edwards was penalized earlier for speeding on pit road. At lap 150 green flag pit stops were back in action.

Johnson started the parade as his car wasn’t what it was earlier. After 11 laps of pitting under the green Johnson took back first place from Edwards. But, only after a few laps Edwards was back in the lead with only 35 laps to go. Edwards, Truex Jr. and Tony Stewart are told that they are good to go on fuel to make it to the finish. Johnson was told by crew chief Chad Knaus that he’s about 3 laps short.

With 20 laps to go Truex Jr. started to let Edwards know he was back there and was closing the gap. With 9 laps to go Truex Jr. brushed the wall which sent him back about a second from Edwards. Two more laps clicked by and Jimmie Johnson did indeed find himself running out of fuel and coasting on pit road to get a splash of gas. With a 3 second lead between himself and Truex Jr.

Edwards crossed the finish line and ended a 52 race winless streak that dates back to November 2005. Finishing 2nd through 5th was Truex Jr., Stewart, Casey Mears and Dale Jr. With Edwards celebrating in the winners circle the biggest relief was for crew member/motor coach driver Tom Giacchi, who had not shaved in 19 months (Edwards’s last win). The scissors and razor were out for the long time friend of Edwards, who started the grooming ceremony himself.

Next week the circuit moves to the first road course in the 2007 schedule as they visit Sonoma, California.

Tony Urso is an avid NASCAR and auto racing fan who founded TotalRaceFans.com, a community for NASCAR fanatics.

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