# Raybestos Rookie of the Year Contender.   * Includes race leader/most laps led bonus.

Failed to qualify: (4) Robby Gordon #7; Kevin Lepage #37; Kenny Wallace #00; Stanton Barrett #92.

Race comments: Before an estimated crowd of 155,000, Jeff Gordon won the Aaron’s 499, posting his 72nd NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victory. On Lap 133 the race was red-flagged (43 minutes, 21 seconds) for track clean-up. Prior to the green flag, the following driver, under penalty, dropped to the rear of the field for the reasons indicated: #99 Carl Edwards (transmission change).

 

TIME OF RACE:  3 hours, 30 minutes, 46 seconds                                  AVERAGE SPEED: 146.904 mph                              MARGIN OF VICTORY:  .193 second

BUDWEISER POLE AWARD:  Kevin Harvick, GM Goodwrench Chevrolet (189.804 mph, 50.452 secs.)

COMMIT LOZENGES COMMIT TO WIN AWARD:  Jeff Gordon, DuPont Chevrolet

CHECKERS/RALLY’S DOUBLE DRIVE-THRU CHALLENGE AWARD: Jeff Gordon, DuPont Chevrolet

EA SPORTS MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD:  Jeff Gordon, DuPont Chevrolet

GOODYEAR GATORBACK FASTEST LAP AWARD:  Jeff Gordon, DuPont Chevrolet

MBNA MID-RACE LEADER AWARD:  Jeff Gordon, DuPont Chevrolet (Also, received $5,000 MBNA Bonus for winning race.)

MOBIL 1 COMMAND PERFORMANCE DRIVER OF THE RACE AWARD:  Michael Waltrip NAPA Chevrolet

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP LEADER BONUS: No winner; rolls over to $70,000 at Darlington Raceway.

RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD:  Travis Kvapil, Kodak/Jasper Eng. & Trans. Dodge

SUNOCO DIAMOND PERFORMANCE AWARD:  Jeff Gordon, DuPont Chevrolet

U.S.G. IMPROVING THE FINISH AWARD:  Johnny Sauter, Miccosukee Resort Dodge

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD:  Jeff Gordon, DuPont Chevrolet (139 laps)

CAUTION FLAGS: 8 cautions for 30 laps. 21-23 (Car #45-Accident, Frontstretch); 39-41 (Car #43-Accident, Backstretch); 103-107 (Debris on Frontstretch); 117-120 (Car #45-Stalled, Frontstretch); 134-137 (Car #25-Accident, Turn 1); 167-170 (Debris in pit entrance); 173-174 (Car #45-Stalled, Turn 1); 188-192 (Car #1, 8, 16, 29, 48 & 77-Accident, Backstretch).

LAP LEADERS: 33 lead changes among 16 drivers. Kevin Harvick-pole, Jeff Gordon 1-20, Mike Wallace 21, Gordon 22-36, Tony Stewart 37-38, Greg Biffle 39, Gordon 40-68, Harvick 69-71, Gordon 72-73, Scott Riggs 74, Harvick 75-78, Ryan Newman 79-83, Gordon 84, Harvick 85-88, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 89-91, Gordon 92-102, Joe Nemechek 103, Ken Schrader 104, Riggs 105-107, Harvick 108, Gordon 109, Elliott Sadler 110-116, Biffle 117, Mark Martin 118-120, Gordon 121-123, E. Sadler 124-125, Gordon 126-133, Kurt Busch 134, Jimmie Johnson 135-142, Gordon 143-166, Bobby Labonte 167, Gordon 168-182, Michael Waltrip 183-184, Gordon 185-194.

 

TOP 10 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP POINTS  (Wins)

 1 –Jimmie Johnson                1368        (1)

 2 –Kurt Busch                         1238        (1)

 3 –Jeff Gordon                        1217        (3)

 4 –Greg Biffle                         1181        (2)

 5 –Elliott Sadler                     1164        (0)

 6 –Tony Stewart                     1088        (0)

 7 –Dale Jarrett                        1085        (0)

 8 –Kevin Harvick                     1083        (1)

 9 –Dale Earnhardt Jr.              1070        (0)

10–Jamie McMurray                1067        (0)

 

MANUFACTURERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

                                        Pts      Wins

Chevrolet                         67        5

Ford                                 62        4

Dodge                              42        0

 

CHECKERS/RALLY’S DOUBLE DRIVE-THRU CHALLENGE AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Ryan Newman               (#12)          2

Elliott Sadler                 (#38)          2

Rusty Wallace                (#  2)          2

 

RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Kyle Busch                                      107

Travis Kvapil                                     97

Stanton Barrett                                  24

Eric McClure                                     11

 

BUD POLE AWARD STANDINGS

Ryan Newman                                   3

Kyle Busch                                         1

Jeff Gordon                                        1

Kevin Harvick                                     1

Dale Jarrett                                        1

Scott Riggs                                        1

Elliott Sadler                                     1

 

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Greg Biffle                     (#16)          2

Jimmie Johnson            (#48)          2

Tony Stewart                 (#20)          2

 

MOBIL 1 COMMAND PERF. AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Michael Waltrip             (#15)          4

Kevin Harvick                 (#29)          3

Ryan Newman               (#12)          1

 

USG IMPROVING THE FINISH AWARD

                                      Car #         Pts.

Elliott Sadler                 (#38)          3

Jamie McMurray            (#42)          1

Johnny Sauter               (#09)          1 

 

MBNA MID-RACE LEADER AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Greg Biffle                     (#16)          5

Kurt Busch                     (#97)          5

Tony Stewart                 (#20)          4

 

CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Roush Yates                   (#97)        72

Hendrick                         (#24)        60

Hendrick                         (#48)        59

 

GOODYEAR GATORBACK FASTEST LAP

AWARD                          Car #        Pts.

Greg Biffle                     (#16)          3

Kurt Busch                     (#97)          1

Jeff Gordon                    (#24)          1

 

COMMIT LOZENGES COMMIT TO WIN AWARD

                                      Car #        Pts.

Jimmie Johnson            (#48)          2

Jeremy Mayfield            (#19)          2

Jeff Gordon                    (#24)          1