NASCAR'S 10 Best Races in 2007

SI Staff | Jan 2, 2008

NASCAR'S 10 Best Races in 2007

Daytona 500

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With a multi-car crash directly behind them as they headed for the checkered flag, Kevin Harvick beat Mark Martin by .020 of a second in one of the most spectacular conclusions in Daytona 500 history.

Watkins Glen

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Tony Stewart spun out of the lead and dropped back to 18th before charging back to the front. The No. 20 pressured Jeff Gordon into a spin with two laps left to take a memorable victory.

Phoenix II

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Jimmie Johnson's win was his fourth consecutive in the Chase and gave him an 86-point lead with one race left, virtually clinching his second straight title.

Phoenix I

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Jeff Gordon's 76th Cup win tied Dale Earnhardt Sr. for sixth on the all-time list. Gordon did a victory lap with a No. 3 flag in tribute to Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. offered congratulations.

Daytona II

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Jamie McMurray beat Kyle Busch by .005 of a second, equaling the second-closest finish in NASCAR history. Teammate Carl Edwards bumped McMurray, on the outside, ahead of Busch, who complained he didn't get any drafting help from his Hendrick teammates.

Brickyard 400

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Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick banged sheet metal going down the long back straight at Indianapolis with 10 laps remaining. Stewart eventually took the lead going into Turn 1 and went on to his second Brickyard victory.

Martinsville I

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Jeff Gordon kept banging his front bumper into the rear bumper of Jimmie Johnson in the closing laps, but they discovered the bumpers on the Car of Tomorrow line up so squarely that Gordon couldn't loosen Johnson up enough to make room to pass. Johnson held on to win by .065 of a second.

Talladega I

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Jeff Gordon took his 77th career Cup victory to move past Dale Earnhardt Sr. into sixth on the all-time list and set off a shower of beer cans on his victory lap.

New Hampshire II

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Clint Bowyer was the only driver to enter the Chase without a victory this season, but he proved he belonged by leading 222 of 300 laps. His first career Cup win started him toward third place in the final standings.

Infineon

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Juan Pablo Montoya, who started in 32nd, masterfully saved fuel to run the final 48 laps without stopping on Infineon's 1.99-mile road course He earned his first Cup victory and Chip Ganassi Racing's first win since 2002.