2007 Subway Fresh Fit 500

The third CoT race of the season would be the first test of the new car's aerodynamics. Previously, the CoT definitely kept the racing closer as evidenced by the two half car length finishes. Joe Gibbs Racing's Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin would be seeking out the team's first victory with the new car. From the drop of the green, Gordon, Stewart, and Hamlin established themselves as the dominant cars of the race. Stewart, despite leading 132 of the 312 laps, would not find victory circle on Saturday night. Hamlin would not fare as well as his teammate as a speeding penalty put him on the tail end of the lead lap. Luck and pit strategy would eventually play a factor in the race. All of that came together during a series of green-flag pit stops on lap 283. Gordon was on pit road when the caution came out. However, quick work by Gordon's pit crew enabled him to stay on the lead lap before a dominant Tony Stewart lapped him. On the lap 298 restart, Tony Stewart made an incredible pass for the lead going 3-wide between Gordon and the tail end car of Martin Truex Jr. However, Gordon would pass Stewart again on lap 300 and would hold on for the win.

The weekend was historic for Jeff Gordon, as the win not only was his first at Phoenix, but it would also be his 76th career victory, tying Dale Earnhardt for 6th on the all-time win list. After the race, Gordon carried a flag with Earnhardt's car number, 3, emblazoned on it during the victory lap.^[2]

Gordon was also the first Nextel Cup race winner at Phoenix from the pole position.^[2]

Gordon won his third pole of the year, and 59th of his career, tying Darrell Waltrip on the all-time list. His winning lap was 133.136 miles per hour. Michael Waltrip, Darrell's brother, missed his seventh straight race after making the Daytona 500 to start the year.

Todos los equipos portaban pegatinas en memoria de las 32 personas que murieron en la masacre de Virginia Tech el lunes anterior; las pegatinas consistían en el logotipo del departamento de atletismo. Además, Morgan-McClure Motorsports modificó el aspecto del coche número 4, conducido por Ward Burton, para incluir el logotipo en el capó. (Burton es de South Boston, Virginia , y Morgan-McClure tiene su sede en Abingdon ). Muchos pilotos, incluidos Gordon, Stewart y Hamlin, lucieron gorras de VT durante todo el fin de semana, y PIR exhibió la bandera de la universidad.

Además, muchos mecánicos provienen de la escuela; el más destacado de ellos es Darian Grubb, del Chevrolet Impala número 25 de Hendrick Motorsports .