2006 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup
was a ten-race series that commenced with the Sylvania 300
on September 17, 2006 at New Hampshire International Speedway
and concluded with the Ford 400
on November 19 of that same year at Homestead-Miami Speedway
. The Top Ten drivers and their teams (and any other drivers with teams within 400 points of the leader) qualify after the Chevy Rock and Roll 400
on September 9, 2006 at Richmond International Raceway
. The 2006 Chase had a strong Chevrolet presence, with seven of the ten teams making the 2006 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup fielding Chevrolets.
This was the final season for NBC
to cover the Chase along with TNT
. Starting in 2007, ABC
will carry the Chase in its entirety, while TNT will carry mid-season races.
The 2005 winner was Ryan Newman
, who failed to make the chase this year. The defending track champion was Kyle Busch
. Kevin Harvick
won the pole and the race.
. The 2005 winner was Jimmie Johnson
who started the chase second in points. Matt Kenseth
won the spring event. At this year's race, Jeff Gordon
won the pole and Matt Kenseth led the most laps. But it was Jeff Burton, who hadn't won in over 175 races, that prevailed and took the lead in the standings.
§ - Holds tiebreaker with more wins
. The 2005 winner was Mark Martin who started the chase seventh in points. Additionally, this race was held a week earlier than in 2005. Kasey Kahne
won the pole. A fuel milage gamble would have put Jimmie Johnson
in great position for Talladega by winning, but he ran out of gas with four laps to go. Tony Stewart
took the lead and won a wild one by running out of gas in Turn 2 but still making it all the way around the track to the finish line.
. Considered the wild card track in the Chase, all drivers fear that they will be caught in "The Big One." The 2005 winner was Dale Jarrett
who missed the chase this year. The defending track champion was Jimmie Johnson
. The race was held one week later than in 2005. At this year's event, David Gilliland
won his first career Bud Pole Award, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
led the most laps. In a wild finish, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. led going into turn 3 on the final lap, with Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers
trailing. Johnson moved down low to pass Earnhardt, and his teammate Vickers followed, but accidentally caught the right rear quarter panel of Johnson's Chevrolet
. Johnson spun up into Earnhardt's car, sending both of them down into the infield grass. Vickers moved past and took his first career victory, amid boos from Earnhardt's and Johnson's fans.
was held on October 14 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway
. The 2005 winner was Jimmie Johnson
who won two of the three races in Charlotte that year. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne
, however Johnson was the defending champion for 500-mile races at the track. At this year's event, Scott Riggs
won the pole and Kasey Kahne led the most laps. Championship contender Mark Martin was involved in a hard crash after being tagged by J. J. Yeley
.
. The 2005 winner was Jeff Gordon
who started the chase ninth in points this year and also won both races at the track in 2003. The defending track champion was Tony Stewart
. On lap 188, the entire complexity of the Chase was changed. The consistent Jeff Burton, who had been involved in a previous accident, had engine troubles which relegated him to a 42nd place finish. Jimmie Johnson
led the most laps and won the race.
. The 2005 winner was Carl Edwards
who missed the chase this year. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne
. Matt Kenseth
was awarded the pole after qualifying was washed out, but Tony Stewart
spoiled the party winning the race.
§ — Hold tiebreaker.
. The 2005 winner was Carl Edwards
. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne
. The race was extended five laps due to the green-white-checkers rule, and for the second week in a row, Tony Stewart played spoiler and won the event.
. Kevin Harvick
swept the season's races (having won the Subway Fresh 500
back in April) with the win here, while Jeff Gordon won the pole for this race. At one point in this race, all ten drivers were in the top dozen, but Kyle Busch, who came in as the defending champion of this race and began the Chase in fifth place, was involved in a late race crash, becoming one of five drivers to be mathematically eliminated from the Chase before Homestead.
~ - Mathematically eliminated from Chase as of this race.
§ - Holds tiebreaker with more wins.
. Greg Biffle
, who missed the chase this year, defended his championship for the third time. The race was also the swan song (for at least the next eight years) for NBC's telecasts. Kasey Kahne won the pole for this race, while Jimmie Johnson took ninth place, enough to clinch his first NEXTEL Championship, and the first for Jeff Gordon
as a car owner, winning four titles under the Winston Cup banner as a driver for Rick Hendrick
.
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
was a ten-race series that commenced with the Sylvania 300
Sylvania 300
The Sylvania 300 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.The Sylvania 300 has traditionally held in mid-September, however, the race has been rescheduled once in its history...
on September 17, 2006 at New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
and concluded with the Ford 400
Ford 400
The Ford 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.The race is relatively new on the NASCAR circuit, first being run in 1999. Since 2002, the Ford 400 has been part of the Ford Championship Weekend, the last week of the NASCAR season. Starting...
on November 19 of that same year at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
. The Top Ten drivers and their teams (and any other drivers with teams within 400 points of the leader) qualify after the Chevy Rock and Roll 400
Chevy Rock and Roll 400
The Wonderful Pistachios 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2004, the race has served as the last race in NASCAR's "regular season". After this race, the top twelve drivers in the standings advance to the ten-race...
on September 9, 2006 at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
. The 2006 Chase had a strong Chevrolet presence, with seven of the ten teams making the 2006 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup fielding Chevrolets.
This was the final season for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
to cover the Chase along with TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
. Starting in 2007, ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
will carry the Chase in its entirety, while TNT will carry mid-season races.
Sylvania 300
The Sylvania 300 was held on September 17, 2006 at New Hampshire International SpeedwayNew Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
The 2005 winner was Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman
Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
, who failed to make the chase this year. The defending track champion was Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
. Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
won the pole and the race.
Finishing order of Chase drivers
- Kevin Harvick (1)
- Jeff Gordon (3)
- Denny Hamlin (4)
- Jeff Burton (7)
- Matt Kenseth (10)
- Mark Martin (11)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (13)
- Kasey Kahne (16)
- Kyle Busch (38)
- Jimmie Johnson (39)
Points Changes after Race
- Kevin Harvick (+2)
- Denny Hamlin (+3)
- Matt Kenseth (-2)
- Jeff Gordon (+5)
- Jeff Burton (+3)
- Mark Martin (+1)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (-1)
- Kasey Kahne (+2)
- Jimmie Johnson (-7)
- Kyle Busch (-6)
Dover 400
The Dover 400 was held on September 24, 2006 at the Dover International SpeedwayDover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
. The 2005 winner was Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
who started the chase second in points. Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
won the spring event. At this year's race, Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
won the pole and Matt Kenseth led the most laps. But it was Jeff Burton, who hadn't won in over 175 races, that prevailed and took the lead in the standings.
Finishing order of Chase drivers
- Jeff Burton (1)
- Jeff Gordon (3)
- Denny Hamlin (9)
- Matt Kenseth (10)
- Jimmie Johnson (13)
- Mark Martin (14)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (21)
- Kevin Harvick (32)
- Kasey Kahne (38)
- Kyle Busch (40)
Points Changes after Race
- Jeff Burton (+4)
- Jeff Gordon (+2)
- Matt Kenseth (0) §
- Denny Hamlin (-2)
- Kevin Harvick (-4)
- Mark Martin (unchanged)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (unchanged)
- Jimmie Johnson (+1)
- Kasey Kahne (-1)
- Kyle Busch (unchanged)
§ - Holds tiebreaker with more wins
Banquet 400
The Banquet 400 was held on October 1, 2006 at the Kansas SpeedwayKansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
. The 2005 winner was Mark Martin who started the chase seventh in points. Additionally, this race was held a week earlier than in 2005. Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
won the pole. A fuel milage gamble would have put Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
in great position for Talladega by winning, but he ran out of gas with four laps to go. Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
took the lead and won a wild one by running out of gas in Turn 2 but still making it all the way around the track to the finish line.
Finishing order of Chase drivers
- Mark Martin (3)
- Jeff Burton (5)
- Kyle Busch (7)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (10)
- Jimmie Johnson (14)
- Kevin Harvick (15)
- Denny Hamlin (18)
- Matt Kenseth (23)
- Kasey Kahne (33)
- Jeff Gordon (39)
Points Changes after Race
- Jeff Burton (unchanged)
- Denny Hamlin (+2)
- Mark Martin (+3)
- Matt Kenseth (-2)
- Kevin Harvick (unchanged)
- Jeff Gordon (-4)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (unchanged)
- Jimmie Johnson (unchanged)
- Kyle Busch (+1)
- Kasey Kahne (-1)
UAW Ford 500
The UAW-Ford 500 was held on October 8 at the newly repaved Talladega SuperspeedwayTalladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. Considered the wild card track in the Chase, all drivers fear that they will be caught in "The Big One." The 2005 winner was Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
who missed the chase this year. The defending track champion was Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
. The race was held one week later than in 2005. At this year's event, David Gilliland
David Gilliland
David Gilliland is a NASCAR driver and he currently drives the #34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports. He is the son of former Cup and West Coast driver Butch Gilliland. He was born in Riverside, California....
won his first career Bud Pole Award, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
led the most laps. In a wild finish, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. led going into turn 3 on the final lap, with Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
trailing. Johnson moved down low to pass Earnhardt, and his teammate Vickers followed, but accidentally caught the right rear quarter panel of Johnson's Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
. Johnson spun up into Earnhardt's car, sending both of them down into the infield grass. Vickers moved past and took his first career victory, amid boos from Earnhardt's and Johnson's fans.
Finishing order of Chase drivers
- Kasey Kahne (2)
- Matt Kenseth (4)
- Kevin Harvick (6)
- Mark Martin (8)
- Kyle Busch (11)
- Denny Hamlin (21)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (23)
- Jimmie Johnson (24)
- Jeff Burton (27)
- Jeff Gordon (36)
Points Changes after Race
- Jeff Burton (unchanged)
- Matt Kenseth (+2)
- Mark Martin (unchanged)
- Kevin Harvick (+1)
- Denny Hamlin (-3)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (+1)
- Jeff Gordon (-1)
- Jimmie Johnson (unchanged)
- Kasey Kahne (+1)
- Kyle Busch (-1)
Bank of America 500
The Bank of America 500Bank of America 500
The Bank of America 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race that is hosted annually at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, United States. The race is usually held in the month of October, as part of the Chase for the Sprint Cup and is 500 miles long...
was held on October 14 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
. The 2005 winner was Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
who won two of the three races in Charlotte that year. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
, however Johnson was the defending champion for 500-mile races at the track. At this year's event, Scott Riggs
Scott Riggs
Russell Scott Riggs is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #81 Dodge Charger for Whitney Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
won the pole and Kasey Kahne led the most laps. Championship contender Mark Martin was involved in a hard crash after being tagged by J. J. Yeley
J. J. Yeley
Christopher Beltram Hernandez Yeley is a NASCAR driver. Nicknamed "J. J." , he is currently a competitor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driving for Front Row Motorsports.-Open wheel:Yeley initially made a mark for himself in the world of auto racing when he took the Hoosier state by...
.
Finishing order of Chase drivers
- Kasey Kahne (1)
- Jimmie Johnson (2)
- Jeff Burton (3)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (4)
- Kyle Busch (6)
- Matt Kenseth (14)
- Kevin Harvick (18)
- Jeff Gordon (24)
- Denny Hamlin (28)
- Mark Martin (30)
Points Changes after Race
- Jeff Burton (unchanged)
- Matt Kenseth (unchanged)
- Kevin Harvick (+1)
- Mark Martin (-1)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (+1)
- Denny Hamlin (-1)
- Jimmie Johnson (+1)
- Kasey Kahne (+1)
- Kyle Busch (+1)
- Jeff Gordon (-3)
Subway 500
The Subway 500 was held on October 22 at the Martinsville SpeedwayMartinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
. The 2005 winner was Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
who started the chase ninth in points this year and also won both races at the track in 2003. The defending track champion was Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
. On lap 188, the entire complexity of the Chase was changed. The consistent Jeff Burton, who had been involved in a previous accident, had engine troubles which relegated him to a 42nd place finish. Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
led the most laps and won the race.
Finishing order of Chase drivers
- Jimmie Johnson (1)
- Denny Hamlin (2)
- Jeff Gordon (5)
- Kasey Kahne (7)
- Kevin Harvick (9)
- Matt Kenseth (11)
- Kyle Busch (18)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (22)
- Mark Martin (24)
- Jeff Burton (42)
Points Changes after Race
- Matt Kenseth (+1)
- Kevin Harvick (+1)
- Jimmie Johnson (+4)
- Denny Hamlin (+2)
- Jeff Burton (-4)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (-1)
- Mark Martin (-3)
- Kasey Kahne (unchanged)
- Jeff Gordon (+1)
- Kyle Busch (-1)
Bass Pro Shops 500
The Bass Pro Shops 500 was held on October 29 at the Atlanta Motor SpeedwayAtlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
. The 2005 winner was Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards
Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
who missed the chase this year. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
. Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
was awarded the pole after qualifying was washed out, but Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
spoiled the party winning the race.
Finishing order of Chase Drivers
- Jimmie Johnson (2)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (3)
- Matt Kenseth (4)
- Jeff Gordon (6)
- Denny Hamlin (8)
- Jeff Burton (13)
- Kyle Busch (27)
- Kevin Harvick (31)
- Mark Martin (36)
- Kasey Kahne (38)
Points Changes after Race
- Matt Kenseth (unchanged)
- Jimmie Johnson (+1)
- Denny Hamlin (+1)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (+2) §
- Jeff Burton (unchanged)
- Kevin Harvick (-1)
- Jeff Gordon (+2)
- Mark Martin (-1)
- Kasey Kahne (-1)
- Kyle Busch (unchanged)
§ — Hold tiebreaker.
Dickies 500
The Dickies 500 was held on November 5 at the Texas Motor SpeedwayTexas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
. The 2005 winner was Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards
Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
. The race was extended five laps due to the green-white-checkers rule, and for the second week in a row, Tony Stewart played spoiler and won the event.
Finishing order of Chase Drivers
- Jimmie Johnson (2)
- Kevin Harvick (3)
- Kyle Busch (4)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (6)
- Jeff Gordon (9)
- Denny Hamlin (10)
- Matt Kenseth (12)
- Mark Martin (22)
- Kasey Kahne (32)
- Jeff Burton (38)
Points Changes after Race
- Jimmie Johnson +1
- Matt Kenseth -1
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. +1
- Denny Hamlin -1
- Kevin Harvick +1
- Jeff Gordon +1
- Jeff Burton -2
- Kyle Busch +2
- Mark Martin-1
- Kasey Kahne -1
Checker Auto Parts 500
The Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil Platinum was held on November 12 at the Phoenix International RacewayPhoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
. Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
swept the season's races (having won the Subway Fresh 500
Subway Fresh 500
The Subway Fresh Fit 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. A 312-lap event that is one of only four NASCAR Cup Series events measured in kilometers rather than miles or laps The Subway Fresh Fit 500 is a NASCAR Sprint...
back in April) with the win here, while Jeff Gordon won the pole for this race. At one point in this race, all ten drivers were in the top dozen, but Kyle Busch, who came in as the defending champion of this race and began the Chase in fifth place, was involved in a late race crash, becoming one of five drivers to be mathematically eliminated from the Chase before Homestead.
Finishing order of Chase Drivers
- Kevin Harvick (1)
- Jimmie Johnson (2)
- Denny Hamlin (3)
- Jeff Gordon (4)
- Mark Martin (6)
- Kasey Kahne (7)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
- Jeff Burton (10)
- Matt Kenseth (13)
- Kyle Busch (39)
Points Changes after Race
- Jimmie Johnson (unchanged)
- Matt Kenseth (unchanged)
- Kevin Harvick (+2) §
- Denny Hamlin (unchanged)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-2)
- Jeff Gordon (-1)
- Jeff Burton (unchanged) ~
- Mark Martin (+1) ~
- Kasey Kahne (+1) ~
- Kyle Busch (-2) ~
~ - Mathematically eliminated from Chase as of this race.
§ - Holds tiebreaker with more wins.
Ford 400
The Ford 400 was held on November 19 at the Homestead-Miami SpeedwayHomestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
. Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
, who missed the chase this year, defended his championship for the third time. The race was also the swan song (for at least the next eight years) for NBC's telecasts. Kasey Kahne won the pole for this race, while Jimmie Johnson took ninth place, enough to clinch his first NEXTEL Championship, and the first for Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
as a car owner, winning four titles under the Winston Cup banner as a driver for Rick Hendrick
Rick Hendrick
Joseph Riddick Hendrick III , better known as Rick Hendrick, is the current owner of the American NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports and founder of the Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Marrow Program. He attended Park View High School in South Hill, Virginia, and began his career in auto...
.
Finishing Order among Chase Drivers
- Denny Hamlin (3)
- Kasey Kahne (4)
- Kevin Harvick (5)
- Matt Kenseth (6)
- Jimmie Johnson (9) ‡
- Jeff Burton (14)
- Mark Martin (18)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (19)
- Jeff Gordon (24)
- Kyle Busch (38)
Final Standings
- Jimmie Johnson 6,470 pts (‡ — 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series Champion)
- Matt Kenseth -51 pts (unchanged)
- Denny Hamlin -63 pts (+1) (Rookie of the Year)
- Kevin Harvick -73 pts (-1)
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. -147 pts (unchanged)
- Jeff Gordon -225 pts (unchanged)
- Jeff Burton -242 pts (unchanged)
- Kasey Kahne -297 pts (+1)
- Mark Martin -302 pts (-1)
- Kyle Busch - 448 pts (unchanged)
Trivia
- Denny HamlinDenny HamlinJames Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...
became the first rookie to make the Chase for the Cup. - Tony StewartTony StewartAnthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
did not make the Chase for the Cup this year. This marked the first time since the chase format was implemented in 2004 that the defending champion did not clinch a spot. However, he won three of the Chase races en route to a $1 million (USUnited States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) bonus as the best finisher not among the drivers participating in the Chase. In both years, the winner of the regular season did not make the next year's Chase. - Jimmie JohnsonJimmie JohnsonJimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
, Matt KensethMatt KensethMatthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
, and Mark Martin returned for their third consecutive chase, while Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Jr.* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
entered their second chase and Denny Hamlin, Kevin HarvickKevin HarvickKevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
, Kasey KahneKasey KahneKasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
, Kyle BuschKyle BuschKyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
, and Jeff BurtonJeff BurtonJeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
all qualified for their first chase. - Jeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldJeremy Allen Mayfield is a former NASCAR driver who last competed in 2009 due to legal troubles and an indefinite suspension by NASCAR. Prior to 2009, Mayfield drove cars for the Sadler Brothers, T.W. Taylor, Cale Yarborough, Michael Kranefuss, Roger Penske, Ray Evernham, Bill Davis, and Gene Haas...
, Ryan NewmanRyan NewmanRyan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
, Kurt BuschKurt BuschKurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
and Tony Stewart made the first two chases but failed to make this year's playoff, with Mayfield without a team after being released by Evernham MotorsportsEvernham MotorsportsRichard Petty Motorsports is a two-car NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race team owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty, Douglas G. Bergeron and financial company Medallion Financial. The team was founded as Evernham Motorsports in 2000, was renamed Gillett Evernham Motorsports in 2007 after...
in August. - The top three finishers of the 2005 Chase did not qualify for the 2006 chase. (#1 Tony Stewart, #2 Greg BiffleGreg BiffleGregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
, and #3 Carl EdwardsCarl EdwardsCarl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
)