2007 Life Lock 400 - Race

Race

The race would be dominated by Kurt Busch who led 77 laps. However, Chase drivers immediately began to have trouble. Kyle Busch was tapped from behind by Dale Earnhardt Jr., the man who will replace Busch at Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. Jeff Burton, who was leading the points at this race last year, attempted to repair fender damage under red flag conditions, sending him to the tail end of the longest line. Burton's day would only get worse as he had starter trouble. Martin Truex Jr. and Matt Kenseth would be collected in a 15 car pileup. The red flag would wave for a second time due to rain.

The controversy begins after the rain stops and NASCAR attempts to dry the track. At 5 PM CT, ABC switches the broadcast over to local affiliates, and moves the race to ESPN2, which ended a practice in NASCAR in the past five years where race overrun stays on the broadcast network. When the race restarts at 6 PM, with one hour to go before darkness, NASCAR attempts to shorten the race to 225 laps (the track does not have lights). After numerous cautions following the resumption of racing, NASCAR officials shorten the race again, this time to 210 laps. Another Chase contender, Tony Stewart, had made a gamble before the previous red flag to coast to the end. However, that would not work as Stewart would come back in for fuel, and was later involved in the aforementioned "Big One". His day would only get worse from there, as he took fender damage on his left front tire. Crew chief Greg Zipadelli made the call to stay out on the racetrack, not wanting to risk track position. The call would not work as Tony's tire went flat and was accidentally punted by Kurt Busch, causing him to spin and collect chase contender Carl Edwards. While the Chasers struggled, 2005 runner-up Greg Biffle was also conserving fuel. The final caution would come out for the blown tire of Juan Pablo Montoya.

Darkness meant the race would end under caution (no green-white-checker finish). Controversy reigned in who had won the race. As the cars came around to the checkered flag, Biffle ran out of fuel. Coasting along the flat part of the track, Biffle slowed down, causing the car of Clint Bowyer to slow down. However, Jimmie Johnson did not, passing both Bowyer and Biffle under caution before handing second back to Bowyer. NASCAR declared Biffle the winner, breaking his 28 race losing streak.

NASCAR rules state on the final lap of a race, the car must finish on its own power, and following incidents in recent years (including one where Johnson was docked positions during a 2004 race for being slower than pace car speedway during a pit road fake), stated a rule that the car must be at pace car speed (50 MPH) or it loses track position. Biffle was considerably slower than pace car speed, and the finish was protested over the procedure. All protests were denied.