JAYSKI's Semi-Live QUALIFYING/GRID page
for the Auto Club 500
at California Speedway

    QUALIFYING is scheduled to START
    at approx 6:10pm/et
    on Friday, February 23, 2007

  • Track Qualifying Record: #5-Kyle Busch, Feb 2005, 188.425mph

  • Feb 2006 Pole Sitter: #2-Kurt Busch, 187.086, finished 16th

  • Sept 2006 Pole Sitter: #2-Kurt Busch, 184.540, finished 27th

    THIS IS UNOFFICIAL

  • Jeff Gordon wins pole at California: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Budweiser Pole for the Auto Club at California Speedway with a speed of 185.735mph for his 1st pole of 2007 and 57th of his career [6th all-time, 1 behind Bobby Allison and 2 behind Darrell Waltrip]. The rest of the top-10 are #9-Kahne, #01-Martin, #29-Harvick, #8-Earnhardt Jr., #07-Bowyer, #1-Truex Jr., #31-Burton, #42-Montoya and #25-Mears. The highest Toyota driver is #22-Blaney, who will start 14th. The highest non-top 35 driver was #83-Vickers who will start 15th. the rest of the non top-35 teams to make the race were: #15-Menard, #13-Nemechek, #14-Marlin, #70-Sauter, #37-Andretti [first start since 2005], #00-Reutimann [who knocked his team owner #55-Waltrip out of the race and #44-Jarrett will use the past champions provisional [again] to make the field and will start 43rd. See the qualifying results below.(2-23-2007)

  • Eight do not qualify [DNQ] for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway: #55-Waltrip, #4-Burton, #36-Mayfield, #84-Allmendinger, #72-Whitt, #49-Bliss, #78-KWallace and #34-Lepage [who wrecked](2-23-2007)

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway is scheduled for Friday, February 23, 2007 at 6:10pm/et.
    TV: SPEED - 5:30pm/et
    Radio: MRN Radio and Sirius Satellite NASCAR Radio
    Internet: NASCAR.com [Pit Command/Trackside - paid]
    Qualifying Re-Air: none

  • Pole Progression: (who had the pole first, who got it next and who ended up with it)
    #5-Busch, 1st out to qualify, 184.139mph, starts 12th
    #24-Gordon, 8th out, 185.735, starts 1st
    (2-23-2007)

  • How did the non Top-35 teams do in qualifying?
    Top four are in 8 in and 8 out [51 entered for 43 spots]:
    will make the race
    #83-Brian Vickers, 183.852
    #15-Paul Menard, 183.323
    #13-Joe Nemechek, 182.871
    #14-Sterling Marlin, 182.857
    #70-Johnny Sauter, 182.593
    #37-John Andretti, 182.500
    #00-David Reutimann, 182.431
    #44-Dale Jarrett, 0.000, will use past champ provisional
    will miss the race:
    #55-Michael Waltrip, 182.278
    #4-Ward Burton, 182.025
    #36-Jeremy Mayfield, 182.025
    #84-A.J. Allmendinger, 181.997
    #72-Brandon Whitt, 180.900
    #49-Mike Bliss, 180.682
    #78-Kenny Wallace, 179.104
    #34-Kevin Lepage, wrecked
    (2-23-2007)

  • Rookie of the Year Candidates: how fast were they and where do they start:
    #00-David Reutimann, 182.431, starts 33rd
    #6-David Ragan, 181.525, starts 38th
    #15-Paul Menard, 183.323, starts 22nd
    #42-Juan Montoya, 184.219, starts 9th
    #72-Brandon Whitt, 180.900, starts DNQ
    #84-A.J. Allmendinger, 181.997, starts DNQ
    DNR = Did not race
    DNQ = Did not qualify for race.(2-23-2007)

  • Some Qualifying Notes:
    #34-Lepage lost the car in turn 4 and backed into the wall on his warmup lap.
    #44-Jarrett went out 18th, took his warmup lap and came back to pit road, the team was on the five-minute clock, fixed something with the transmission and Jarrett went back out, but the car was stuck in 1st gear, so Jarrett will use the past champ prov again.
    #78-Wallace's motor sounded pretty 'off' and even went 3mph slower in his 2nd lap.
    #19-Sadler had trouble getting the motor started and ran a much slower lap then he practiced.
    #96-Raines and #84-Allmendinger were excused from their qualifying spots as both teams had to change engines.
    (2-23-2007)

  • Practice Results:
    Practice Speeds Page

    Starting Line Up by Row California Speedway Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, February 23, 2007 @ 05:38 PM Pacific 155.012 Speed Time 03:13:32 06/22/97 Date Driver Jeff Gordon  Track Race Record: Auto Club 500 1 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Cromax Pro Chevrolet 38.765 185.735 Row 1: 2 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 38.810 185.519 3 01 Mark Martin U.S. Army Chevrolet 38.814 185.500 Row 2: 4 29 Kevin Harvick Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet 38.830 185.424 5 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Chevrolet 38.834 185.405 Row 3: 6 07 Clint Bowyer Jack Daniel's Chevrolet 38.960 184.805 7 1 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet 39.009 184.573 Row 4: 8 31 Jeff Burton Cingular Wireless Chevrolet 39.058 184.341 9 42 Juan Pablo Montoya # Texaco/Havoline Dodge 39.084 184.219 Row 5: 10 25 Casey Mears National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet 39.098 184.153 11 20 Tony Stewart Home Depot Chevrolet 39.099 184.148 Row 6: 12 5 Kyle Busch Carquest/Kellogg's Chevrolet 39.101 184.139 13 16 Greg Biffle Ameriquest Ford 39.145 183.932 Row 7: 14 22 Dave Blaney Caterpillar Toyota 39.146 183.927 15 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota 39.162 183.852 Row 8: 16 66 Jeff Green Yellow Transportation Chevrolet 39.184 183.748 17 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Chevrolet 39.205 183.650 Row 9: 18 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge 39.210 183.627 19 12 Ryan Newman Mobil 1 Dodge 39.230 183.533 Row 10: 20 41 Reed Sorenson Target/Energizer Dodge 39.244 183.468 21 99 Carl Edwards Office Depot/SBON Ford 39.266 183.365 Row 11: 22 15 Paul Menard # Menards/Quaker State Chevrolet 39.275 183.323 23 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet 39.280 183.299 Row 12: 24 40 David Stremme Coors Light Dodge 39.315 183.136 25 17 Matt Kenseth Carhartt/DeWalt Ford 39.359 182.931 Row 13: 26 13 Joe Nemechek CertainTeed/Ginn Resorts Chevrolet 39.372 182.871 27 14 Sterling Marlin Panasonic Chevrolet 39.375 182.857 Row 14: 28 43 Bobby Labonte Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge 39.404 182.723 29 18 J.J. Yeley Interstate Batteries Chevrolet 39.422 182.639 Row 15: 30 10 Scott Riggs Stanley Tools/Valvoline Dodge 39.428 182.611 31 70 Johnny Sauter Best Buy/Yellow Transportation Chevrolet 39.432 182.593 Row 16: 32 37 John Andretti Camping World Dodge 39.452 182.500 33 00 David Reutimann # Domino's Toyota 39.467 182.431 Row 17: 34 88 Ricky Rudd Snickers Ford 39.541 182.089 35 26 Jamie McMurray Crown Royal Ford 39.572 181.947 Row 18: 36 21 Ken Schrader Little Debbie Snack Cakes Ford 39.629 181.685 37 45 Kyle Petty Wells Fargo Dodge 39.630 181.681 Row 19: 38 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 39.647 181.603 39 6 David Ragan # AAA Insurance So. Cal. Ford 39.664 181.525 Row 20: 40 38 David Gilliland M & M's Ford Owner Points     41 96 Tony Raines DLP HD TV Chevrolet Row 21: Owner Points     42 7 Robby Gordon Jim Beam Ford Owner Points     43 44 Dale Jarrett UPS Toyota Row 22: Past Champion    Did Not Qualify:  55 Michael Waltrip;  4 Ward Burton;  36 Jeremy Mayfield;  84 AJ Allmendinger ;  72 Brandon Whitt ;  49 Mike Bliss;  
    78 Kenny Wallace;  34 Kevin Lepage.      Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed


    Qualifying is OVER

    QUALIFYING RESULTS by SPEED

    THIS IS UNOFFICIAL

    Qualifying after 51 of 51 drivers:

    Pos Sched
    Qual
    Pos    		 Actual
    Qual
    Pos    		 Car# Driver Manu Qual
    Speed    		 Qual
    Time
    (secs)    		 Last
    Prac
    Speed    		 Prac
    Speed
    Rank    		 Diff
    Qual vs
    Prac    		 Owners
    Point
    Rank
    1 8 8 24 Jeff Gordon Chevy 185.735 38.765 184.710 3 1.025 6
    2 22 20 01 Mark Martin Chevy 185.500 38.814 183.983 5 1.517 28
    3 43 43 29 Kevin Harvick Chevy 185.424 38.830 183.290 11 2.134 4
    4 45 45 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy 185.405 38.834 182.876 13 2.529 5
    5 47 47 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge 185.219 38.873 182.862 14 2.357 8
    6 33 33 07 Clint Bowyer Chevy 184.805 38.960 184.781 2 0.024 17
    7 25 24 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevy 184.573 39.009 181.027 34 3.546 19
    8 29 28 31 Jeff Burton Chevy 184.341 39.058 182.574 16 1.767 7
    9 20 18 42 Juan Pablo Montoya # Dodge 184.219 39.084 182.644 15 1.575 14
    10 30 30 25 Casey Mears Chevy 184.153 39.098 179.390 44 4.763 15
    11 1 1 5 Kyle Busch Chevy 184.139 39.101 183.622 8 0.517 10
    12 31 31 16 Greg Biffle Ford 183.932 39.145 180.709 38 3.223 13
    13 37 37 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 183.927 39.146 181.100 31 2.827 27
    14 44 44 83 * Brian Vickers Toyota 183.852 39.162 183.552 9 0.300 57-IN
    15 5 5 66 Jeff Green Chevy 183.748 39.184 182.380 17 1.368 29
    16 35 34 11 Denny Hamlin Chevy 183.650 39.205 182.362 18 1.288 3
    17 9 9 2 Kurt Busch Dodge 183.627 39.210 183.908 6 -0.281 16
    18 11 11 12 Ryan Newman Dodge 183.533 39.230 182.343 19 1.190 18
    19 39 39 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 183.468 39.244 180.882 36 2.586 23
    20 36 35 99 Carl Edwards Ford 183.365 39.266 182.209 20 1.156 12
    21 24 X 15 * Paul Menard # Chevy 183.323 39.275 181.087 32 2.236 45-IN
    22 46 46 20 Tony Stewart Chevy 183.299 39.280 184.209 4 -0.910 11
    23 34 34 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy 183.299 39.280 183.847 7 -0.548 1
    24 41 41 40 David Stremme Dodge 183.136 39.315 182.007 21 1.129 32
    25 16 16 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 182.931 39.359 180.859 37 2.072 2
    26 18 17 13 * Joe Nemechek Chevy 182.871 39.372 185.219 1 -2.348 7-IN
    27 6 6 14 * Sterling Marlin Chevy 182.857 39.375 181.648 24 1.209 16-x
    28 10 10 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge 182.723 39.404 179.368 45 3.355 21
    29 50 50 88 Ricky Rudd Ford 182.689 39.411 181.397 27 1.292 22
    30 38 38 18 J.J. Yeley Chevy 182.639 39.422 183.486 10 -0.847 30
    31 40 40 10 Scott Riggs Dodge 182.611 39.428 181.273 28 1.338 20
    32 28 27 70 * Johnny Sauter Chevy 182.593 39.432 181.736 22 0.857 15-IN
    33 21 19 37 * John Andretti Dodge 182.500 39.452 181.178 30 1.322 51-IN
    34 48 48 00 * David Reutimann # Toyota 182.431 39.467 181.000 35 1.431 38-IN
    35 23 21 55 * Michael Waltrip Toyota 182.278 39.500 181.068 33 1.210 61-DNQ
    36 32 32 4 * Ward Burton Chevy 182.025 39.555 179.064 46 2.961 56-DNQ
    37 15 15 36 * Jeremy Mayfield Toyota 182.025 39.555 179.874 40 2.151 43-DNQ
    38 42 42 84 * AJ Allmendinger # Toyota 181.997 39.561 178.869 48 3.128 59-DNQ
    39 12 12 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 181.947 39.572 179.730 41 2.217 24
    40 51 51 21 Ken Schrader Ford 181.685 39.629 181.447 26 0.238 33
    41 13 13 45 Kyle Petty Dodge 181.681 39.630 180.578 39 1.103 35
    42 2 2 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge 181.603 39.647 182.969 12 -1.366 34
    43 3 3 6 David Ragan # Ford 181.525 39.664 179.609 42 1.916 9
    44 4 4 38 David Gilliland Ford 181.420 39.687 181.626 25 -0.206 25
    45 17 29 96 Tony Raines Chevy 181.374 39.697 178.846 49 2.528 26
    46 14 14 72 * Brandon Whitt # Chevy 180.900 39.801 176.350 51 4.550 60-DNQ
    47 27 26 49 * Mike Bliss Dodge 180.682 39.849 179.421 43 1.261 42-DNQ
    48 49 49 7 Robby Gordon Ford 180.212 39.953 181.662 23 -1.450 31
    49 7 7 78 * Kenny Wallace Chevy 179.104 40.200 181.264 29 -2.160 DNQ
    50 26 25 34 * Kevin Lepage Dodge 0.000 wrecked 178.651 50 x 47-DNQ
    51 19 22 44 * Dale Jarrett Toyota 0.000 0.000 178.869 47 x 21-CH-IN


    a GREEN 'IN' means that team/driver have made the race, NOT in the top 35

    a RED 'DNQ' means that team/driver will miss the race, NOT in the top 35

    Last driver to make an attempt in BLUE

    an 'x' in owners ponts pos and RED driver name means that team is NOT in the top 35 and must make the race by speed, for the first five races, the owners pts position is 2007 points position

    Qualifying Order:

    Sched
    Qual
    Pos    		 Car# Driver Manu Final
    Practice
    Speed    		 Prac
    Speed
    Rank    		 Owners
    Points
    Rank
    1 5 Kyle Busch Chevy 183.622 8 10
    2 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge 182.969 12 34
    3 6 David Ragan # Ford 179.609 42 9
    4 38 David Gilliland Ford 181.626 25 25
    5 66 Jeff Green Chevy 182.380 17 29
    6 14 * Sterling Marlin Chevy 181.648 24 16-x
    7 78 * Kenny Wallace Chevy 181.264 29 46-x
    8 24 Jeff Gordon Chevy 184.710 3 6
    9 2 Kurt Busch Dodge 183.908 6 16
    10 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge 179.368 45 21
    11 12 Ryan Newman Dodge 182.343 19 18
    12 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 179.730 41 24
    13 45 Kyle Petty Dodge 180.578 39 35
    14 72 * Brandon Whitt # Chevy 176.350 51 60-x
    15 36 * Jeremy Mayfield Toyota 179.874 40 43-x
    16 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 180.859 37 2
    17 96 Tony Raines Chevy 178.846 49 26
    18 13 * Joe Nemechek Chevy 185.219 1 7-x
    19 44 * Dale Jarrett Toyota 178.869 47 21-x-CH
    20 42 Juan Pablo Montoya # Dodge 182.644 15 14
    21 37 * John Andretti Dodge 181.178 30 51-x
    22 01 Mark Martin Chevy 183.983 5 28
    23 55 * Michael Waltrip Toyota 181.068 33 61-x
    24 15 * Paul Menard # Chevy 181.087 32 45-x
    25 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevy 181.027 34 19
    26 34 * Kevin Lepage Dodge 178.651 50 47-x
    27 49 * Mike Bliss Dodge 179.421 43 42-x
    28 70 * Johnny Sauter Chevy 181.736 22 15-x
    29 31 Jeff Burton Chevy 182.574 16 7
    30 25 Casey Mears Chevy 179.390 44 15
    31 16 Greg Biffle Ford 180.709 38 13
    32 4 * Ward Burton Chevy 179.064 46 56-x
    33 07 Clint Bowyer Chevy 184.781 2 17
    34 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy 183.847 7 1
    35 11 Denny Hamlin Chevy 182.362 18 3
    36 99 Carl Edwards Ford 182.209 20 12
    37 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 181.100 31 27
    38 18 J.J. Yeley Chevy 183.486 10 30
    39 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 180.882 36 23
    40 10 Scott Riggs Dodge 181.273 28 20
    41 40 David Stremme Dodge 182.007 21 32
    42 84 * AJ Allmendinger # Toyota 178.869 48 59-x
    43 29 Kevin Harvick Chevy 183.290 11 4
    44 83 * Brian Vickers Toyota 183.552 9 57-x
    45 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy 182.876 13 5
    46 20 Tony Stewart Chevy 184.209 4 11
    47 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge 182.862 14 8
    48 00 * David Reutimann # Toyota 181.000 35 38-x
    49 7 Robby Gordon Ford 181.662 23 31
    50 88 Ricky Rudd Ford 181.397 27 22
    51 21 Ken Schrader Ford 181.447 26 33


    Drivers in RED will be required to qualify on time/speed, not in top 35

     an 'x' in owners ponts pos and RED driver name means that team is NOT in the top 35 and must make the race by speed, for the first five races, the owners pts position is 2007 points position, the top-35 are black in 2006 points position and are locked in the field.

    Drivers in MAROON will be required to qualify on time/speed, not in top 35
    BUT has a past champions provisional available if needed, only one is used, so if there are two or more past champs
    the driver who has won the championship most recently, gets the spot.

    • Some weather forecast links for the race area:
      Raceweather.net
      The Weather Channel

    • Race info at: Race Info Page

    • Event Entry List

    • Results: for results, links, owners/drivers points (after each race back thru the season)
      see my:
      2007 Nextel Cup Race Results
      2006 Nextel Cup Race Results
      2005 Nextel Cup Race Results
      2004 Nextel Cup Race Results

    • Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series [NNCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NNCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NNCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
      The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
      If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
      Through the first five races of the season for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, the top 35 in the NNCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
      Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th