2007 in NASCAR Busch Series
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Carl Edwards celebrating his 2007 Busch Series championship

Busch cars pacing at Texas during the 2007 O'Reilly 300

The 26th season of the NASCAR Busch Series began on February 17, 2007, with the Orbitz 300 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded on November 17, 2007, with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Carl Edwards clinched the Busch Series championship on November 3 during the O'Reilly Challenge with 2 races remaining. The 2007 season was the final season of the series under Anheuser-Busch's sponsorship. In 2008 the Busch Series became the NASCAR Nationwide Series sponsored by insurance company Nationwide Insurance with a $70 million dollar contract for 7 years.

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Busch Whackers

The domination of the series by the Busch Whackers continued in 2007. In the first 28 races, only two drivers not with regular NEXTEL Cup schedules drove their cars to victory from start to finish: Stephen Leicht (Meijer 300, Kentucky Speedway) and Jason Leffler (Kroger 200, O'Reilly Raceway Park). Aric Almirola was the official winner of the AT&T 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, but Denny Hamlin finished the race for him. Meanwhile, Carl Edwards led Kevin Harvick by 733 points in the championship standings, a reversal from 2006 when Harvick beat Edwards by a record 824 points. At one time, Edwards' lead was 871 points prior to a stretch of five consecutive races outside the top 10 in the finishing order (in three of those races he finished 23rd or worse). There were more Busch only regulars near the top of the standings, but only because the Cup drivers ran fewer cumulative races than in 2006.

Owner's Championship

The Owner's Championship went to the #29 car of Richard Childress Racing driven by Scott Wimmer and Jeff Burton. This is currently only the second time in Busch Series history where the driver's and owner's points champions were different.¹ The other instance is in 2003 where Brian Vickers was the driver's champion and RCR drivers Harvick and Johnny Sauter combined to win Childress the owner's championship.

2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series

After 26 years of Anheuser-Busch sponsoring the series with their Busch Beer brand they decided not to renew their sponsorship for the 2008 season. Rumored sponsorship deals for the series included Subway, KFC, and Wal-Mart however those deals fell through. On October 3, 2007, chairman Brian France announced that insurance company Nationwide had signed a seven year $70 million dollar deal to sponsor the series. Nationwide also replaces Allstate as the official insurance company of NASCAR.²

Schedule

The official 2007 Busch Series schedule was announced on October 2, 2006. The only major schedule change was the addition of the first NASCAR race in Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which replaces last years race at Martinsville. This marked the first time in Busch Series history that there are two consecutive road courses on the schedule. The order of races in July was also shuffled.³

Television

ESPN 2 covered the majority of the Busch Series in 2007 with ESPN on ABC covering six races as part of the new television package. The primary commentators for ESPN were Jerry Punch, Rusty Wallace, and Andy Petree.

Teams

This was the list of full time Busch Series teams as the 2007 season began.

The Top 30 in points rule for the Busch Series states that any teams within the top 30 in points are guaranteed starting spots in every race. These teams must have attempted to qualify for every preceding race of the season as well. Due to this factor, some teams that finished outside of the top 30 in points are locked in for 2007. Teams not locked into the first five races are noted in Bold in the owner points column.

Notes:

• Drivers in Bold are drivers who have been released from their respective rides during the season for performance issues. Jon Wood is the only exception to this as he was removed from the car after being misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. Huffman, Peters, and Davis were all released from their respective teams due to performance issues and have been replaced by other drivers.

• Teams in Bold are those that suspended operations midway through the season.

Races

Orbitz 300

The Orbitz 300 was held February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Aric Almirola won the pole. Kevin Harvick won a relatively quick race from the 31st starting position. There were two early cautions; the first one on lap 4 for a three-car incident, the second one for "the Big One" on lap 16 involving 12 cars. The race was clean afterward.

Top Ten Results:

Pos.	Car #	Driver	Make	Team
1	#21	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
2	#32	Dave Blaney	Toyota	Braun Racing
3	#60	Carl Edwards	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
4	#2	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
5	#06	Mark Martin	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
6	#11	Martin Truex Jr.	Chevrolet	Dale Earnhardt Inc.
7	#8	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	Dale Earnhardt Inc.
8	#33	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	Kevin Harvick Incorporated
9	#20	Denny Hamlin	Chevrolet	Joe Gibbs Racing
10	#26	Greg Biffle	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing

Did not Qualify: #1-J.J. Yeley, #22-David Stremme, #23-Brad Keselowski, #24-Casey Mears, #52-Brad Teague, #70-Justin Diercks

Stater Brothers 300

The Stater Brothers 300 was held February 24 at the California Speedway. Dave Blaney won the pole, the first pole for Toyota in the Busch Series. The race had a short field of only 41 cars.

Top Ten Results:

Pos.	Car #	Driver	Make	Team
1	#17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
2	#24	Casey Mears	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
3	#5	Kyle Busch	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
4	#60	Carl Edwards	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
5	#16	Greg Biffle	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
6	#33	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Kevin Harvick Incorporated
7	#29	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
8	#20	Denny Hamlin	Chevrolet	Joe Gibbs Racing
9	#4	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	Ginn Racing
10	#10	Dave Blaney	Toyota	Braun Racing

Did not Qualify: None.

Telcel-Motorola México 200

The Telcel-Motorola México 200 was held March 4 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The race was broadcast on ESPN2 in English and en español on ESPN Deportes. Scott Pruett won the pole. Juan Pablo Montoya made contact with his leading teammate Scott Pruett on a restart after coming back from a fuel-filler problem, spinning Pruett and going on to win the race, becoming the first non-American to win a NASCAR race since Ron Fellows in 2001.

Top Ten Results:

Pos.	Car #	Driver	Make	Team
1	#42	Juan Pablo Montoya (R)	Dodge	Chip Ganassi Racing
2	#20	Denny Hamlin	Chevrolet	Joe Gibbs Racing
3	#9	Boris Said	Dodge	Evernham Motorsports
4	#60	Carl Edwards	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
5	#41	Scott Pruett	Dodge	Chip Ganassi Racing
6	#38	Jason Leffler	Toyota	Braun Racing
7	#27	Jorge Goeters	Ford	Brewco Motorsports
8	#59	Marcos Ambrose (R)	Ford	Wood Brothers/JTG Racing
9	#5	Adrian Fernandez	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
10	#47	Jon Wood	Ford	Wood Brothers/JTG Racing

Did not Qualify: None.

Sam's Town 300

The Sam's Town 300 was held March 10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Kevin Harvick won the pole. In a challenging race that was held on a newly banked racetrack, many teams, especially cup teams with drivers racing on Sunday, tried to find a setup that would work with their cars. Grip and aerodynamics became major issues as the race set a record for number of caution flags with 12 for 58 laps. This included a red flag with 10 laps to go for a hard crash into the wall by Reed Sorenson. Las Vegas natives, Kyle and Kurt Busch dominated the race, leading 123 of 200 laps, with 81 and 42 led respectively. However, Jeff Burton had been consistently quicker than the younger Busch and had taken the lead for 31 laps. Coming to the checkers, two-time Las Vegas winner Jeff Burton took his #29 Holiday Inn Chevy to the outside and banged fenders with Kyle who got loose under Burton and spun down on the apron and hit the outside wall after taking the second position.

Top Ten Results:

Pos.	Car #	Driver	Make	Team
1	#29	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
2	#5	Kyle Busch	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
3	#33	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	Kevin Harvick Incorporated
4	#12	Kurt Busch	Dodge	Penske Racing South
5	#22	David Stremme	Dodge	Fitz Motorsports
6	#60	Carl Edwards	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
7	#21	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
8	#77	Bobby Labonte	Chevrolet	Kevin Harvick Incorporated
9	#88	Shane Huffman	Chevrolet	JR Motorsports
10	#59	Marcos Ambrose (R)	Ford	Wood Brothers/JTG Racing

Did not Qualify: None.

NOTE: #52-Kevin Lepage withdrew from the race prior to qualifying.

Nicorette 300

The Nicorette 300 was held March 17 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kyle Busch won the pole. From the drop of the green flag, it appeared as though Kyle Busch would walk away with an easy victory. He proved his dominance by leading 143 of 195 laps. However, a loose lugnut after the final pitstop forced Busch to go to the tail end of the longest line, handing the lead to Jeff Burton. Burton would hold off RCR teammate Kevin Harvick for the win while Kyle Busch rallied to third after his penalty.

Top Ten Results:

Pos.	Car #	Driver	Car	Team
1	#29	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
2	#21	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
3	#5	Kyle Busch	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
4	#60	Carl Edwards	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
5	#24	Casey Mears	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
6	#2	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
7	#9	Kasey Kahne	Dodge	Evernham Motorsports
8	#42	Juan Pablo Montoya (R)	Dodge	Chip Ganassi Racing
9	#17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
10	#20	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	Joe Gibbs Racing

Did not Qualify: #34-Jay Sauter

Sharpie Mini 300

The Sharpie Mini 300 was held March 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Steve Wallace won his first career pole. This would be the last Busch Series race before Bristol would be repaved with new concrete and progressive banking. For the second consecutive week, Kyle Busch again proved he had the car to beat. He and series points leader Carl Edwards proved they had the cars to beat. The biggest controversy of the race came after a crash at lap 182 by David Reutimann. At the point of the crash, some of the leaders elected to come down pit road for tires and some gas on lap 188. Although the electronic light was green, signaling that pit road was open, the flagman near the light was still waving the pit road closed flag. The pit crews of Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. argued with NASCAR officials about the call. Eventually, Nascar controversially decided to let all of the cars pit and maintain their position in the field. After the confusion was sorted out, Busch took of with Edwards in pursuit. However, Mike Wallace, running on the tail end of the lead lap (Mike was in front of the leader), jumbled up the 9th restart. Mike's mistake forced Edwards into the rear bumper of Kyle Busch. Edwards would inherit the lead and would hold off teammate Matt Kenseth for his first win since Gateway in 2006.

Top Ten Results:

Pos.	Car #	Driver	Make	Team
1	60	Carl Edwards	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
2	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
3	5	Kyle Busch	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
4	12	Ryan Newman	Dodge	Penske Racing
5	2	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
6	8	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	Dale Earnhardt Inc.
7	37	Greg Biffle	Ford	Brewco Motorsports
8	33	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Kevin Harvick Inc.
9	29	Scott Wimmer	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
10	22	Mike Bliss	Dodge	Fitz Motorsports

Did not Qualify: None only 43 entries.

Pepsi 300

The Pepsi 300 was held April 7 at Nashville Superspeedway. David Stremme won the pole. From the drop of the green flag, it appeared as though new manufacturer Toyota would steal the show and walk off with its first Busch Series win. However, Carl Edwards spoiled the party, coming back from a loose wheel penalty to pass Busch regular Jason Leffler with 25 laps to go to win his second consecutive race and extend his points lead.

Top Ten Results:

Pos.	Car #	Driver	Make	Team
1	60	Carl Edwards	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
2	99	David Reutimann	Toyota	Michael Waltrip Racing
3	10	Dave Blaney	Toyota	Braun Racing
4	38	Jason Leffler	Toyota	Braun Racing
5	4	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	Ginn Racing
6	88	Shane Huffman	Chevrolet	JR Motorsports
7	29	Scott Wimmer	Chevrolet	Richard Childress Racing
8	90	Stephen Leicht	Ford	Robert Yates Racing
9	35	Bobby Hamilton Jr.	Ford	Team Rensi Motorsports
10	22	Mike Bliss	Dodge	Fitz Motorsports

Did not Qualify: None only 43 entries.

O'Reilly 300

The O'Reilly 300 was held April 14 at Texas Motor Speedway. David Ragan won his first career Busch Pole Award. The race, for the third time of the season, was dominated again by Kyle Busch, who hoped to turn his strong runs into a win. However, that day would not come as an unlucky caution during a green flag pit stop would again cost Kyle the victory. Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya appeared to have his second Busch Series win in the bag until he hit the clutch during a pit stop, leaving him with a loose lugnut. Juan would tangle with fellow rookie Marcos Ambrose and finish 30th. Denny Hamlin would hold the lead until Matt Kenseth, who had recovered from an early spin, took the lead with 11 laps left and would go on to win in Texas.

Top Ten Results:

Pos.	Car #	Driver	Make	Team
1	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
2	20	Denny Hamlin	Chevrolet	Joe Gibbs Racing
3	60	Carl Edwards	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
4	24	Casey Mears	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
5	6	David Ragan	Ford	Roush Fenway Racing
6	99	David Reutimann	Toyota	Michael Waltrip Racing
7	5	Kyle Busch	Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports
8	12	Kurt Busch	Dodge	Penske Racing
9	15	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	Dale Earnhardt Inc.
10	29	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet