Site Meter NASCAR Talk » Blog Archive » 2007 NASCAR Review

2007 NASCAR Review

by Heather Scoville

countdown.JPG

As I mentioned in a previous post, today I am going to countdown what I think were the top ten NASCAR moments, news stories, and happenings of 2007. I imagine you won’t agree and that’s great. Leave me some comments and debate on what you would have had on your list.

10. The Car of Tomorrow Debuts

Last year when the announcement was made that the Car of Tomorrow would be run starting in the 2007 season, you’d have thought NASCAR would have just up and ended with all of the hullabaloo made over the car. In the end it worked out fine, even if there are some teams that have the new car design figured out better than the others. It will be interesting to see the 2008 season with the Car of Tomorrow at every race.

9. Toyota Makes its Nextel Cup Debut

Once again, there was some big opposition to letting a foreign car manufacturer compete in an American sport, but Toyota pushed ahead and fielded several teams in the 2007 season. However, their success in the truck series just didn’t spill over into the Cup series and their teams struggled to even make the field week after week. If they want to be competitive, they’re going to have to up their game (bringing over Gibbs Racing is a great start).

8. The Open Wheel Driver Invasion Begins

With all of the money and accolades going into the NASCAR series, it’s no wonder that open wheel drivers want to feel the love and get their share of the green by jumping over to the stock car leagues. Juan Pablo Montoya ended up being the Raybestos Rookie of the Year, clearing the way for many other open wheel superstars to make the jump at the end of 2007 and into 2008.

7. Carl Edwards Shoves Matt Kenseth

What in the world is happening over at Roush Fenway Racing? Just a couple of years ago, they were on the top of the heap with all five drivers in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. In 2007 they struggled and tempers boiled over as Carl Edwards confronted Matt Kenseth after a race on pit road. Carl shoved his teammate Matt and it became the talk of the garage.

6. Jimmie Johnson Dominates the Chase Races to Win Back to Back Championships

As I said over and over again this past season during the Chase, I was sick of talking about Jimmie Johnson, but I really had no choice because the #48 Lowe’s Chevy team just dominated the other people in the Chase. Jimmie ended up winning his second consecutive Nextel Cup Championship because of their dominance.

To see the rest of the list, keep reading after the jump.

,

5. Kasey Kahne is Sued.

That big mean Kasey Kahne pushed down a security guard at Homestead because he wouldn’t let his brother Kale into the driver’s motorcoach area. Apparently, Kasey is stronger than he knows because the security guard fell to the ground and his blood pressure rose and he was taken to the hospital and still has not returned to work. Now there is a lawsuit filed by the security guard against Kasey which has turned into a PR nightmare for Gillett Evernham Racing and Kahne’s new sponsor Budweiser.

4. DEI absorbs Ginn Racing

I don’t know if anyone saw this merger coming. I know displaced drivers Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin were thoroughly surprised by their ouster. The mid season merger saw only the #01 team with driver Mark Martin kept on at DEI, meaning Nemechek and Marlin were without rides for the rest of the season.

3. Bill France Dies

After a long struggle, Bill France passed away this year. France is always given the credit for elevating NASCAR to the heights it enjoys today. His son Bryan took over the reigns and now leads the way.

2. Michael Waltrip Fined 100 Driver’s Points and $100,000

I suppose he wanted a good start for Toyota to the 2007 season, but adding what seemed to be jet fuel to the race car is never a good idea. Michael Waltrip’s #55 Toyota was inspected and found to have a strange liquid in it that seemed to be jet fuel additive. He started off the season with -100 points and was fined a whopping $100,000 for pulling that trick. The team was never really able to recover from that huge blow right at the beginning of the season.

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Announces He is Leaving DEI

I really debated on whether or not to put this at number one, but it seemed to be the story that everyone was talking about this entire season. It started off with a some fighting between Jr. and his stepmom/team owner Teresa Earnhardt. It was time to renegotiate his contract, and Jr. threatened to walk if he didn’t get the majority share of the company. Teresa wasn’t willing to give up that much, and Jr. started looking around for a new ride. He found it over at Hendrick Motorsports, a proven winning team and now will be driving the #88 Amp/National Guard Chevy in 2008. Was it the right choice? I guess we’ll find out!

That’s it! Now it’s your turn! Tell me what is right and what is wrong with my list in the comments section below.

Did You Enjoy this Post? Subscribe to NASCAR Talk. It's Free!

One Response to “2007 NASCAR Review”

  1. Pit Stop Report » Blog Archive » NSC 2008 Year in Preview: Elliott Sadler and Jamie McMurry Says:

    [...] prediction is that Sadler will finish somewhat better than his 25th place season in 2007 – I’m going to bet that he’s in the top 15 this year – and with a little bit of luck, he [...]

Leave a Reply


About NASCAR Talk

Gentlemen (and ladies), start your engines! NASCAR Talk Online is dedicated to bringing you the latest news, standings, and garage gossip of the week. Nextel Cup, Busch Series, and Craftsman Truck Series race results will be examined and we’ll share our opinions and predictions for upcoming races. Join us to discuss the latest in NASCAR Motorsports and share your views. We’ll see you in Victory Lane!

NASCAR Talk Author(s)
    » Heather-Scoville

Sports & Outdoors Channel Posts

  • Who Is Suicide in TNA
    Do you know who Suiside is..?? Some says it is a up and coming wreslter to TNA. Some people say it is YOU..THE fan in the new TNA Video coming to store this Tuesday Sept. 9th. Here is what [...]
  • Torrie & Dawn Marie Talk about Wrestlers Rescue
    Wrestlers Rescue is an non-profit organization on helping retired pro wrestlers off set what health care coverage can not. The WrestlersRescue is solely runned by former WWE Diva Dawn Marie [...]
  • "The Wrestler" wins Best Movie Award at Venice Films
    U.S. director Darren Aronofsky holds the Golden Lion prize for best movie "The Wrestler" next to Mickey Rourke at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival September 6, 2008. Rourke stars in the [...]
  • Mr. Kennedy Moved, Mick Foley, Low Unforgiven Sales
    -Mr. Kennedy has been removed from the Raw roster over to the Smackdown Roster. You can view his link here. -It is being rumored that Mick foley can not wear flannel in TNA. Apparently this [...]
  • Unforgiven 2008 - My Thoughts
    --------------------------------------------------- WWE Championship Scramble I can see each man in this Raw Scramble win the title for at least a brief moment in their WWE history. How many [...]
  • Make-A-Wish Kids "REAL Show-Stoppa"
    ST. LOUIS – With Unforgiven just days away, WWE Superstars Jeff Hardy, Big Show and WWE Champion Triple H brought gigantic smiles to the faces of Make-A-Wish’s Deyanira Santana of New York [...]
  • Jeff Jarret Returns to TNA
    TNA wrestling.com is reporting that next Thursday on TNA Impact at 9 PM, will Jeff Jarret make his return debut??? [...]
  • Mick Foley/TNA at Long Island - Video
    TNA was at Long Island last night with new comer Mick Foley..A WRESTLING GOD!!! Mick Says that he would not be with the company if he didn't believe in it and he is hoping to make an HUGE Impact in [...]
  • Foley TNA House show - Photo, Team 3-D Returning to WWE??!!
    from Matt Stein: just got back from the tna house show in westbury. bubba and d-von were in the ring after there match and bubba said that once they slammed abyss through the table that there [...]
  • Watch Unforgiven Free, WWE Diva on Japan Base
    Chris an avid WWEDaily reader wrote: come watch live wwe unforgiven free at http://www.xat.com/wwe25 we welcome you all to come join its free good live stream -YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — [...]

Hot Off The Press

  • Heroes Sunday Picture Post 09.07.08
    Hayden Panettiere made an appearance on MTV's TRL.  I showed you photos from her arrival at MTV Studios, but here she is taping the show on September 2 in New York City. Dania Ramirez was [...]
  • Paris Hilton is all business, loses time to make baby
    When Paris Hilton announced earlier this year her desire to have a baby in 2009 with of course her boyfriend, Benji Madden, everybody really thought that it wouldn’t be long that our dear [...]
  • Become a Book Reviewer
    I have been very fortunate in my life in that I became friends with people who provide me with ample numbers of books to review. Getting free books in exchange for in depth reviews still amazes me. [...]
  • Always Moving
    As a performer, I have been "always moving" for the past three years. It has been well worth it and it feels incredibly unnatural to be staying at my permanent home in New York for three months [...]
  • Who Is Suicide in TNA
    Do you know who Suiside is..?? Some says it is a up and coming wreslter to TNA. Some people say it is YOU..THE fan in the new TNA Video coming to store this Tuesday Sept. 9th. Here is what [...]
  • Late evening..
    OK - the last post is about 80gazillion miles long partly due to the comment party (THANK YOU! WHOO!), so we're gonna open a new top post, because holy hell, the scrolling. *L* Jerry is on the [...]
  • It's a Zoo in Here!
    Holy cow! Remind me why I wanted to have FOUR dogs? *grin* Just kidding. All things considered the new puppy has joined his pack *fairly* smoothly...though there are some bumps that we need to [...]
  • The VMA’s
    MTV will air their annual Video Music Awards tonight at 9PM EST. It seems there are big things happening at this years awards. As I am sure you all know Britney Spears is opening the show, the real [...]
  • The Case Against Homework by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish
    In one of my earlier posts, the one where I tell you how ridiculous I think homework is, someone commented by referring me to the book The Case Against Homework by Sara Bennett and Nancy [...]
  • Become a Book Reviewer
    I have been very fortunate in my life in that I became friends with people who provide me with ample numbers of books to review. Getting free books in exchange for in depth reviews still amazes me. [...]