2008 Dodge Challenger 500

The 2008 Dodge Challenger 500, the 59th running of the event, was the eleventh race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. It was held on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the fabled Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

2008 Dodge Challenger 500
Race details[1]
Race 11 of 36 in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season
Layout of Darlington Raceway
Date May 10, 2008 (2008-May-10)
Official name Dodge Challenger 500
Location Darlington Raceway, Darlington County, South Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Weather Chilly with temperatures plummeting as low as 64 °F (18 °C); wind speeds up to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
Average speed 140.35 miles per hour (225.87 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Roush Fenway Racing
Time 27.405
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 169
Winner
No. 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox Broadcasting Company
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds

Summary

The race was televised in the USA on Fox starting at 7 PM US EDT with radio being handled on MRN on terrestrial radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. It was the first race on the newly repaved 1.366 mile track as "The Lady in Black" has gone under an extreme makeover akin to plastic surgery, with speeds at Goodyear tire testing in March having cars clocked at or over 200 MPH.

The race also served as the last chance to qualify for Sprint All-Star Race XXIV to be held the following week at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Otherwise, those who have not won a race, a series championship or a previous All-Star race would have to qualify via the Sprint Showdown race as one of the top two finishers or through fan voting by being on the lead lap in the Showdown.

Pre-race news

Qualifying

Greg Biffle edged out Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the pole position.

Race

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on pit road, as his team completes a pit stop during the race.

After getting a rousing chorus of booing from Earnhardt fans for what he did the previous week at Richmond, Kyle Busch quieted them down with his third win of the 2008 campaign.

Other finishers in the top ten were Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., David Ragan, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Travis Kvapil, Dave Blaney and Jeff Burton.[2]

Failed to Qualify: Johnny Sauter (#70), Jeff Green (#34).

Top 10 results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
2 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord
3 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
4 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
5 6David RaganRoush Fenway RacingFord
6 17Matt KensethRoush Fenway RacingFord
7 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
8 28Travis KvapilYates RacingFord
9 22Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingToyota
10 31Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet

References

  1. Weather information for the 2008 Dodge Challenger 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. Top ten finishers of the 2008 Dodge Challenger 500 at Driver Averages. Accessed 2013-06-18. Archived 2013-06-21.
Previous race:
2008 Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400
Sprint Cup Series
2008 season
Next race:
2008 Coca-Cola 600
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