Turning points | Where it went right for some, and not so right for others

DAVID POOLE / The Charlotte Observer

Sunday, May. 13, 2007

Turning points in Sunday's race at Darlington Raceway:

Lap 180

Jeff Gordon makes a pit stop late in a green-flag cycle. On Lap 184, just after the No. 24 gets back on track, a caution comes out. While some teams stop again, Gordon stays out and gets up into the top five. He’d stay there the rest of the day.

Lap 250

The sun finally breaks through a layer of clouds that had hovered over the track all day. That certainly made a difference in how the cars handled, perhaps changing the ultimate outcome.

Lap 305

Denny Hamlin’s crew has a problem on the right-front tire during a pit stop under yellow. Hamlin, whose car had led 179 laps to that point, came in running second but was 16th when the race restarted.

Lap 305

On the same pit stop Hamlin had his troubles, Gordon’s team managed to get some tape off his grille in an effort to keep the car from running any hotter. Would the engine have still gone the distance without that? We’ll never know.

Lap 344

Jimmie Johnson comes to pit road for fresh tires. Gordon looks like he’s coming, too, but at the last minute turns back up onto the track. Five other cars stay out, too, giving Gordon a buffer between him and his teammate, Johnson, who restarts seventh.

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