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2008 Subway Fresh Fit 500

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2008 Subway Fresh Fit 500
Race details
Race 8 of 36 in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2008 Subway Fresh Fit 500 program cover
2008 Subway Fresh Fit 500 program cover
Date April 12, 2008 (2008-04-12)
Location Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Weather Temperatures as low as 57 °F (14 °C); wind speeds up to 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
Average speed 103.292 miles per hour (166.232 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Penske Racing
Time 26.975
Most laps led
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 120
Winner
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds

The 2008 Subway Fresh Fit 500 was the eighth race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup season and ran on Saturday, April 12 at Phoenix International Raceway for 312 laps in Avondale, Arizona. The race was broadcast on television by Fox starting at 8:53 PM US EDT, and broadcast via radio and Sirius Satellite Radio on the Motor Racing Network beginning at 7:45 PM US EDT.

Pre-Race News

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Qualifying

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Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman won the pole position, the 34th of his career. Elliott Sadler started on the outside. Kyle Petty and John Andretti failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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RANK[1] DRIVER NBR CAR TIME SPEED
1  Ryan Newman 12 Dodge 26.975   133.457  
2  Elliott Sadler 19 Dodge 26.984   133.412  
3  Carl Edwards 99 Ford 26.991   133.378  
4  Mark Martin 8 Chevrolet 26.993   133.368  
5  Kasey Kahne 9 Dodge 27.006   133.304  
6  Kyle Busch 18 Toyota 27.012   133.274  
7  Jimmie Johnson 48 Chevrolet 27.019   133.240  
8  Jamie McMurray 26 Ford 27.029   133.190  
9  Martin Truex Jr. 1 Chevrolet 27.093   132.876  
10  Scott Riggs 66 Chevrolet 27.094   132.871  
11  Jeff Gordon 24 Chevrolet 27.098   132.851  
12  Tony Stewart 20 Toyota 27.101   132.836  
13  Dale Earnhardt Jr. 88 Chevrolet 27.126   132.714  
14  Paul Menard 15 Chevrolet 27.128   132.704  
15  Juan Pablo Montoya 42 Dodge 27.159   132.553  
16  Denny Hamlin 11 Toyota 27.187   132.416  
17  Kevin Harvick 29 Chevrolet 27.191   132.397  
18  Greg Biffle 16 Ford 27.220   132.256  
19  Dave Blaney 22 Toyota 27.220   132.256   *
20  Reed Sorenson 41 Dodge 27.258   132.071  
21  Dario Franchitti 40 Dodge 27.264   132.042   *
22  J.J. Yeley 96 Toyota 27.279   131.970  
23  David Ragan 6 Ford 27.284   131.945  
24  Clint Bowyer 07 Chevrolet 27.289   131.921  
25  Mike Skinner 84 Toyota 27.296   131.887   *
26  David Reutimann 44 Toyota 27.314   131.801   *
27  Matt Kenseth 17 Ford 27.322   131.762  
28  Michael Waltrip 55 Toyota 27.323   131.757  
29  Michael McDowell 00 Toyota 27.334   131.704  
30  Casey Mears 5 Chevrolet 27.344   131.656  
31  Sam Hornish Jr. 77 Dodge 27.352   131.617  
32  Travis Kvapil 28 Ford 27.354   131.608  
33  Brian Vickers 83 Toyota 27.382   131.473  
34  Bobby Labonte 43 Dodge 27.394   131.416  
35  Robby Gordon 7 Dodge 27.423   131.277  
36  David Gilliland 38 Ford 27.434   131.224  
37  Patrick Carpentier 10 Dodge 27.446   131.167   *
38  Regan Smith 01 Chevrolet 27.459   131.105  
39  Jeff Burton 31 Chevrolet 27.496   130.928  
40  Kurt Busch 2 Dodge 27.496   130.928  
41  Joe Nemechek 78 Chevrolet 27.569   130.581   *
42  Johnny Sauter 70 Chevrolet 27.590   130.482   *
43  Kyle Petty 45 Dodge 27.697   129.978   *
44  Bill Elliott 21 Ford 27.793   129.529   PC
45  John Andretti 34 Chevrolet 27.814   129.431   *

OP: qualified via owners points

PC: qualified as past champion

PR: provisional

QR: via qualifying race

* - had to qualify on time

The race

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The outcome of this race was determined largely on fuel mileage strategy. Based on crew chief Chad Knaus' calculations, Jimmie Johnson stayed out late in the race while leaders Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin entered their pits. Johnson held on for the win while Clint Bowyer finished second.

Jeff Burton climbed from 39th starting position to a sixth-place finish and retained his lead in points.

Results

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POS[2] ST # DRIVER SPONSOR / OWNER CAR LAPS MONEY STATUS LED PTS
1 2 99   Carl Edwards Aflac   (Jack Roush) Ford 339 541150 running 123 195
2 5 48   Jimmie Johnson Lowe's   (Rick Hendrick) Chevrolet 339 364286 running 65 175
3 3 18   Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries   (Joe Gibbs) Toyota 339 250750 running 50 170
4 4 12   Ryan Newman Alltel / Samsung   (Roger Penske) Dodge 339 236725 running 0 135
5 14 11   Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground   (Joe Gibbs) Toyota 339 206841 running 0 155
6 35 31   Jeff Burton Prilosec OTC   (Richard Childress) Chevrolet 339 197033 running 0 150
7 24 20   Tony Stewart Home Depot   (Joe Gibbs) Toyota 339 184236 running 0 146
8 31 8   Mark Martin U.S. Army   (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) Chevrolet 339 174358 running 0 142
9 8 17   Matt Kenseth DeWalt   (Jack Roush) Ford 339 173891 running 68 143
10 25 07   Clint Bowyer Jack Daniel's   (Richard Childress) Chevrolet 339 145025 running 0 134
11 21 29   Kevin Harvick Shell / Pennzoil   (Richard Childress) Chevrolet 338 167411 running 0 130
12 1 88   Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy   (Rick Hendrick) Chevrolet 338 151275 running 31 132
13 7 6   David Ragan AAA Insurance   (Jack Roush) Ford 338 131125 running 0 124
14 32 26   Jamie McMurray Crown Royal Cask No. 16   (Jack Roush) Ford 338 128375 running 0 121
15 41 38   David Gilliland Yates Racing   (Yates Racing) Ford 338 138083 running 0 118
16 36 83   Brian Vickers Red Bull   (Dietrich Mateschitz) Toyota 338 116725 running 0 115
17 19 15   Paul Menard Menards / Quaker State   (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) Chevrolet 338 123125 running 0 112
18 38 28   Travis Kvapil Yates Racing   (Yates Racing) Ford 338 140639 running 0 109
19 11 42   Juan Pablo Montoya Texaco / Havoline   (Chip Ganassi) Dodge 337 139733 running 0 106
20 30 43   Bobby Labonte Cheerios / Sam's Club   (Petty Enterprises) Dodge 337 149511 running 0 103
21 29 22   Dave Blaney Caterpillar   (Bill Davis) Toyota 337 124783 running 0 100
22 22 5   Casey Mears Cheez-It / Carquest   (Rick Hendrick) Chevrolet 337 121625 running 0 97
23 23 2   Kurt Busch Miller Lite   (Roger Penske) Dodge 337 102125 running 0 94
24 42 41   Reed Sorenson Target   (Chip Ganassi) Dodge 337 132189 running 0 91
25 10 9   Kasey Kahne Budweiser   (Gillett Evernham Motorsports) Dodge 336 132916 running 0 88
26 26 19   Elliott Sadler Best Buy   (Gillett Evernham Motorsports) Dodge 336 127170 running 0 85
27 13 66   Scott Riggs State Water Heaters   (Gene Haas) Chevrolet 336 113383 running 0 82
28 27 10   Patrick Carpentier Valvoline   (Gillett Evernham Motorsports) Dodge 335 99125 running 0 79
29 9 84   Mike Skinner Red Bull   (Dietrich Mateschitz) Toyota 334 93525 running 0 76
30 15 7   Robby Gordon Jim Beam   (Robby Gordon) Dodge 334 115533 running 0 73
31 20 55   Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts   (Michael Waltrip) Toyota 333 99997 running 0 70
32 17 77   Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1   (Roger Penske) Dodge 333 134925 running 0 67
33 40 00   Michael McDowell Aaron's Dream Machine   (Michael Waltrip) Toyota 332 91700 running 0 64
34 28 21   Bill Elliott Motorcraft   (Wood Brothers) Ford 332 105495 running 0 61
35 34 01   Regan Smith Dale Earnhardt, Inc.   (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) Chevrolet 331 94025 running 0 58
36 12 1   Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats   (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) Chevrolet 330 115908 engine 2 60
37 43 78   Joe Nemechek Furniture Row Racing   (Barney Visser) Chevrolet 330 83775 running 0 52
38 39 70   Jeremy Mayfield Haas Automation   (Gene Haas) Chevrolet 329 82625 running 0 49
39 16 16   Greg Biffle Dish Network   (Jack Roush) Ford 312 90500 running 0 46
40 37 34   John Andretti Front Row Motorsports   (Bob Jenkins) Chevrolet 263 82375 suspension 0 43
41 6 44   David Reutimann UPS   (Michael Waltrip) Toyota 253 82260 engine 0 40
42 33 96   J.J. Yeley DLP HDTV   (Jeff Moorad) Toyota 173 90165 crash 0 37
43 18 24   Jeff Gordon DuPont   (Rick Hendrick) Chevrolet 124 131327 crash 0 34
Failed to qualify
POS NAME NBR SPONSOR OWNER CAR
44 Kyle Petty 45 Wells Fargo Petty Enterprises Dodge
45 John Andretti 34 Front Row Motorsports Bob Jenkins Chevrolet

Yankees / Red Sox coverage

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Coverage of the pre-race was interrupted when Fox switched over to cover the remaining New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox baseball game which had been delayed due to rain.[3] Fox then switched back to the race as the cars were on the dogleg just after the start. The final two pitches of the game were shown on the cable / satellite channel FX leaving some baseball fans confused.[3] Fox was contractually required to show the entire race on its broadcast network.

NASCAR fans were upset that the network did not show the invocation and national anthem, especially as it was realized that the game was shown on both Fox and FX, in a simulcast, for about 10 minutes. Theoretically, the baseball game could have continued on Fox and the pre-race ceremonies would have been seen on FX, but parent company News Corporation chose not to use that option.[4]

This is the first known occurrence in the history in American sports television that a network missed both the ending of one event (similar to the Heidi Game, except that there was an option to see the remainder of it) and the beginning of another.

On the Speed Channel rebroadcast later that week, the start of the race was shown, in real time, from Brett Bodine pulling the pace car to pit road, and Fox analyst Larry McReynolds waving the green flag, all the way through the entire first lap. It is evident in that replay that the broadcast started on the backstretch as the graphics package did not appear until the cars were on the dogleg.

References

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  1. ^ "Race Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  2. ^ "Race Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  3. ^ a b ESPN.com: Fans confused when Fox shifts from Red Sox/Yanks finish to NASCAR
  4. ^ Fox Sports Caught in a No-Win Situation
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Previous race:
2008 Samsung 500
Sprint Cup Series
2008 season
Next race:
2008 Aaron's 499