Taking the lead for the first time on lap three Kenseth simply drove away from the competition at every opportunity and opened a lead of more than ten seconds during a green flag stretch that lasted from lap 80 to lap 148. The driver of the #17 Roush-Fenway Ford took the penultimate restart of the lead in first place on lap 197 and only relinquished top spot during a round of green flag pitstops 30 laps from home. Although a two-tyre gamble by Truex Jr briefly elevated the DEI driver into top spot Kenseth retook the lead for good on lap 248 and was easily able to outpace the field on the final lap 257 restart.
Kenseth's 16th career victory came at a fitting time for the 2003 champion as his long serving crew chief Robbie Reiser now prepares for a life away from the pit box as the new General Manager of Roush-Fenway Racing. The win also completes a stunning end of season rally that has seen the #17 team move from 12th in the chase to fourth in the final standings on the back of five straight top five finishes.
Kurt Busch finished second on the day to end the year seventh in the standings while Hamlin claimed third on the road on his birthday but still misses out on a place at the banquet table at the end of year awards as he finishes last in the Chase.
Carl Edwards completed the top five behind Gordon to cement ninth place in the overall standings while Truex Jr joins Hamlin on the sidelines for awards night despite a sixth place finish in the #1 DEI Chevrolet.
Jeff Burton overcame an early race brush with the wall and a collision that effectively ended Dale Earnhardt Jr's chances of victory to finish eighth with Mark Martin the first non-Chase driver home in ninth position. Rookie David Ragan rounded out the top ten but was unable to prevent Juan Montoya, who finished 15th, from taking the 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year crown.
![Jimmie Johnson - Lowe's Chevrolet [pic credit: image.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/279398.jpg)
