Defining Moments in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Season

This year, 2007, was a year of changes for NASCAR's top series, Nextel Cup. Some of the changes were ground breaking, some barely noticeable. In any event, it will be a year to remember for some time. I would like to point out what I feel are the seven most important moments of the 2007 season. They are listed in no particular order.

Before the season ever started, Toyota had announced it was entering NASCAR's highest level of racing after several successful years in the Craftsman Truck Series. Toyota would become the first Japanese manufacturer to join NASCAR's elites. Many mistakenly thought they would be the first foreign manufacturer, but that would be inaccurate as several others had raced in NASCAR several decades past.

Toyota came in with great hopes of challenging on a weekly basis, but wound up struggling to make the field. No Toyota team made each race, and by season's end, only one team, Bill Davis Racing's Dave Blaney, made their way into the top 35 in owner's points, guaranteeing a starting spot in the first five races of the 2008 season. Toyota drivers did, though, earn two poles in qualifying, and did muster a few top tens. The bright spot would have most likely been Brian Vicker's Red Bull Toyota leading a portion of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May.

For most of its existence, NASCAR cars have run on premium leaded gasoline. This has bothered environmentalists. This fuel puts out many harmful greenhouse gasses. It was needed, though, for the lubricating properties of the lead in the fuel. It was thought, if they switched to unleaded fuel, it would bring multiple, catastrophic engine failures.