2005 Subway Fresh 500
{{Short description|Eighth race of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASNEX|Radio=Motor Racing Network|Distance_km=506.943|Scheduled_km=502.115|Scheduled_mi=312|Avg={{convert|102.707|mph|km/h}}|Scheduled_laps=312|Distance_laps=315|Course_km=1.6|Course_mi=1|Attendance=105,000|Pole_Driver=Jeff Gordon|Season_No=36|Race_No=8|Most_laps=219|Location=Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway|Most_Driver=Kurt Busch|First_Driver=Kurt Busch|Official_name=Inaugural Subway Fresh 500|Date=April 23|Race_Name=Subway Fresh 500|Year=2005|Network=FOX|Most_Team=Roush Racing|First_Team=Roush Racing|Pole_Team=Hendrick Motorsports|Pole_Time=26.931|Car=97|Distance_mi=315|Announcers=Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip|Image=2005_Subway_Fresh_500.jpeg|Caption=The 2005 Subway Fresh 500 program cover.}}The 2005 Subway Fresh 500 was the eighth stock car race of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the inaugural iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 23, 2005, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Kurt Busch would dominate the majority of the race to take his 12th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Mike |date=April 24, 2005 |title=Racing clinic |pages=43 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113273421/racing-clinic/ |access-date=November 18, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Utter |first=Jim |date=April 24, 2005 |title=Kurt Busch holds off Waltrip |pages=33 |work=St. Joseph News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113295013/kurt-busch-holds-off-waltrip/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} To fill out the top three, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Michael Waltrip and Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton would finish second and third, respectively.
Background
File:Phoenix-international-raceway-2011-new.svg, the venue where the race was held.]]
Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.
= Entry list =
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 0 |
| 00 |
| 01 |
| 2 |
| 02
|Ford |
| 4 |
| 5
|Kyle Busch (R) |
| 6
|Ford |Reverse Viagra |
| 7 |
| 07 |
| 8 |
| 9 |
| 09 |
| 10 |
| 11 |
| 12 |
| 15 |
| 16
|Ford |
| 17
|Ford |
| 18 |
| 19 |
| 20 |
| 21
|Ford |
| 22 |
| 24 |
| 25 |
| 29 |
| 31 |
| 32
|Tide |
| 33 |
| 34 |
| 37 |
| 38
|Ford |Dark Chocolate M&M's, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |
| 40 |
| 41 |
| 42 |
| 43 |
| 45 |
| 48 |
| 49 |
| 66
|Ford |
| 77
|Travis Kvapil (R) |
| 88
|Ford |Milk Chocolate M&M's, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |
| 92
|Stanton Barrett (R) |
| 97
|Ford |
| 99
|Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20051121114222/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2005/8/data/entry_list.html Official entry list] |
|---|
Practice
= First practice =
The first practice session was held on Thursday, April 21, at 5:55 PM EST. The session would last for one hour. Travis Kvapil, driving for Penske Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.466 and an average speed of {{Convert|131.071|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|77 |Travis Kvapil (R) |27.466 |131.071 |
|---|
| 2
|12 |27.519 |130.819 |
| 3
|19 |27.552 |130.662 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20050830223923/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2005/8/data/practice1_speeds.html Full first practice results] |
= Final practice =
The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Thursday, April 21, at 9:15 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.356 and an average speed of {{Convert|131.598|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|12 |27.356 |131.598 |
|---|
| 2
|01 |27.386 |131.454 |
| 3
|07 |27.424 |131.272 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20051003213417/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2005/8/data/practice2_speeds.html Full Happy Hour practice results] |
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, April 22, at 6:00 PM EST. Positions 1-42 would be decided by time, while the 43rd position would be given to a past champion who had not otherwise qualified. If no past champion needed it, the next team in owner's points would earn the spot. Also, if a team in the top 35 in owner's points had missed qualifying in the top 35, they would earn a spot between 36 and 42 if needed.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2005 Phoenix 1 Race Info / Rundown Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2005/2005pir1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050907001812/http://www.jayski.com/next/2005/2005pir1.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2005 |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}}
Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 26.931 and an average speed of {{Convert|133.675|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Mike |date=April 23, 2005 |title=Sun adds another danger |pages=35 |work=The Indianapolis Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113295552/sun-adds-another-danger/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Three drivers would fail to qualify.
= Full qualifying results =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|24 |26.931 |133.675 |
|---|
| 2
|97 |Ford |27.016 |133.254 |
| 3
|16 |Ford |27.035 |133.161 |
| 4
|18 |27.069 |132.993 |
| 5
|25 |27.075 |132.964 |
| 6
|20 |27.078 |132.949 |
| 7
|12 |27.085 |132.915 |
| 8
|19 |27.144 |132.626 |
| 9
|2 |27.151 |132.592 |
| 10
|29 |27.164 |132.528 |
| 11
|99 |Ford |27.168 |132.509 |
| 12
|48 |27.169 |132.504 |
| 13
|01 |27.205 |132.329 |
| 14
|9 |27.230 |132.207 |
| 15
|8 |27.240 |132.159 |
| 16
|10 |27.280 |131.965 |
| 17
|17 |Ford |27.290 |131.917 |
| 18
|11 |27.311 |131.815 |
| 19
|32 |27.317 |131.786 |
| 20
|31 |27.321 |131.767 |
| 21
|07 |27.328 |131.733 |
| 22
|6 |Ford |27.344 |131.656 |
| 23
|0 |27.349 |131.632 |
| 24
|77 |Travis Kvapil (R) |27.371 |131.526 |
| 25
|33 |27.379 |131.488 |
| 26
|09 |27.380 |131.483 |
| 27
|5 |Kyle Busch (R) |27.385 |131.459 |
| 28
|15 |27.401 |131.382 |
| 29
|37 |27.408 |131.348 |
| 30
|49 |27.421 |131.286 |
| 31
|40 |27.424 |131.272 |
| 32
|41 |27.444 |131.176 |
| 33
|38 |Ford |27.473 |131.038 |
| 34
|42 |27.501 |130.904 |
| 35
|88 |Ford |27.506 |130.880 |
| 36
|22 |27.534 |130.747 |
| 37
|43 |27.556 |130.643 |
| 38
|21 |Ford |27.566 |130.596 |
| 39
|45 |27.692 |130.001 |
| 40
|92 |Stanton Barrett (R) |27.792 |129.534 |
| 41
|00 |27.853 |129.250 |
| colspan="7" |Qualified by owner's points |
| 42
|4 |46.754 |76.999 |
| colspan="7" |Last car to qualify on time |
| 43
|7 |28.032 |128.425 |
| colspan="7" |Failed to qualify |
| 44
|66 |Ford |28.266 |127.362 |
| 45
|34 |28.349 |126.989 |
| 46
|02 |Ford |28.275 |127.321 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20051003211110/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2005/8/data/lineup.html Official qualifying results] |
Race results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Fin !St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts !Winnings |
| 1
|2 |97 |Ford |312 |219 |running |190 |$269,000 |
|---|
| 2
|28 |15 |312 |23 |running |175 |$181,939 |
| 3
|20 |31 |312 |0 |running |165 |$147,995 |
| 4
|15 |8 |312 |0 |running |160 |$150,018 |
| 5
|5 |25 |312 |50 |running |160 |$110,325 |
| 6
|4 |18 |312 |0 |running |150 |$121,950 |
| 7
|11 |99 |Ford |312 |0 |running |146 |$94,775 |
| 8
|27 |5 |Kyle Busch (R) |312 |8 |running |147 |$92,050 |
| 9
|26 |09 |312 |0 |running |138 |$75,750 |
| 10
|13 |01 |312 |0 |running |134 |$103,158 |
| 11
|33 |38 |Ford |312 |0 |running |130 |$109,141 |
| 12
|1 |24 |312 |4 |running |132 |$120,886 |
| 13
|8 |19 |312 |0 |running |124 |$98,245 |
| 14
|7 |12 |312 |0 |running |121 |$119,541 |
| 15
|12 |48 |312 |0 |running |118 |$113,066 |
| 16
|22 |6 |Ford |312 |0 |running |115 |$80,700 |
| 17
|14 |9 |312 |0 |running |112 |$98,375 |
| 18
|16 |10 |312 |1 |running |114 |$90,133 |
| 19
|10 |29 |311 |0 |running |106 |$109,011 |
| 20
|23 |0 |311 |0 |running |103 |$67,600 |
| 21
|37 |43 |311 |0 |running |100 |$94,261 |
| 22
|25 |33 |311 |0 |running |97 |$61,700 |
| 23
|35 |88 |Ford |311 |0 |running |94 |$100,083 |
| 24
|21 |07 |311 |0 |running |91 |$72,725 |
| 25
|34 |42 |311 |0 |running |88 |$72,900 |
| 26
|31 |40 |311 |0 |running |85 |$92,183 |
| 27
|42 |4 |310 |0 |running |82 |$64,050 |
| 28
|29 |37 |310 |0 |running |79 |$60,925 |
| 29
|18 |11 |309 |0 |running |76 |$60,800 |
| 30
|40 |92 |Stanton Barrett (R) |309 |0 |running |73 |$60,675 |
| 31
|39 |45 |306 |0 |running |70 |$78,208 |
| 32
|36 |22 |305 |1 |running |72 |$82,558 |
| 33
|6 |20 |305 |0 |running |64 |$109,561 |
| 34
|38 |21 |Ford |293 |0 |running |61 |$87,364 |
| 35
|19 |32 |283 |0 |running |58 |$69,572 |
| 36
|9 |2 |272 |0 |running |55 |$90,908 |
| 37
|43 |7 |262 |0 |running |52 |$59,750 |
| 38
|30 |49 |255 |4 |crash |54 |$59,625 |
| 39
|32 |41 |243 |0 |running |46 |$67,500 |
| 40
|24 |77 |Travis Kvapil (R) |237 |0 |crash |43 |$67,350 |
| 41
|3 |16 |Ford |172 |2 |overheating |45 |$77,510 |
| 42
|17 |17 |Ford |164 |0 |crash |37 |$107,021 |
| 43
|41 |00 |52 |0 |engine |34 |$58,935 |
| colspan="11" |Failed to qualify |
| 44
! rowspan="3" | |66 |Ford ! colspan="5" rowspan="3" | |
| 45
|34 |
| 46
|02 |Ford |
| colspan="11" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20050827001834/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2005/8/data/results_official.html Official race results] |
References
{{Reflist}}{{NASCAR next race|Previous_race=2005 Samsung/Radio Shack 500|Next_race=2005 Aaron's 499|Monsteryear=2005|Series=NASCAR Nextel Cup Series}}{{NASCAR on Fox}}{{2005 Nextel Cup}}
Category:2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
Category:NASCAR races at Phoenix Raceway