failed to win a restrictor-plate race at any point in the year. This would be the 7th and final career Cup Series start for Kerry Earnhardt. This would also be the only Cup Series race that Kerry finished ahead of his younger brother Dale Jr. Kerry finished 39th, and Dale Jr. finished 40th. Last points race without Denny Hamlin on the grid until the 2013 STP Gas Booster 500. Banquet 400 Complete Results The Banquet 400 was held on October 9 at Kansas Speedway. Matt Kenseth sat on the pole. Mark Martin got his first victory of the season as Roush Racing cars finished 1–2–3. Chase for the Nextel Cup drivers finished in the top seven positions. The race also marked the Nextel Cup debut for Denny Hamlin, who finished 32nd. Top Ten Results 6- Mark Martin 16- Greg Biffle 99- Carl Edwards 20- Tony Stewart 17- Matt Kenseth 48- Jimmie Johnson 2- Rusty Wallace 41- Casey Mears 21- Ricky Rudd 24- Jeff Gordon Failed to qualify: Robby Gordon (#7), Wayne Anderson (#61), Tony Raines (#37), Carl Long (#00), Greg Sacks (#13), Eric McClure (#34) Last career top 10 finish for Rusty Wallace. This would be Mark Martin's final win with Roush Racing. UAW-GM Quality 500 Complete Results The race held on October 15 at Lowe's Motor Speedway was delayed by the finish of the Southern California-Notre Dame college football game which was being broadcast on NBC by forty-five minutes and ended after midnight (EDT) because of the green-white-checkered finish rule. The race was marred by multiple tire problems, similar to the 2005 United States Grand Prix where tires seemed to "self-destruct" on their own. This was caused by a recent levigation of the track and Goodyear failing to bring an adequate tire to the track. Even with drivers driving at 75% speed, tires continued to explode due to excessive heat in the right-front tire. Not even series point leader and eventual champion Tony Stewart was exempt. At one point, NASCAR even considered calling the race, although they ended up throwing caution flags instead. When the smoke cleared, Jimmie Johnson won his fourth straight points-paying race at Lowe's and surged into a tie with Tony Stewart for the top of the standings. Stewart, who has five wins, holds the tie-breaker and retained the lead, finishing 25th. The top three finishers were involved in the 2005 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.