2009 Autism Speaks 400
The 2009 Autism Speaks 400 presented by Heluva Good! was the thirteenth points race in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Held on May 31 of that year at the Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware, consisting of and marked the halfway point to the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Background
Fox Sports, in its 2009 swan song, televised the race beginning at 1:30 PM EDT while MRN and SiriusXM handled radio coverage starting at 1 PM.
The biggest change that year at Dover was a new pit road area. Previously, Dover's pit road only had enough room for 42 pit stalls, meaning one team had to share a pit until a car dropped out of the race. Now, thanks to a new pit wall facing the main stands, widening the lanes within pit road by, the area was rebuilt and all 43 cars will have their own pit stalls that are longer than before.
Pre-Race News
The biggest news this week concerned the Hendrick Motorsports #88 team of Dale Earnhardt Jr. His cousin and crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., who had come with him from Dale Earnhardt Inc. two years ago in one of the biggest events of that Silly Season, was fired. He will be replaced for the next two races with manager Brian Whitesell. Lance Magrew, a veteran crew chief will take over at Michigan.
Qualifying
Jeff Gordon wrecked his car in the first run of qualifying. David Reutimann, winner of the previous week's rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 took his third career pole.
Race recap
The Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe's team chose a rather unusual strategy: they chose the last pit stall. It worked to a charm as he led the most laps, and made the win with a pass of Tony Stewart with three laps to go and claim the win coming from seventh place on the final pit stop under caution that had earlier cost them the lead.