CONCORD, N.C. -- From the start of the race until the very end, Jeff Gordon was a dominant force at Phoenix International Raceway, now Phoenix Raceway, on April 21, 2007.
Not only did Gordon secure his first win of the season, but earned his 76th career victory. That tied him with Dale Earnhardt on the all-time wins list in sixth place. It was also Gordon's first win in Phoenix.
Gordon earned the pole position with the fastest time in the qualifying session. From the start of the race, Gordon remained out front with competitors Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin battling for the lead spot.
However, it was Stewart who led the majority of laps with 132 out of the 312-lap race. Despite racing at the front of the pack, Gordon struggled to keep the lead for good.
The tide turned in his favor on lap 283. A caution came out while Gordon was on pit road, allowing his crew to strategize and get him back out front.
With the exception of two laps, Gordon held on to the lead and he sped across the finish line first. In total, he led for 53 laps.
To honor Earnhardt and tying him for sixth place on the all-time wins list, Gordon took the checkered flag with a No. 3 on it and waved it as he did a celebratory lap around the track.
"We wanted to do something cool for Dale and pay tribute to him," Gordon said after the race, via The Los Angeles Times. “I miss him a lot out there. To do something he did in this sport is pretty overwhelming.”
Gordon would go on to win six more races in 2007, placing him second in the final NASCAR Cup Series standings. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson took home the championship trophy that year.