NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Seems Like Old Times: Gordon Back On Top Of Standings

Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon has parleyed three weeks of consistency into a return to the top of the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. Finishes of 13th (Daytona 500), second (Auto Club Speedway) and sixth (Las Vegas) have him in the lead for the first time since Oct. 28, 2007.
On the other hand, Jeff Gordon’s winless streak has reached 44 races. Atlanta looks like a potential place to end that skein; Gordon has four AMS victories, second-best among active drivers.

Milestone Marker: Atlanta Set To Host 100th NSCS Race
Atlanta Motor Speedway is starting its 50th season of hosting the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series but since there were three events back in 1961, Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 will be the 100th race in the series.

Busch Back In Form

Forget last year’s late-season slump that took Kyle Busch out of championship contention during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Busch comes into Atlanta off of an impressive victory this past Sunday at Las Vegas. He also has won win in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, via a same-day sweep at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 21.

Atlanta is a special place for Busch. Last spring, his victory was the first for Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It also was the first of eight series wins for Busch.

RCR Rolling: Three Drivers In Top 12 at Las Vegas

Richard Childress Racing takes some serious momentum into Atlanta. Three RCR drivers were in the top 12 at Las Vegas – race runner-up Clint Bowyer, third-place Jeff Burton and 12th-place Kevin Harvick. Bowyer is second in the series points, only 18 behind Jeff Gordon.

Harvick and Atlanta have history, to say the least. In March 2001 Harvick won there – his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory. That was in only his third start after replacing the late Dale Earnhardt, with the legendary No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet changed to the No. 29.

Earnhardt Finally Has Reason For Optimism

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 29th in the series points this week. Now, that may not sound too hot, but you must remember that last week he was 35th. A 10th-place Vegas finish resulted in his slight advancement.

Earnhardt has one NASCAR Sprint Cup win at AMS – in the 2004 spring race.

Turnaround Time: Michael Waltrip Racing A Major Surprise

In arguably the biggest surprise story of the season thus far, both Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota entries are performing like championship contenders. David Reutimann comes to Atlanta fifth in the series standings while Waltrip is 12th.

Prior to this season, Michael Waltrip threw down the gauntlet – at his own feet. Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 champion, said he would retire at season’s end, if his results did not improve.

Top 35: Two Races To Go Before Current Points Determine Automatic Starts

Three races have been run thus far this season, meaning there are two more to go, before the weekly 35 guaranteed starting spots will be based on this season’s car owner points.

A look at this week’s owner points shows three notable teams precariously close to the dangerous 35th and final cut-off spot.

The No. 20 Toyota driven by Joey Logano (owned by Joe Gibbs) is 32nd.

The No. 39 Chevrolet driven by Ryan Newman (owned by Tony Stewart) is 33rd.

The No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Mark Martin (owned by Rick Hendrick) is 34th.

Of course, if Newman happens to be outside the top 35 during the course of the season, it might not matter that much. He is arguably the sport’s premier qualifier, although he is struggling overall in his new Stewart-owned entry.