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.

Continue reading “Top Drivers in Danger, near 35th in Points”

Edwards Capitalizes On Vegas Luck To Take Standings Lead

Carl Edwards “cashed in” at Las Vegas last Saturday during the Sam’s Town 300, finishing second behind Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle. He also took the lead in the series point standings for the first time since claiming his 2007 series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Kyle Busch, the standings leader coming into Las Vegas, was involved in an accident on Lap 21 that dropped him to a 39th-place finish at his home track. It also dropped him four spots to fifth in the standings.

Edwards capitalized and opened a 48-point lead over 2003 series champion Brian Vickers when he posted his fourth top-10 finish in five races at Las Vegas.

Edwards has rattled off impressive finishes thus far in 2009: Second at Daytona, fourth at Auto Club Speedway and the aforementioned runner-up result at Las Vegas.

Edwards isn’t the only driver at Roush Fenway to jump to a good start this year.

Continue reading “Nationwide Series: Off Weekend”

1 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 118.9
2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 7.0
• Led all three races for a total of 95 laps
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four wins, 13 top fives, 21 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 12.7
• Finished ninth in October
• Led 20 of 33 races for 1,051 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 6.2

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2 – Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.9
2009 Rundown
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 8.3
• Led one race for nine laps
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top 10s
• Average finish of 15.0
• Finished 20th in October
• Led two of six races for 54 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 351 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

3 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.7
2009 Rundown
• Two wins
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led two races for 91 laps
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Seven top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.9
• Finished fourth at Atlanta in October
• Led five of 18 races for 188 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 33 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

4 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.3
2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 10.3
• Led two races for 56 laps
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.4
• Finished 10th in October
• Led seven of 12 races for 289 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 90 Fastest Laps Run

5 – David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.8
2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish of 10.0
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 29.3 in three races
• Finished 28th in October
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 359 Green Flag Passes, third-most

Continue reading “NASCAR Cup Series Top 12: Week 4”

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

Kyle Busch Looks For 4th AMS Win In Trucks

The series heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the American Commercial Lines 200 on Saturday. The 1.54-mile track is familiar territory for Kyle Busch. He is the defending race winner, with additional wins in October of 2005 and 2007.

Four other former winners are expected to compete; Mike Skinner (March 2007), Todd Bodine (March 2006), Mike Bliss (October 2006), and Ron Hornaday Jr. (March 2005).

AMS is Ballew’s House – Literally

Billy Ballew, owner of the No. 15 and No. 51 Toyotas, has owned a condominium at Atlanta Motor Speedway since 1994, and it’s been a house of celebration the last two years. Ballew has visited Victory Lane with driver Kyle Busch each year. For both races, sponsors, family, friends and crew members gathered at the condo for a race-viewing party.

“The success we’ve had at the track with Kyle Busch is phenomenal, and to me, winning there is bigger than winning the Indianapolis 500,” Ballew said. “I’ve enjoyed the bird’s eye view of the wins we’ve had there.”

Continue reading “Atlanta Story Lines: Truck Series”

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.

Continue reading “Atlanta Story Lines: NASCAR Cup Series”