Two-Time Daytona 500 Champ To Race No. 55 Toyota

ATLANTA – Aaron’s, Inc. will sponsor driver Michael Waltrip at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 31 as part of its 55th anniversary celebration. The two-time Daytona 500 champion and former Talladega winner returns to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving the No. 55 Toyota fielded by his Michael Waltrip Racing organization.

Waltrip drove the Aaron’s 55th anniversary paint scheme at Talladega in April in a Toyota fielded by Prism Motorsports. He started last but led laps 31-34 before a multi-car crash ended his race. Waltrip also finished 18th in the 2010 Daytona 500.

“If the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raced every weekend at Talladega and Daytona I’d still be driving full-time,” laughed Waltrip. “That’s how much I like those tracks and restrictor plate racing. The only place better than sitting in the stands or watching a restrictor plate race on television is behind the wheel of the Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota.”

Aaron’s sponsorship of this race program is designed to develop awareness of Aaron’s 55th Anniversary Super Sweepstakes with scratch-off chances to win every month through November 2010 and grand prize drawings in December including multiple chances to win a Toyota Camry Hybrid. People may pick up a game card each month at any of Aaron’s 1,700+ stores. And they should register their game cards each month at Aarons.com/55.

“We could not be more pleased having Michael racing the No. 55 Anniversary Dream Machine at Talladega,” said Aaron’s Chief Operating Officer Ken Butler. “His experience at superspeedways is like no other and we are confident that he will be at the front of the pack contending for the win.”

Aaron’s, Inc. entered NASCAR racing in 2000 when it agreed to sponsor the Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Waltrip agreed to serve as spokesman for the race in a television commercial, and Aaron’s agreed to sponsor Waltrip’s Nationwide team then housed in the backyard of his home.

As Butler, Waltrip and Aaron’s became more visible through television commercials during race broadcasts, the Aaron’s race car began to develop a public identity of its own and become synonymous with the number 99, Michael Waltrip and Aaron’s.

Aaron’s support of Waltrip continued over the years as Waltrip opened his 140,000-square-foot race shop in Cornelius, N.C. Michael Waltrip Racing now fields Toyotas for David Reutimann’s No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine and Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS entry in the Sprint Cup series and Ryan Truex’s No. 00 in the K&N Pro Series. MWR along with Gary and Blake Bechtel co-own Diamond-Waltrip Racing that fields the OUT! Pet Care/Aaron’s Toyota for Trevor Bayne in the Nationwide Series.

SHOW #125 – Awesome race in Montreal, Kyle wins 4th straight, what drivers will lock in, Paul returns, Atlanta anniversary, fantasy picks and more. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop

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CORRECTION: The point leaders in 2010 have been: Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick from Fontana to Bristol (races 2-5), Jimmie Johnson from Martinsville to Talladega (races 6-9), then Kevin again after Richmond (race 10)

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Hosts: Kerry Murphey & Paul Northrop
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Atlanta Celebrating 50th Anniversary Season

Atlanta Motor Speedway, site of the next NASCAR Sprint Cup event, on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 5, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

AMS’s first year of hosting NASCAR events was 1960. The track had two races that year, won by Fireball Roberts and Bobby Johns.

Since then, the best-of-the-best have conquered, with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt atop the wins list with nine.

More On Those Bonus Points – They’re Crucial To Championship Chances

Prior to the Chase, the 12 drivers who qualify have their point totals re-set to 5,000, whereupon 10 bonus points are tacked on for each pre-Chase race win. Those adjusted point totals establish Chase seedings.

Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have the prospective top two seeds all but locked up via five wins apiece, which would give them Chase starting totals of 5,050.

After that come Kevin Harvick and Busch with three wins apiece and potential starting totals of 5,030.

Two races remain until the Chase begins. Twenty more bonus points are there to be had.

Two Chase Spots Locked Up…Who’s Next?

Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon have already clinched berths in the 2010 Chase. A number of drivers can add their names to that coveted list. Leaving Atlanta, a driver must be 196 points ahead of 13th place to officially clinch a spot in the Chase. A few seem likely to do that; others have a chance; still others might have to wait until Richmond to cement a spot. Here’s the breakdown:

Sure Things?
There’s no such thing as a sure thing. But these guys are as close as it gets. Below are the finishing positions each driver would need to guarantee a Chase spot this weekend, regardless of how any other driver finishes:

Kyle Busch
40th or better, no laps led
42nd or better, at least one lap led
43rd or better, most laps led

Carl Edwards
21st or better, no laps led
23rd or better, at least one lap led
25th or better, most laps led

Denny Hamlin
20th or better, no laps led
22nd or better, at least one lap led
23rd or better, most laps led

Likely Candidates
Here are a few drivers who have a better than average shot at clinching this weekend:

Tony Stewart
19th or better, no led
21st or better, at least one lap led
23rd or better, most laps led

Jeff Burton
17th or better, no laps led
19th or better, at least one lap led
21st or better, most laps led

Matt Kenseth
15th or better, no laps led
17th or better, at least one lap led
19th or better, most laps led

There’s Always Richmond
Finally here are the remaining drivers who can clinch this weekend. They may have to wait until Richmond to lock up their spot:

Jimmie Johnson
10th or better, no laps led
11th or better, at least one lap led
13th or better, most laps led

Kurt Busch
9th or better, no laps led
10th or better, at least one lap led
11th or better, most laps led

Greg Biffle
4th or better, no laps led
5th or better, at least one lap led
7th or better, most laps led

Clint Bowyer
Currently 100 points ahead of 13th, Bowyer would need to gain 96 points. Therefore, there is no finish that would guarantee a Chase spot. He would need to finish strong, and get some help.