Pep Boys Auto 500 Preview
Added on Sep 06, 2009 by sbworld in
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Pep Boys Auto 500
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sunday September 6th @ 7:00PM
Atlanta Motor Speedway plays host to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the second time in 2009 and with only two races remaining in the Race for the Chase it promises to be quite interesting if not exciting.
While current points leader Tony Stewart down to sixth place Kurt Busch are all but locked in, the focus shifts to the eight teams that are 7th through 14th in the standings which are seperated by only 89 points.
Going into Sunday’s race Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth are in but Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers are ready to crash the party if any one of those teams are not up at the wheel.
Roush-Fenway has done well at AMS, even better as of late. In the spring race this year four of Roush’s five teams placed 19th or better and in this particular race last year all five were Top 10 which included race winner Carl Edwards. So this bodes well for Biffle and Kenseth.
Outside of Vickers the rest of the contenders have had their share of problems here. Kahne and Kyle Busch have been feast or famine the past few years while Newman, Martin and Montoya have struggled for a variety of reasons. Only two Top 10′s combined for those three drivers over the past 5 races here.
As for who will wind up in Victory Lane on Sunday night, keep your eye on:
1) Jimmie Johnson (of course)
Has an average finish of 5.2 the last five here which includes two wins and a second place finish
2) Carl Edwards
His career numbers at Atlanta: In ten starts has an average finish of 10.7 (which amazingly includes two finishes of 40th or worse) six Top 5′s and three wins.
3) Jeff Gordon
Jeff is due. Has not won since Texas in April, has finished second five times since that race. Good numbers at AMS: 7.0 average finish the last five starts and finished second here in the spring
4) Denny Hamlin
This team is putting the pieces together after a lot of tough breaks earlier in the year. Seven Top 10′s the last eight races in 2009 which includes four Top 5′s and a win at Pocono.
5) Kyle Busch
Underestimated him last week. Thought for sure he would make a major mistake with the pressure of having to race his way into the Chase but instead he did a great job of working his way to the front and putting himself in a position to win at the end. So if he can do it at Bristol, why not here, won the spring race in 2008.
6) Kurt Busch
Don’t forget about big brother Kurt. Good history at AMS, his worst finish in the past five races there has been 11th and he won the race this past spring. He is solidly in the Chase so his main goal this weekend is to get the win and the 10 bonus points that comes with it.
7) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Looks like the chemistry between Jr. and crew chief Lance McGrew is starting to cook. This team has made obvious strides the past month putting together back-to-back Top 10 runs and with Atlanta being a good track historically for Jr. (11.6 average finish in 20 starts/ 8 Top 5′s and a win) should be three in a row.
Clint Bowyer
These guys have to be disappointed with their misfortune at Bristol that all but eliminated them from the Chase, but before then this team was on the up-tick and I think that may re-continue this weekend. All RCR teams have had success At AMS and Bowyer has finished sixth in four of the last five here.
This has all the makings of a good one on Sunday night so make sure to check it out.
