Turn 4 Transitions

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

By Natalie Anthony

 

 

 

Pep Boys Auto 500

September 6, 2009 (Sunday) 7:30 pm – ESPN

 

           

 

Happy Labor Day.  The NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers got some time off last weekend for their efforts laboring in auto sports and the rest of us get to celebrate our blue and white collar jobs with an extra day off and the spectacular race this Sunday at Altanta Motor Speedway (AMS).

            The Nationwide Series was in full effect last Sunday in Montreal particpating in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.  The race ended with two Cup drivers fighting the rain and each other for the win resulting with Carl Edwards forcing Marcos Ambrose to make a mistake after dominating the entire rain soaked venue.  

For Atlanta, Carl Edwards has the ability and strength in his latest successes to take a win away from the defending Cup champion and a driver with three wins at AMS, Jimmie Johnson.  If it is not the #48 from the Hendrick camp that Carl is challenging for the win, then teammate to Jimmie, Jeff Gordon will be giving his best effort to getting another win this season and adding to his already impressive win status of four wins at Atlanta.  Jeff finished 2^nd in March to Kurt Busch.

            Aside from Hendrick Motorsports, the only other team that has a chance of taking home a trophy is Penske Racing, who just announced that Brad Keselowksi will be joining their ranks in 2010.  The sole driver that has the ability to ride true is Kurt Busch, who is the defending champion from March’s race and finished 6^th last October when the race at Atlanta was part of the chase in 2008. 

Even though Atlanta is out of the chase, this weekend’s race is just as important because it is the second to the last race before the chase and one of only two chances for a few driver to make the chase.  Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Brian Vickers, and Juan Pablo Montoya are the group of drivers that really have to make some magic happen this Sunday and next weekend at Richmond International Raceway.  Every other driver on the track, who is not in chase contention, will be driving just to get into Victory Lane. 

 

Sharpie 500

 

(October 26, 2008)     

Top 10 Results  

1.  Carl Edwards

2.  Jimmie Johnson

3.  Denny Hamlin

4.  Matt Kenseth

5.  Kyle Busch

6.  Kurt Busch

7.  Jamie McMurray

8.  David Ragan

9.  Jeff Gordon

10.Greg Biffle

 

 

Track Stats

 

 

 

Kobalt Tools 500

 

(March 8, 2009)          

Top 10 Results  

1.  Kurt Busch

2.  Jeff Gordon

3.  Carl Edwards

4.  Kevin Harvick

5.  Brian Vickers

6.  Clint Bowyer

7.  Kasey Kahne

8.  Tony Stewart

9.  Jimmie Johnson

10.Martin Truex Jr.

 

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