Turn 4 Transitions
by Natalie Anthony
10/23/2008

Pep Boys Auto 500
October 26, 2008 (Sunday) - 2:15 pm (ET) - ABC

Chase Watch - Report #7
Atlanta's assessment for this weekend is going to be the shuffling of chase drivers in the second through fifth position. Jimmie Johnson will remain our chase leader for this weekend and could possibly be looking at a different driver who is ranked right behind him. Most of the drivers currently in the chase have decent success at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS), but a few are going to find themselves changing a spot or two in the negative direction. One great thing to look for at AMS this weekend is the intensity of competition we are going to see from our chase drivers and the rest of the pack. Only three more races to go in the chase after this one and the underlying thought of safety and calmness is more than likely sitting in the garage watching the race.

Front Line Chasers
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 1st
For those of you Jimmie Johnson fans, you can rest easy this weekend because Jimmie likes the Atlanta track. Ranked first in best average finishes (9.6); Jimmie is also the reigning champion for last season's race in October. Jimmie might not create a bigger gap between first and second place point standings, but he will retain the lead.

Jeff Gordon
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 7th
I have been reading a lot of commentary regarding the more careful nature of Jeff on the track since the birth of his daughter, but I think that is an exaggeration. Jeff has always raced clean and easy and is mature enough to know that racing stupid is a rookie's job. Jeff has the most wins at Atlanta (4) out of the active driver roster and moved up a spot in the standings due to last weekend's fourth place finish. Jeff is also sporting two Top 10's in his last two races at AMS.

Clint Bowyer
Richard Childress Racing - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 5th
The separation between the second through sixth position is really close. Clint has the opportunity this weekend to actually move from fifth to second if everybody else has a bad race day. Lucky for Clint, his success at Atlanta is down right remarkable and a little eerie being that it is the bewitching month. Clint's last three races at AMS all ended with a sixth place finish (6, 6, and 6).

Matt Kenseth
Roush Fenway Racing - Ford
Point Standings: 10th
Matt is another driver that likes the Top 10 at Atlanta. Matt finished fourth last October and eighth in the race at AMS in March of this season. On top of that, Matt has another two Top 10's resulting from the October 2006 race and the March 2007 race. Add them all up and that's four Top 10's in four races at Atlanta.

Last Lap Challenge Chasers
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 13th
The only thing that Kyle can be thankful about by the end of the 2008 season is that he will not be the driver in 12th place. Kyle has better finishes at AMS in the last two races than his teammates Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin and Kyle did win the race this past March. Kyle isn't racing for NASCAR Sprint Cup; he is racing to be better than last.

Bottom 25 Chasers
Kevin Harvick
Richard Childress Racing - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 6th
Kevin's success rate at AMS is actually not directed toward the success column. In fact, watch for Kevin to loose at least two spots in the chase standings by the end of Sunday night. Kevin's been to AMS enough times (15) to get a feel for the track, but his racing results show he doesn't have what it takes to put the #29 car in the Top 10 more than three times. Kevin also has a dismal 2 Top 5's and a solitary win that happened in 2001.

Track Stats
Atlanta Motor Speedway (Hampton, GA) - AMS
Pep Boys Auto 500
(Sister Tracks - Lowe's, California, Homestead-Miami, Kansas
Dover, Chicagoland, Michigan, Darlington, & Texas)

Pep Boys Auto 500
(October 28, 2007)
Top 10 Results
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Carl Edwards
3. Reed Sorenson
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Jeff Burton
6. Clint Bowyer
7. Jeff Gordon
8. Kurt Busch
9. Kasey Kahne
10.Brian Vickers

Kobalt Tools 500
(March 9, 2008)
Top 10 Results
1. Kyle Busch
2. Tony Stewart
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. Greg Biffle
5. Jeff Gordon
6. Clint Bowyer
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Matt Kenseth
9. Brian Vickers
10.Jeff Burton

Post questions & comments to:
NASCARNATALIEANTHONY@yahoo.com