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NASCAR Natalie
Turn 4 Transitions
by Natalie Anthony
3/16/2007
Round 1 – Atlanta
Kobalt Tools 500
The Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) marks the fourth race of the Nextel Cup Season and already drivers, teams, crew chiefs and owners are counting the points week by week. I really think that more teams need to be concerned about actually finishing a race and how they will run at the next track and not about the numbers; just yet. With 26 races that build up to the chase, teams have plenty of time to work with their calculators. There are many more things that should be on their minds. With the smaller fuel cells introduced this season by NASCAR and the Car of Tomorrow peaking into the next race, there are plenty of things to stress out anybody. A track like Atlanta will either leave you high and dry or flying across the start/finish line no matter what your concerns are.
The Checkered Four
(Current point standings)
Jeff Gordon (2nd) Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet – Jeff has the second highest wins at Atlanta out of the current driver roster with 4. But with 29 starts, Jeff is 1 out of a handful of driver with the most Top 10’s (18). And only 2 other active drivers have him beat by one in Top 5’s (12). Those 2 drivers would be Mark Martin and Bill Elliott who have way more starts than him.
Tony Stewart (13th) Joe Gibbs Racing - Chevrolet – Tony is the defending winner from the last race here at Atlanta last October, during the chase for the Nextel Cup. Tony will either lag in the back of the pack and charge to the front with 30 laps to go, or head out front from the get go and stay in the Top 10 the whole race and finish in the Top 5. I foresee Tony and Kasey Kahne running the same high line this weekend.
Carl Edwards (17th) Roush Fenway Racing – Ford – Would somebody give this man a break! Either he is on it or so far away from it that the only thing he has to look forward to in his Nextel Cup ride is winning the Busch Series Championship. Last week in Vegas, he surprised me and hopefully that is a trend he is going to set. Carl has 2 wins at AMS out of 5 starts (that’s a win every 2.5 races). Last time he won was in October 2005, that’s 3 races ago. Carl is overdue.
Kasey Kahne (36th) Evernham Motorsports – Dodge – Kasey is second to none at intermediate tracks. Yeah, they are referred to as cookie cutter tracks, but who doesn’t like cookies? Ah, with Kasey having 6 of his last 6 wins at tracks just like this, he will again smell sweet success. However, after the Las Vegas race last weekend, I’m sure Kasey isn’t too fond of M&M’s.
Underdogs
(Current point standings)
Bobby Labonte (21st) Petty Enterprises – Dodge – Bobby is a good ol’ boy. He is working with tired equipment and his career prime that has already past, but you still want him to do well. There is something about who he is as a person and a driver. Bobby has the most wins (6) at AMS out of the current active drivers, but I do have to mention that it took him 28 tries to get those wins. Don’t forget 12 Top 5’s and 13 Top 10’s. He will come in on Sunday somewhere around the 15th position.
Reed Sorenson (31st) Ganassi/Sabates Racing – Dodge – If there was a cutest driver pageant; Reed would be the first runner-up to Kasey Kahne. He is so adorable. Well, being cute doesn’t get you any where in NASCAR, but Reed’s ability at intermediate tracks may get him crowned an under dog. He has been to AMS 4 times and even being a new driver he has at least come out with a Top 10. That is more than I can say for Kyle Busch.
Most likely to be a lap down
(Current point standings)
Matt Kenseth (5th) Roush Fenway Racing – Ford – Matt has raced at AMS 14 times and had only come home with 7 Top 10’s. You break it down and he is shooting 50 out of 100. Either he will make the Top 10 or he won’t. It is hard to pick a driver that is only good half the time at this track.
Kyle Busch (7th) Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet – Kyle is bordered-line annoying this season. Every time he gets up front, he is too aggressive and usually ends up taking himself or some other innocent driver out. Kyle has been to AMS 5 times and the only stat he has is finishing outside the Top 20.
Track Stats
Atlanta Motor Speedway (Hampton, GA)
Kobalt Tools 500
March 18, 2007 (Sunday) – 1:30 pm - FOX
(Sister Tracks – Lowe’s, California, Homestead-Miami, Kansas
Dover, Chicagoland, Michigan, Darlington, & Texas)
Kobalt Tools 500
(March 20, 2006)
Top 10 Results
1. Kasey Kahne
2. Mark Martin
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Tony Stewart
6. Jimmie Johnson
7. Paul Menard
8. Kyle Petty
9. Dale Jarrett
10. Reed Sorenson
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Our latest Cheat Sheets updated constantly through September.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Marvin Harrison Denies Involvement In Shooting
(5/13 12:31 AM PT)
The Facts:
Harrison assured the Indianapolis Colts he was not involved in a shooting last month in his hometown of Philadelphia. Owner Jim Irsay said Monday he hopes that's the case. "At this point I'm keeping my fingers crossed," Irsay said. "We've done everything we could do in our diligence to try to discern what happened. He said he was not involved in that shooting and. ... The authorities have said there is nothing imminent."
Diehards Line:
Irsay said the Colts' security department has been in contact with NFL security in Philadelphia as well as with Philadelphia law enforcement. ... To review: A gun that Harrison owned has been linked to the shooting in which a man suffered a gunshot wound to his hand and a small boy was cut on the face by flying glass from a windshield. Six of the bullet casings found at the April 29 shooting near Harrison's car wash were from his gun, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported last week. But Harrison is not considered a suspect at this time.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Terrell Owens Happy With Situation In Dallas
(5/13 12:21 AM PT)
The Facts:
Owens' contract situation has been a backburner subject this offseason, as the team has dealt with the draft, getting Zach Thomas and Pacman Jones in the fold, and working on extensions with unsigned, but protected veterans Marion Barber and Ken Hamlin. So could there be a problem, with the star receiver's deal expiring at the end of the season? Owens says no.
Diehards Line:
"I definitely want to end my career with the Dallas Cowboys, and go into the Hall of Fame as a Dallas Cowboy," Owens, who told DMN staffer Albert Breer that he's got "3-5 years" left in the game, said. He also mentioned that getting a ring is what really matters at this stage of his career. And he believes the group to get it done in 2008 is there. "No doubt," Owens said. "The makeup is there. ... We're a step closer every year. We're ready."
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Patriots Meet With Kevin Jones; Nothing Imminent
(5/13 12:18 AM PT)
The Facts:
Last week, New England very quietly hosted a visit -– and no team can do things as quietly as the Patriots -- with Kevin Jones, whom Detroit released in March.
Diehards Line:
According to NFL Network insider Adam Schefter, Jones appears to be a couple of months away from recovering from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered late last season, but he is far enough along that the Patriots brought him in for a look. Schefter believes there are teams that think Jones will be able to contribute in training camp, others wonder if he will miss the start of the season due to his knee injury.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Randy McMichael Happy With New OC
(5/13 12:16 AM PT)
The Facts:
No Rams player may be more excited about Al Saunders being OC than McMichael. "As soon as I found what was going on and they had hired coach Saunders, I got really excited," McMichael said. "This is the kind of offense that I have dreamed my whole career of playing in."
Diehards Line:
Saunders has a reputation for making the tight end an integral part of his passing attack. Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez averaged 80 catches per season in his six seasons with Saunders calling the offensive plays. Under Saunders, Washington's Chris Cooley caught 57 passes for 734 yards and two touchdowns in 2006 and 66 passes for 786 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007. "He said the funniest thing to me the first time I met him," McMichael said of Saunders. "He said, 'I've had a Pro Bowl tight end eight straight years."' Now, the pressure is on McMichael to keep that streak going.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Roddy White Skips Final Workout With Sore Hamstring
(5/12 7:24 PM PT)
The Facts:
White was held out of practice Monday after a slight hamstring problem Sunday afternoon. "Roddy tweaked his hamstring," HC Mike Smith said. "It's just precautionary. We don't want to put ourselves in a position with a guy this time of year that may hurt himself more by going out there."
Diehards Line:
White said he's been working hard to stay healthy with the offseason weight program and looks forward to building on his career season from 2007. "I'm getting a lot more comfortable," he said. "I just have to go out there and continue to work hard and continue to get better every day. If you ain't getting better, you're getting worse." We're looking for White to continue getting better, but much of his success will depend on the team's quarterback.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Robbie Gould Signs 5-Year Extension With Bears
(5/12 6:32 PM PT)
The Facts:
Gould on Monday signed a five-year contract extension with the Bears that runs through the 2013 season. Terms were not disclosed.
Diehards Line:
Gould is the most accurate field goal kicker in Bears history among those with at least 50 attempts, having connected on 84 of 99 tries (84.8 percent) in three seasons. In 2007, Gould made 31 of 36 field goals (86.1), including 17 of 18 (94.4) over the final seven games. His only miss during that stretch, a 48-yard attempt, was blocked. Gould also owns Bears records with 26 straight field goals from Dec. 25, 2005-Nov. 19, 2006 and 22 straight games with a field goal from Oct. 23, 2005-Nov. 6, 2006.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Joe Horn Would Prefer Trade To Reserve Role
(5/12 1:34 PM PT)
The Facts:
Horn said Monday that he would like to be traded instead of remaining with the team as a "just-in-case guy." Horn said he had not approached the team yet about his desire to be dealt but that him and/or his agent would in the near future. When told of Horn's remarks, general manager Thomas Dimitroff said: "He is still part of our team and we still see a future for him here."
Diehards Line:
Horn said that he would be professional for as long as he remains with the Falcons. He said he hopes the Falcons will push to deal him to a team who values him as a contributor. ... During five, just-completed mini-camp workouts -- and during a pre-draft minicamp in April -- Laurent Robinson replaced Horn in the starting lineup alongside Roddy White. Michael Jenkins and rookie Harry Douglas also took reps this weekend, which could have prompted Horn to feel as if he was being pushed down the depth chart. Brian Finneran, Eric Weems and Adam Jennings are also vying to be among the five-to-six wide receivers retained.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Ravens Mulling Use Of 3-WR Set As Base Formation
(5/12 11:31 AM PT)
The Facts:
One of the questions heading into Ravens mini-camp was the pecking order of the WRs. But Derrick Mason, Demetrius Williams and Mark Clayton aren't battling against each other. They are teaming up in pursuit of a common goal. If this unit plays up to expectations, there is a possibility the Ravens could use three wide receivers as their primary formation. "It's not a possibility. It will happen," Mason said. "Using three wides is not far-fetched with the three guys that we have."
Diehards Line:
Whether it was injuries or just former HC Brian Billick's scheme last season, the Ravens rarely spread out defenses. Of the Ravens' 557 passes thrown last season, only 39 percent came in a three-wide alignment. New OC coordinator Cam Cameron wants to be unpredictable and will change up the formations as well as the personnel groupings. "If we had to start a game today, three wide receivers might be our starting group," Cameron said.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Steven Jackson Setting Modest Goals, Looking For More
(5/12 12:21 AM PT)
The Facts:
Last June, Jackson announced he was shooting for 2,500 total yards from scrimmage. He wound up with about half that, rushing for 1,002 yards and adding 271 receiving yards in 12 games. He missed four games with injuries, and the Rams tumbled to 3-13 and last place in the NFC West. "My goal right now until (training camp in) July is to (learn) this offense, so I can play fast," Jackson said. "When I'm playing fast, I know what I'm doing."
Diehards Line:
Assuming he -- and his offensive line -- avoid the injuries that caused so many problems last year, Jackson, heading into the final year of his rookie contract, figures he can rebuild his stats and enhance his bargaining power at the same time. A monster season would push Jackson, 24, even further up the potential-earnings chart, and he's counting on putting up big numbers. "Well, we all know what happens in a contract year: you ball out," he said with a laugh. "So, I expect to."
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Michael Turner Among Falcons On The Mend
(5/11 12:24 PM PT)
The Facts:
Several veteran players recovering from injuries took part in the Falcons' first mandatory mini-camp on Saturday. Turner (shoulder) participated in most drills after being medically withheld from a voluntary mini-camp in April.
Diehards Line:
Turner had surgery on the shoulder earlier this year and is expected to be fully recovered before training camp. ... Meanwhile, QB D.J. Shockley and WR Brian Finneran, both trying to make comebacks from season-ending knee injuries, went through the majority of the dual practice sessions. For Finneran, who wore a heavy brace on his right knee, just going through a non-contact practice is a huge step. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in consecutive years during practice. He last played in 2005.
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