NASCAR Cup: Round 25-Atlanta

[fieldodreams79]

Sunday nite race Labor Day weekend.

don't expect to see too large of a crowd at the track...never a really good idea to have a big stockcar race in Georgia the same weekend as opening of DOVE season.

Bobby Labonte to drive for TRG this weekend.

and Carl Edwards to drive with a broke foot after a collison with a friend while throwing a frisbee
hope it heals soon...can't be too comfortable mashing the throttle for 500 miles with a NW race on top of that.

Two races until the chase. 3 are in and others can clinch this weekend.

[Knowlesy]

Tony Stewart (IN)
Jimmie Johnson (IN)
Jeff Gordon (IN)
Denny Hamlin (230 points ahead of 13th)
Carl Edwards (199 points ahead of 13th)
Kurt Busch (192 points ahead of 13th)
Ryan Newman (84 points ahead of 13th)
Greg Biffle (75 points ahead of 13th)
Juan Pablo Montoya (64 points ahead of 13th)
Mark Martin (60 points ahead of 13th)
Kasey Kahne (52 points ahead of 13th)
Matt Kenseth (34 points ahead of 13th)
___________________________________________________
Kyle Busch (34 points out of 12th)
Brian Vickers (39 points out of 12th)
Clint Bowyer (112 points out of 12th)
David Reutimann (160 points out of 12th)

[Knowlesy]

Great timing for this race. I can do overtime at work and watch the race and get up for work next day.

[fieldodreams79]

thanks for the stats, Knowlesy.

you will be working and i will most likely be fishin' with MRN/PRN calling it out on the radio til it gets dark.

[MJ_N_09]

Sounds like the first practice session will be SAT at noon (Eastern US time). Little late, don't you think?

[MJ_N_09]

Bill Elliott was injured riding his dirt bike, so David Gilliland Takes over the #21 this weekend.


"Gilliland in the #21 at Atlanta UPDATE 2: Motorcraft's Facebook page is reporting: Wood Brothers just announced David Gilliland to drive the #21 car this weekend in Atlanta. A press release with more details is coming soon.
UPDATE: David Gilliland will be taking over the driving duties of the #21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion this weekend for the Pep Boys Auto 500, filling in for Bill Elliott. Elliott is experiencing some back problems and uncertain how he will feel driving the car. Co-owner Eddie Wood stated, "Given the modified practice schedule where the practices and qualifying are all being done on Saturday, we didn't feel there was enough time to make changes to the seat if Bill wasn't comfortable and we needed to get another driver. We called David to see if he was available. Thankfully he was and agreed to help." Gilliland has 6 starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway with his best finish (15th) coming in 2006.(Wood Brothers Racing)
UPDATE 2: Bill Elliott has cracked three ribs riding his dirt bike. "It was just a freak deal," Elliott said. He said although he probably could have raced in pain, he decided to step out of the Wood Brothers Ford for this weekend's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway because he didn't want to jeopardize the team's chances of running well in the Pep Boys Auto 500. "I just decided that those boys had worked so hard on the car it wouldn't be fair for me to have a problem and mess them up," Elliott said. David Gilliland, who lost his regular ride to Bobby Labonte, will drive in Elliott's place this weekend. "He runs good at Atlanta, so they should be OK," Elliott said. "And I'll be back in the car for Kansas"


Let's see how Gilliland or "Gilly" does now that he's back in decent equipment.

[Knowlesy]

Watch out Juan! Loony on the loose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEncyMy3ysI

[MJ_N_09]

Gilliland and Labonte are running very well in their new rides.

[Knowlesy]

Ah so close, couldn't quite get the win again. But a good result for the points.

[R59]

Yet again Nemechek turns up and does a few laps and then goes home.

When are NASCAR going to stop this team from wasting space on the grid.

Yes, OK, they're doing much better in the Nationwide (especially Front Row Joe's flip at Nashville), but surely this is getting silly now (in Cup)

[Fish_Flake]

Matt Kenseth won the first two races of the season, but he needs to find his way to the front next week in Richmond to stay in the Chase. He's only 20 points ahead of Brian Vickers, who hasn't finished outside of the top 12 since June. Kyle Busch needs a miracle (and a lot of bad luck from the drivers immediately ahead of him) to be eligible for the championship.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by R59

Yet again Nemechek turns up and does a few laps and then goes home.

When are NASCAR going to stop this team from wasting space on the grid.

Yes, OK, they're doing much better in the Nationwide (especially Front Row Joe's flip at Nashville), but surely this is getting silly now (in Cup)

The same for Blaney

[MJ_N_09]

Same for the #09 as well, not sure about the #08. All these S&Pers screwed out Smith and Carpentier, the latter of the 2 finally getting some sponsorship.

[fieldodreams79]

i eat my words as it seems the crowd was nice....PRN brought me the only media for this race and had an interview with AMS president/GM Ed Clark; he said it was packed, which was much better than the spring race. good news.

speaking of better, also sound like we had some good side by side 2 and 3 wide racing in the field all night long.

tough for Harvick and JPM, but a good finish for both.

Originally Posted by R59

When are NASCAR going to stop this team from wasting space on the grid.

if one field filler doesn't make the race, another will take it's place or it will be empty. which is worse?

[MJ_N_09]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

i eat my words as it seems the crowd was nice....PRN brought me the only media for this race and had an interview with AMS president/GM Ed Clark; he said it was packed, which was much better than the spring race. good news.

speaking of better, also sound like we had some good side by side 2 and 3 wide racing in the field all night long.

tough for Harvick and JPM, but a good finish for both.


if one field filler doesn't make the race, another will take it's place or it will be empty. which is worse?

I'm complaining this week because the 78 and 36 were sent home. These two were going to run the distance.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

I'm complaining this week because the 78 and 36 were sent home. These two were going to run the distance.

what for? lack of speed or owner's points?

[MJ_N_09]

For S&Ping. Duh.

[Splatz the Cow]

What's that mean?

[MJ_N_09]

I'll explain.

There are some teams that qualify for the race, only to run a few laps, around 30 in Sprint cup, due to not having enough money for things like tires, or repairs. One team didn't even a pit crew!

The 09, 37, 64, 66, and 87 are the most notorious for this.

[gomick]

Was wondering why the same blokes always finished 41st, 42nd & 43rd...

[fieldodreams79]

if the guys who were going to race the full race were faster, they wouldn't have to go home.

i guess nascar should ban the teams that only run a few laps and leave.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

if the guys who were going to race the full race were faster, they wouldn't have to go home.

i guess nascar should ban the teams that only run a few laps and leave.

x2 If you aren't fast enough to beat a guy with one engine and no pit crew, you don't deserve to race.