This week, the NASCAR Cup series is shipped back east to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Kobalt Tools 500. In 1997, the track was rebuilt into a 1.54 mile, quad-oval that has become one of the fastest courses on the circuit. Following this race, the drivers get a week off before heading to Bristol.
Kyle Busch, who is coming off a hometown victory last week in Las Vegas, is the defending champion of this event. Last October, Carl Edwards won recent the most race here.
Following the rash of blown engines last week, a lot of fantasy owners — myself included — are looking to recover. Would you believe in my ESPN auction league, I had both Matt Kenseth and David Ragan? I went from a huge lead in first place down to third, thanks to their last and next-to-last finishes. Of course on my bench was Clint Bowyer.
But enough of my bad week, several drivers have impressive numbers so Atlanta poses a great opportunity to jump right back into the thick of the standings.
Carl Edwards – (last season: 42nd @ Kobalt Tools 500, first @ Pep Boys Auto 500)
Jimmie Johnson – (last season: 13th @ Kobalt Tools 500, second @ Pep Boys Auto 500)
Over the last five years (10 races), the combination of Edwards and Johnson have collected six checkered flags at Atlanta. Edwards swept the 2005 races here, Johnson did the same in 2007.
Over the last 11 races, Johnson has never finished worse than 16th and nine of those races were sixth or better.
Edwards has nine career starts here. Five of them top-threes, seven of them top-sevens.
Each driver has their motives to win this week. Johnson, who spun out on Speedy Dry at the end of last week’s race, has been unable to capitalize on his strong starts. While Edwards, along with teammates Kenseth and Ragan, will look to rebound from blowing an engine last week.
I love either driver this week. Allocation owners can flip a coin or add them both to the provisional roster and start whoever qualifies the best. Salary cap owners should clear cap space to start them both.
Tony Stewart – (last season: second @ Kobalt Tools 500, 17th @ Pep Boys Auto 500)
Last week, Stewart was set for a third straight top-10 until he had to stop in the pits several times attempting to resolve an issue that was causing a vibration. Like Edwards and Johnson, Atlanta is a great place for Stewart to bounce back. Over his last 15 starts here, Stewart has finished in the top-10 on 12 occasions. Over the last five years, his average finish of 9.9 is second only to Johnson’s 4.8. Stewart has also led the most laps in that time. What’s not to like?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – (last season: third @ Kobalt Tools 500, 11th @ Pep Boys Auto 500)
After the Daytona debacle and engine problems at California, Earnhardt quietly finished 10th last week. Atlanta is a great opportunity for him to get back into the picture and I like his chances to make that happen. Over the last 15 races, he has eight top-fives while 10 have been top-10s.
Ryan Newman – (last season: 14th @ Kobalt Tools 500, 16th @ Pep Boys Auto 500)
Last season, Newman had respectable finishes in Atlanta but I hate what I’ve seen from him this season. Despite starting sixth last week, Newman sunk like a stone and he eventually finished 25th. However, I would put Newman on my provisional roster for any format that pays bonus points for the best qualifiers. Over a stretch of nine races, Newman won the pole seven times– the most recent coming in 2007. However, in those races Newman has only two top-10s and an average finish of 17.3.
L2H Results last week @ Shelby 427:
Love: Matt Kenseth (43rd) His day was over before it began.
Likes: Mark Martin (40th), Kasey Kahne (11th) Martin was another victim of engine problems, but had been running in the top-five all day. Hey, Kahne led a lap. I didn’t totally blow it last week, right?
Hates: Clint Bowyer (second) Oh wait, yeah I did. Bowyer’s gamble to stay out paid off and he shook off his bad history in Vegas.
L2H 2009 Season Tally:
Love/Like average finish: 20
Hate average finish: 16.3
Yes, you are reading that correctly. Thanks for Bowyer’s second place finish, my Haterade has bit me in the behind. Maybe I’ll just hide the season tally until that number comes down a bit…