The OBW Experts will get together the day after the Sprint Cup race to discuss the hot topics of the week.
This week we chat about Las Vegas, Kyle Busch’s hometown victory and all those exploding engines. We will also take a look ahead to Sunday at Atlanta.
What is the bigger story coming out of the Shelby 427? Kyle Busch getting his first Cup victory in his hometown or the rash of engine problems that plagued the race.
Jeff Gutowski: I think the engine problems are due to the teams trying to push the envelope a bit early in the season. Even with a 500-mile race next week, I think you’ll see a lot less problems for the engine builders. Kyle Busch can win anywhere and it was only a matter of time before he won at home.
Ryan Rantz: The story of the weekend was the engine problems. There must of been a dozen engine failures between practice, qualifying and the race. Kyle winning at his home track is big for him, but for me it’s just another race.
Eric McClung: The engine issues certainly dominated the race. From Matt Kenseth, who had his run at history end as soon as it began, to Mark Martin, who had been running in the top-five all day, to Carl Edwards becoming the third Rouch car to blow.
Kyle Busch won the Kobalt Tools 500 last season and finished fifth at the Pep Boys Auto 500. Besides those two races, Busch has a mediocre history at Atlanta. What do you expect from him on Sunday?
Mike Maruska: I think Busch will run in the top-five or top-10 all day at Atlanta. It’s not really fair to look at Busch’s history because he’s young and his first two years were spent learning, so it is a very small sample size. The CoT has also altered things, so I’d trust his record last year over his prior seven races. In 2007, he led 77 laps before getting caught up in a crazy wreck at the end of the race, so it’s not like Busch suddenly turned it on last year.
Eric Brewer: I believe Kyle is a threat every week. I imagine he might be my pick for next week. Until Johnson and Edwards get their acts together, Kyle is the man with the momentum and will gather points with in any fantasy league.
Darren Fauth: I think he could win it. Busch has come in to his own with the Gibbs organization, so I’d just as soon throw out any stats for Kyle prior to last year. The way I see it, Kyle has an average finish of third at Atlanta.
Ryan Rantz: I think Kyle will contend for a win at Atlanta but he will face stiff competition from the Roush Fenway Fords and the Hendrick Chevys. Atlanta will be more challenging than Las Vegas because more lines around the track are established.
Before he head out, any other thoughts?
Eric McClung: Between the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races, the only thing that rivaled the blown engines (and the awful Vegas puns) was the speeding penalties in pit road. Either raise it or move the commitment cone back.
Darren Fauth: I know it is early and the standings will continue to take some dramatic swings, but it is great to see Jeff Gordon on top– I think this is his year to win the championship. Also, David Reutimann, Tony Stewart (I was a serious doubter), Bobby Labonte and Michael Waltrip remain the top-12 in driver standings.