Kobalt Tools 500
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the fourth race of the 2008 season, the Kobalt Tools 500. We looked at past performances, practice sessions, and season trends to shed a light on how the field might finish on Sunday afternoon.
When: Sunday, March 9, 2008; 2:00 p.m./et
Weather: Sunny with a high around 57; wind out of the W at 4 mph. Chance of precipitation 10%.
The Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a wide, 1.5 mile oval. It has 24 degree banking on the corners. Due to the fast surface and steep banking it is known as the fastest track on the NASCAR circuit.
Key to Race: READY FOR ANOTHER BACK FLIP?
This is a race that appears to be wide-open.
Carl Edwards won both 2005 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and
Jimmie Johnson won both races at the track in 2007 both drivers have a great chance to win this weekend.
Qualifying Procedures:
48 cars will attempt to qualify for 43 spots. Starting positions 1-43 will be determined by two lap qualifying runs that will be done on Friday, March 7 at 6:45 pm/et. Cars that were in the top 35 in owner's points during the 2008 season are guaranteed a spot in the race.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 48
Jimmie Johnson: Johnson has visited Victory Lane in the past two Atlanta races. We think there is a great chance he can get his first win of the 2008 season this weekend.
No. 99
Carl Edwards: In seven career starts at Atlanta, Edwards has finished in the top seven an impressive six times. 2008 is starting to look like the year of "Crazy" Carl.
No. 20
Tony Stewart: Stewart won the October 2006 race at Atlanta and finished second last March. Depending on how sore he is from trying to "knock the wall down" in Vegas he should be in contention for the win this weekend.
No. 24
Jeff Gordon: Gordon has four career wins at Atlanta and has finished in the top 10 in 14 of the last 18 races at the track. His body is very sore from the intense crash he had at Vegas, but another top five finish should be expected.
No. 17
Matt Kenseth: Kenseth has been great at Atlanta during his career. In 16 races he has nine top 10 finishes. He will be very good on Sunday.
6 to 10
No. 9
Kasey Kahne: Kahne has four top five finishes in eight career races at Atlanta. He looks like the Kahne of 2006 rather then the disappointing driver we watched last season. We like his chances on Sunday.
No. 88
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has nine top 10 finishes in the last 13 races at Atlanta. He should find himself in the top 10 again this weekend.
No. 31
Jeff Burton: Burton has been very good at Atlanta since 2004. A top 15 finish is nearly guaranteed.
No. 07
Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished sixth in both of last year's races at Atlanta. He is worth taking a chance on this weekend for another top 10 finish.
No. 2
Kurt Busch: Busch has won at ATL before, but he has cracked the top 10 just once since 2003. His hit-or-miss results at the track make him a risky pick this weekend.
11 to 20
No. 11
Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has just one top 10 finish in five career ATL starts. He should be in the top 15, but we don't see a top 10 finish.
No. 18
Kyle Busch: Busch has never cracked the top 10 at Atlanta. He isn't a great pick this weekend.
No. 16
Greg Biffle: Biffle was terrible at Atlanta in 2007, but he has led 285 laps in the past six races at the track. He should wind up be in the top 15 on Sunday.
No. 1 Martin Truex Jr: Truex has been very mediocre during his career at Atlanta. We have been impressed with his consistency this season, but a top 10 finish might be out of his grasp on Sunday.
No. 8
Mark Martin: Martin has finished in the top 10 in five of the past seven races at Atlanta. He won't finish in the top 10, but a top 15 finish is expected.
No. 41
Reed Sorenson: Sorenson was awesome at ATL in 2007 and with his strong start to the 2008 season we love him as a third or fourth driver in all fantasy leagues.
No. 29
Kevin Harvick: Harvick won at Atlanta in 2001, but he has been terrible the past 12 races at the track. Save him for another weekend.
No. 83
Brian Vickers: Vickers has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2008 season. He is worth using as a fourth or fifth driver in all fantasy leagues.
No. 43
Bobby Labonte: Labonte has had success at Atlanta during his career and has been great this season. We like him has a fourth or fifth driver this weekend.
No. 12
Ryan Newman: Newman is the maestro of qualifying at Atlanta. In the 12 races he has run at the speedway he has started from the pole seven times. We like him to grab the pole, but he should finish outside the top 20.
21 to 30
No. 25
Casey Mears: Mears has averaged a 23rd place finish at Atlanta during his career. We feel he will finish right about there this weekend.
No. 26
Jamie McMurray: McMurray has struggled to crack the top 20 in 2008. He isn't worth using in fantasy leagues.
No. 19
Elliott Sadler: Sadler has never been great at Atlanta, but he should be good enough this weekend to crack the top 25.
No. 42
Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya had one good race and one bad race at ATL last season. He is too hit-or-miss for us this weekend.
No. 15
Paul Menard: Menard has averaged a 22nd place finish at Atlanta during his career. He is a decent sleeper pick this weekend.
No. 7
Robby Gordon: Atlanta has never been one of Gordon's better tracks, but he should be good enough to finish in the top 30.
No. 00
David Reutimann: Reutimann was on a roll until last weekend. He will continue to be a risky pick.
No. 77
Sam Hornish Jr.: Hornish Jr. has had some awful luck this season. We can't recommend him as a fantasy option until he can make it through a race without an incident.
No. 6
David Ragan: The Georgia native struggled at Atlanta during his rookie season, but he should be better at the track this season.
No. 96
J.J. Yeley: Yeley is going to continue finish in the top 30, but he will rarely crack the top 20.
31 to 40
No. 28
Travis Kvapil: Kvapil has been the biggest surprise so far this season. We doubt he will continue his strong finishes, but he might be worth using as a fifth fantasy driver.
No. 38
David Gilliland: Gilliland has been quietly having a great season. If he continues to be consistent he might be worth using as a fifth fantasy driver.
No. 70
Jeremy Mayfield: Mayfield has been a nice surprise this year. We doubt he will continue his top 30 finishes, but he has driven very well so far.
No. 55
Michael Waltrip: Waltrip looked great during the October race at Atlanta, but we don't think he is worth using in fantasy leagues.
No. 66
Scott Riggs: Riggs will continue to be hit-or-miss this season. He is very talented, but CNC Racing will struggle to give him a consistent ride.
No. 44
Dale Jarrett: Jarrett has 11 top five finishes at Atlanta during his career…unfortunately his days of glory are a distant memory.
No. 22
Dave Blaney: Blaney has been terrible this season. Avoid him.
No. 40
Dario Franchitti: Dario continues to struggle in his conversion from open wheel to NASCAR. Not a fantasy option.
No. 45
Kyle Petty: Petty has been terrible this season. Not a fantasy option.
No. 01
Regan Smith: The man from Cato has a lot to learn about driving a car in the Sprint Cup.
Field Fillers
No. 21
Johnny Sauter: Sauter had some strong finishes last year, but we don't think he will do much in the No. 21 ride.
No. 84
Mike Skinner: Skinner used his strong qualifying effort at Vegas to earn a ride in the No. 84 car. He should get the car into the race, but he isn't a fantasy option.
No. 49
Ken Schrader: Schrader made the Vegas race and finished in the top 25. He is far too risky to use even in the deepest fantasy league.
No. 10
Patrick Carpentier: Carpentier struggled last weekend and will struggle again this weekend.
No. 78
Joe Nemechek: Nemechek missed the Vegas race and will need some luck to make the race this weekend.
No. 34
John Andretti: Andretti missed the race in Vegas and should miss this weekend's race as well.
No. 08
Burney Lamar: Not a chance.
Brownie's Picks
Top Four:
1.
Jimmie Johnson
2.
Carl Edwards
3.
Tony Stewart
4.
Jeff Gordon
Sleepers:
1.
Reed Sorenson
2.
Brian Vickers
Busts:
1.
Kevin Harvick
2.
Ryan Newman