Kobalt Tools 500 Race Review

Atlanta Motor Speedway -- 03/8/2009

Author: Becca Gladden

Published: Sunday Mar 8 2009 11:38pm

Often in NASCAR, various circumstances lead to a result in which the fastest car does not ultimately win the race.

But that was not the case in Sunday’s “Kobalt Tools 500” at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kurt Busch, who last won in June of 2008, absolutely dominated the day, leading six times for 234 of 330 laps and winning by 3/10ths of a second (thanks to a late race caution that bunched the field) over the nearest challengers - Jeff Gordon, who finished 2nd, and Carl Edwards, who finished 3rd.

To illustrate the significance of Busch’s performance Sunday, consider this: the 234 laps he led in Atlanta was 70+ laps more than he led in the entire 2008 season. And although Gordon and Edwards were there to challenge Busch at the end, they and Jimmie Johnson - the only double-digit lap leaders Sunday - led a total of just 86 laps combined.

“Just an overall team effort,” said Busch after his powerhouse performance. “Good things come to those who wait. We've worked real hard to get our mile-and-a-half program up to speed. Today, we had to beat some tough competitors to do it. It's just a great group of guys pulling together, all pulling the rope in the same direction. I love my group. I love my guys. Miller Lite, Dodge, Mobil 1 - everyone involved did great today.”

Following the top three finishers were Kevin Harvick and Brian Vickers, and rounding out the top 10 were Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, and Martin Truex Jr., who reportedly passed that pesky kidney stone at about 10 o’clock last night.

Mark Martin brought the field to green to start the race, with Kurt Busch on the outside pole for the second week in a row. Martin led the first few laps but was quickly overtaken by Busch in an early demonstration of the power he would have under him all day.

There was a considerable amount of attrition in the race, with only 33 cars on the track at the end and just 12 of them finishing on the lead lap. Among those who DNF’d were Bobby Labonte, Travis Kvapil and Marcos Ambrose with engine failures, and Greg Biffle and Scott Speed, along with Bill Elliott and Sam Hornish Jr., with separate two-car collisions.

The strangest event of the day occurred on lap 67, when a loose tire from Marcos Ambrose’s green flag pit stop rolled into a nearby stretch of grass. A crew member chased after the tire, putting himself in harm’s way as cars were still racing on track. NASCAR threw an immediate caution flag, catching several cars on pit road as they cycled through green flag stops and putting them at least a lap down.

Among those affected were Matt Kenseth, Casey Mears, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, and Kyle Busch. Kenseth was the only driver in the group to finish on the lead lap, coming in 12th, the last car on the lead lap.

Although six Chevy teams finished in the top 10 Sunday, it’s interesting to note that GM has not been to Victory Lane yet this year. Matt Kenseth won the first two races in a Ford, while the Busch brothers took the next two races – Kyle in a Toyota and Kurt in a Dodge. The last time Dodge was in VL was Kurt’s Loudon win last June.

Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer maintained their 1-2 standings in the points, though Gordon’s 2nd-place finish Sunday padded his lead by 25 points. Kurt Busch moved up four spots to 3rd and Carl Edwards up five spots to 4th.

The biggest fallers among the top 15 were Greg Biffle, down six spots to 10th, and David Reutimann, who finished 32nd and fell seven spots to 12th.

Other point standings of note: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 24th in points, Ryan Newman, 32nd, and Mark Martin, 34th.

It’s an off-week for the Cup Series this weekend, followed by a visit to “the world’s fastest half mile,” Bristol Motor Speedway, on March 22.

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User	Comment
Karlee	That race was exciting for me, as I was hoping Busch would do well, but I did not think he`d get first. Well done Busch team.
Cal	I am not sure about the Busch`s to replace Petty, that might be a pretty damn hard task to complete. That is talking about overriding a legend there, close but they might fall short.
junkyard	Earnhardt is going to have to find himself soon or else he`s going to be out for the year. 24th in points is horrid man. And that was some crazy stuff with Ambrose`s pit crew.
2nd Place	Kurt Bush was a surprise winner at that. I was shocked like some of you to see him as the winner on Sunday. Will the Busch`s become the next Petty`s of Nascar? Stay tuned to a track near you. hehe
FastTrack	Apparently the pit crews have managed to get the engines and cars running in tip top shape because this was a fast and furious race. I hope we see many more of these this season.
OGr8ty8	It was nice to see Kasey Kahne finish in the top 10 in the Kobalt Tools 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kasey is my son`s favorite driver and he watches with glee anytime he drives well enough to garner more airtime from the network.
RaceFan88	What a race! To see Kurt Busch win this after Kyle won last week in Las Vegas was just pure fun. He wasn`t my first choice but he went and did it. To win it by so little over Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards must have been very exciting for him.
NapaFave55	I cannot believe that Kurt Busch won this race. I am not saying he didn`t deserve it but I just cannot believe it. I was hoping that Carl Edwards would pull out the win but it wasn`t to be. I guess I will just have to wait to see that infamous backflip.
jade06	Yes, the gas man of Marcos Ambrose`s car got suspended by the NASCAR officials in an instant. This is the first time I`ve heard that Brian Vickers landed in the 5th place, at least my favorite driver Jimmie Johnson got included in the top 10 finishers.
RIRmama	Up until the very last second I was holding my breath that Gordon could fly by Busch. And then to see him fighting for 2nd, that was just awesome!
brix12	That crew member of made a bad move chasing after a loose tire between pit road and the race track. I got really annoyed that he spoiled the view just to retrieve a stray tire.
Tetchie	I thought Jeff Gordon would make it, but al teats he landed in the first runner up spot. I`m not a fan of the Busches brothers, but I`m impressed with their winning record.
ryder_29	I didn`t think that Kyle Busch`s older brother would win the race in this tough race track. Now is his time to celebrate the victory.
jamming	Could be the year for the Busch brothers after all. With Kyle already taking one and now Kurt with his outstanding performance, things are looking up for this racing family.
brownlee59	Kurt was awesome yesterday! And my Kasey at least got in the top 10! Jeff Gordon seems to be getting better this year. He hasn`t won in quite awhile. Even though I am not a fan of his I`d say he can win maybge two races this year, lol.