Trouble in Turn2

If anyone needed evidence of the cookie-cutter phenomenon in NASCAR they could cite Atlanta and Texas as exhibits A and B. The last two years the fall races have run in consecutive weeks and each year a driver has won both races. Carl Edwards used back to back wins to thrust himself into the thick of the Chase in 2005. Tony Stewart won Atlanta and Texas in dominating style and also taking attention away from the Chasers in 2006.

I think one reason is the fact that teams send the same cars to both races. Due to the longer travel, the Texas race makes for a shorter week at the shop. If a team can simply clean up a winning car and put it back on the track next week it doesn’t give opposing teams much time to make improvements. Maybe the CoT will change things next year (and maybe college football will go to a playoff system), but for now the winners of Atlanta and Texas will go hand in hand.

Other Notes

• Bobby Labonte loves Atlanta. In 29 starts he has 6 wins, 12 top fives, 13 top tens, led 958 laps and only four DNF’s. Kyle Busch has never scored a top ten finish at Atlanta. Kevin Harvick won his first career start at Atlanta and finished 3rd later that fall. Since then he has zero top tens in 11 races.

• Keep an eye on tires at Atlanta. Several teams at the spring race had trouble with uneven tire wear. If the track gets any rain prior to the race it could make Sunday (or Monday morning) dicey.

• Jeremy Mayfield will replace Jeff Green in the #66 Chevrolet. Mayfield is the third driver to race in all four current Cup manufactuers in his career. He drove a Ford for Penske, a Dodge for Evernham, a Toyota (yes, he did actually make some races) for Bill Davis and now the Chevy for Haas-CNC Music Factory. Michael Waltrip and Dave Blaney have also driven for the big four, plus stints with Pontiac.

• One of the most surprising things in recent weeks is the plight of Sam Hornish Jr. Hornish is 0 for 6 qualifying for Cup races. Hornish has good Penske cars and has run more Busch races than other drivers with open wheel backgrounds like Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve and Dario Franchitti. Somehow Hornish can’t make a Cup race. I still believe Hornish has a great chance to succeed at the Cup level if he chooses to make the switch, but it’s not the start he was hoping for. Adding insult to injury is the fact that IRL teammate Helio Castroneves is excelling at his non-IRL endeavor.

• This weekend marks the one year anniversary of “Foamgate”. Remember when Robby Gordon simply wanted a top ten at Atlanta? He was so desperate he forced a late caution by throwing roll cage padding onto the track, ensuring his car would stay on the lead lap and finish well. Since he hasn’t had a finish better than 19th since Watkins Glen, Gordon might be willing to try anything for a good finish.

• The Sleeper of the Week for Atlanta is Reed Sorenson. The Peachtree, GA native has two career top tens in 4 races and the Ganassi speedway program has been stronger than their CoT program. As always Sorenson and crew chief Jimmy Elledge are always willing to gamble on track position. He won’t win, but does have a chance to run well, spend the majority of the day in the top ten and maybe even steal a top five finish.

• Who will hoist one of the largest trophies I’ve ever seen, plus increase their chances of winning a cowboy hat and 6-shooters? Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards both run well at Atlanta and ESPN will readily tell you what an amazing story that would make. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are too obvious to pick. Dale Earnhardt Jr can’t count on his engine and Tony Stewart is still in a funk. Clint Bowyer is running very well despite both of his teammates basically snoozing the season away. Ready for a wildcard? How about Kasey Kahne? 1 win and 4 top fives in 7 races. It’s time for Kahne to finally break through in 2007 on one of his best tracks.