Bump-Draft Blog Index
October 26, 2007
Atlanta stats, fact and picks

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Atlanta Motor Speedway Data
Race #: 33 of 36 (10-28-07)
Track Size: 1.54 miles
Race Length: 325 laps/500.5 miles
• Banking/Corners: 24 degrees
• Banking/Straights: 5 degrees
• Frontstretch: 2,332 feet
• Backstretch: 1,800 feet

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1 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) The File: • 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 81 career wins • Six wins, 20 top fives, 26 top 10s this year • Seven poles • Average finish of 7.4 • Led 22 of 32 races for 1,280 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • Four wins, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 13.3 • Finished 12th at Atlanta in March • Led 19 of 30 races for 1,050 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-best Average Running Position of 9.1

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2 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) The File: • 32 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 30 career wins • Seven wins, 17 top fives, 20 top 10s; three poles • Average finish of 11.8 • Led 20 of 32 races for 1,216 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • Two wins, seven top fives, eight top 10s • Average finish of 10.1 • Won the Atlanta race in March • Led six of 12 races for 338 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 891 Fastest Laps Run

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3 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet) The File: • 28 years old from Emporia, Kan., one career win • One win, five top fives, 16 top 10s; two poles • Average finish of 13.2 • Led 12 of 32 races for 386 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • One top 10 • Average finish of 19.3 • Finished sixth in March • Led one of three races for two laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Fifth-best Closer – 50 positions improved over the last 10% of races

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4 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet) The File: • 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins • Three wins, 10 top fives, 22 top 10s • Average finish of 12.4 • Led 20 of 32 races for 980 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s • Average finish of 11.5 • Finished second in March • Led 12 of 17 races for 790 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 599 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

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5 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) The File: • 28 years old from Columbia, Mo., seven career wins • Three wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s • Average finish of 13.3 • Led 11 of 32 races for 428 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • Two wins, three top fives, five top 10s • Average finish of 9.8 • Finished seventh in March • Led four of six races for 140 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 6,750 Laps in the Top 15, sixth-most

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6 – Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) The File: • 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins • One win, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s • Average finish of 14.2 • Led 17 of 32 races for 406 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • Average finish of 23.0 • Finished 32nd in March • Led one of six races for four laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Fifth-fastest average Green Flag Speed

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7 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) The File: • 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories • One win, four top fives, 13 top 10s • Average finish of 15.9 this season • Led 11 of 32 races for 270 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • One win, two top fives • Average finish of 25.2 • Finished 25th in March • Led four of 13 races for 69 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Fourth-best Closer – 51 positions improved over the last 10% of races

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8 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet) The File: • 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins • One win, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 13.5 • Led 15 of 32 races for 839 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • One top 10 • Average finish of 19.3 • Finished 19th in March • Led one of four races for 16 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 430 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

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9 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) The File: • 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins • One win, eight top fives, 14 top 10s • Average finish of 14.6 • Led seven of 32 races for 79 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • Six top fives, 11 top 10s • Average finish of 17.2 • Finished fourth in March • Led eight of 26 races for 103 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 2,606 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

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10 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) The File: • 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 17 career wins • Two wins, five top fives, 11 top 10s • Average finish of 16.2 • Led 18 of 32 races for 760 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • One win, three top 10s • Average finish of 22.3 • Finished 11th in March • Led five of 13 races for 182 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 1,673 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions)

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11 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) The File: • 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., one career win • One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s • Average finish of 16.9 • Led 13 of 32 races for 355 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • One top 10 • Average finish of 28.2 five races • Finished eighth in March Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 2,865 Green Flag Passes

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12 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford) The File: • 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins • One win, nine top fives, 18 top 10s • Average finish of 14.3 • Led 17 of 32 races for 561 laps Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook: • Five top fives, eight top 10s • Average finish of 15.6 • Finished third in March • Led four of 15 races for 60 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 8,672 laps run on the lead lap, second-most

I can't, just can't pick another Hendrick driver to win this week. I will be as mad as a soaking wet hornet if I see a Hendrick driver in victory lane this weekend. I know you Gordon lovers will hate this, but I have my fingers crossed for a blown motor. I think they are due for one.

So this week, with my fingers crossed, I am going to go with Tony Stewart for the win. He does have a very good track record here. I would love to see him climb the fence.

As a second pick, I will go with my man, Juan Pablo Montoya. He finished 5th here in March. I realize he is a complete long shot with the number of drivers that have had better finishes and a longer history here, but I don't care. I am praying he can pull it off.

Here's the viewing schedule from nascar.com:
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Posted at 09:37 AM

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Comments

I'm going with a dark horse this weekend. Kasey Kahne! He is due to break out of this year long slump he has been in and he runs good at Atlanta.

Posted by Sally
October 26, 2007 09:39 AM

I'm going with Tony as well. It will only take 1 DNF for JG or JJ to lose major points. I like Kyle, so I want him to have a good finish (behind Tony).

Atlanta is rough on motors, so the DEI and RCR drivers may be in trouble again.

Posted by racefan
October 26, 2007 10:05 AM

Wow Racefan, that's a surprise!

Posted by Sally
October 26, 2007 11:13 AM

I think Carl Edwards has a good chance at winning this weekend. Hopefully he puts last weeks stuff behind him and gets back to business.

I would also like to see Smoke get another win.

Posted by dale3 fan
October 26, 2007 12:53 PM

If you'd like an even bigger surprise, Sally, on Sunday I'll be wearing my #20 t and sweatshirt. LOL!!!

Posted by racefan
October 26, 2007 01:57 PM

I have another surprise, I'll have on a twenty five dollar 20 hat that I got at Loudon. Go Smoke Go.

Posted by Sal
October 26, 2007 10:29 PM

I feel bad for you Jennifer, Juan Pablo is the devil. He is going to dance in the flames of shame. Crash and burn, Montoya.

Posted by Jacko
October 26, 2007 11:18 PM

Jennifer, You are an evil woman.I don't care for Tony Stewart or Juan Pablo Montoya but I would never cross my fingers for them to blow up. Leave Hendricks drivers alone.

Posted by dropstitch
October 27, 2007 05:55 AM

I also would like to see Kasey break out of his bad spell. I don't think he will win but will be in the top five. Bowyer will win with Edwards second. Gordon and Johnson will be in the top ten. No one pays attention to my predictions, but they have been right more than anybody else's picks.

Posted by
October 27, 2007 07:19 AM

HMS can't be all bad. They are giving Steve LeTarte tickets to a Red Sox playoff game as a reward for doing such a good job all year.

Posted by racefan
October 27, 2007 08:59 AM

Jen,there is one thing that you are wasting your time on and that is hoping for a blown engine from the Hendrick guys, very, very seldom. maybe getting caught up in someone elses mess would be better use of your prayers,LOL..

Posted by Gordon Earnhardt
October 29, 2007 08:46 AM

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Jennifer is the newsroom
administrative assistant and executive
assistant to the editor for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. She is married, lives in Pownal with her husband and son, and has been following NASCAR for many years.

About this blog:
I am hopeful that this will be a place where people can air their two cents' worth about a race, catch up on the gossip and share their opinions on the rules and regulations of NASCAR. I have always felt that there has been a need for such a place in Maine and that this blog helps to fill the void.



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