Guys Atlanta is arguably the roughest track on the circuit and just chews up tires. The drivers love it! As fans we'll see the drivers hands sawing on that steering wheel all night long! Nice change from so many repaves that don't require as much driver car control.
Goodyear is bringing an entirely new tire compound this weekend that 13 teams tested already. Brad Keselowski after testing said that the tire could "revolutionize the sport." Apparently it doesn't wear like the usual tire. It's 2/3 a tire from one style race track and 1/3 compound from another. Or something like that.
Something to note that I found very interesting. This week on the morning drive on Sirius Slugger Labbe was on and he was at the test with his driver Paul Menard. He said that the speeds with the new gen 6 car at Atlanta were incredible and that in particular Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne were lightning fast. He actually said that he'd be surprised if one of them 2 guys didn't win the race. Upon digging a little further, this aforementioned test was conducted in June right around when Jason Leffler was unfortunately killed in a sprint car wreck. Kasey Kahne and Leffler were very close friends and the 2nd day of that test he left to attend his funeral. Dale Jr hopped in his car to test the 2nd day so he has some familiarity with this new tire as well.
The weather forecast is iffy this weekend so if there is limited practice time this stuff is even more relevant. Every team was represented at the test so they'll all have data to pull off of but I think being there, given this new tire, will prove greatly beneficial.
Kenseth was there for the test and he's been great in 1.5 mile tracks this year winning at Kentucky, Kansas and Vegas, along with Darlington and Bristol last Saturday night. Gibbs has been top shelf on 1 mile tracks this year with kyle also winning at Texas, but remember this, there hasn't been a race on a mile and a half track in quite some time dating back to the end of June at Kentucky. And that's a flatter track. It's been since the end of may since we've seen a high banked 1.5 mile track when they ran at Charlotte. Gives a lot of time for the competition to catch up.
Hamlin won this race last year. Jeff Gordon was very fast last weekend and has finishes of 1st and 2nd the last 2 races at Atlanta. Got to look at him at +1250!
Carl Edwards is someone I've already grabbed. A track like Atlanta is big on short pitting and one of the best strategy crew chiefs around in my opinion, especially in regard to short pitting and grabbing an advantage is Jimmy Fennig, Edwards crew chief. Edwards looked very strong at Bristol and may well have won that race if not for a failed engine while leading late in the race. That was Ford's first failed engine all season! I know Ford hasn't been stellar this year but Edwards has 2 wins here and when he doesn't wreck or get wrecked he's a top 10 machine at Atlanta. His past stats here are littered with top 10's and top 5's mixed with a few finishes in the high 30's so if he can stay out of trouble, with Fennig as his crew chief and the way he ran last week I think he's got value at +2000. Also remember that Kurt Busch was leading last week when he had a hub problem early. The guy has just been so fast this year but his pit crew leaves a lot to be desired. He has 3 wins at Atlanta and even managed a 13th last year with Phoenix racing. Based on what Slugger Labbe said, Kurt's pure speed this year and his past at Atlanta I think he's valuable at +1300 and I'm taking a shot on him. He's got to be relaxed now (if that's even possible for him) after the announcement that he'll be at SHR next year and just focused now on the 78 getting into the chase.
I also love Kahne this week but his odds are now down to +600. Going to wait on him, his odds can't get too much worse I don't think. Very interestingly Jimmie Johnson has not won a race on a mile and a half this year. And 1/2 of the chase races are run on that size track. Just something to note. After a few rough weeks he could open up a can this weekend, he's great at Atlanta.
Kahne is using the chassis he won with at Pocono in August. So fast that day. And junior is racing the chassis he had at Kentucky. I believe he won the pole that race and he was leading when he ran over a tire shelll that had come off I think the 11 car. Tough break but a real fast car. His past finishes at Atlanta though are not very good.
Goodyear is bringing an entirely new tire compound this weekend that 13 teams tested already. Brad Keselowski after testing said that the tire could "revolutionize the sport." Apparently it doesn't wear like the usual tire. It's 2/3 a tire from one style race track and 1/3 compound from another. Or something like that.
Something to note that I found very interesting. This week on the morning drive on Sirius Slugger Labbe was on and he was at the test with his driver Paul Menard. He said that the speeds with the new gen 6 car at Atlanta were incredible and that in particular Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne were lightning fast. He actually said that he'd be surprised if one of them 2 guys didn't win the race. Upon digging a little further, this aforementioned test was conducted in June right around when Jason Leffler was unfortunately killed in a sprint car wreck. Kasey Kahne and Leffler were very close friends and the 2nd day of that test he left to attend his funeral. Dale Jr hopped in his car to test the 2nd day so he has some familiarity with this new tire as well.
The weather forecast is iffy this weekend so if there is limited practice time this stuff is even more relevant. Every team was represented at the test so they'll all have data to pull off of but I think being there, given this new tire, will prove greatly beneficial.
Kenseth was there for the test and he's been great in 1.5 mile tracks this year winning at Kentucky, Kansas and Vegas, along with Darlington and Bristol last Saturday night. Gibbs has been top shelf on 1 mile tracks this year with kyle also winning at Texas, but remember this, there hasn't been a race on a mile and a half track in quite some time dating back to the end of June at Kentucky. And that's a flatter track. It's been since the end of may since we've seen a high banked 1.5 mile track when they ran at Charlotte. Gives a lot of time for the competition to catch up.
Hamlin won this race last year. Jeff Gordon was very fast last weekend and has finishes of 1st and 2nd the last 2 races at Atlanta. Got to look at him at +1250!
Carl Edwards is someone I've already grabbed. A track like Atlanta is big on short pitting and one of the best strategy crew chiefs around in my opinion, especially in regard to short pitting and grabbing an advantage is Jimmy Fennig, Edwards crew chief. Edwards looked very strong at Bristol and may well have won that race if not for a failed engine while leading late in the race. That was Ford's first failed engine all season! I know Ford hasn't been stellar this year but Edwards has 2 wins here and when he doesn't wreck or get wrecked he's a top 10 machine at Atlanta. His past stats here are littered with top 10's and top 5's mixed with a few finishes in the high 30's so if he can stay out of trouble, with Fennig as his crew chief and the way he ran last week I think he's got value at +2000. Also remember that Kurt Busch was leading last week when he had a hub problem early. The guy has just been so fast this year but his pit crew leaves a lot to be desired. He has 3 wins at Atlanta and even managed a 13th last year with Phoenix racing. Based on what Slugger Labbe said, Kurt's pure speed this year and his past at Atlanta I think he's valuable at +1300 and I'm taking a shot on him. He's got to be relaxed now (if that's even possible for him) after the announcement that he'll be at SHR next year and just focused now on the 78 getting into the chase.
I also love Kahne this week but his odds are now down to +600. Going to wait on him, his odds can't get too much worse I don't think. Very interestingly Jimmie Johnson has not won a race on a mile and a half this year. And 1/2 of the chase races are run on that size track. Just something to note. After a few rough weeks he could open up a can this weekend, he's great at Atlanta.
Kahne is using the chassis he won with at Pocono in August. So fast that day. And junior is racing the chassis he had at Kentucky. I believe he won the pole that race and he was leading when he ran over a tire shelll that had come off I think the 11 car. Tough break but a real fast car. His past finishes at Atlanta though are not very good.
