Classic NASCAR Full Race Replay: 2005 Atlanta, Carl Edwards | Cup Series

hi everybody welcome to Atlanta Mike joy with Larry McReynolds darrell waltrip will join us shortly Larry I know you've got a book this thick thicker than the phone book in Atlanta of crew chief notes for this place how many of them still fit they're not worth a whole lot this morning you know we've been talking all year long with all the changes with the reduction of rear spoiler the change in the tire the crew chiefs were able to throw away their notes from the past and just work off this year but because of what's going on here this weekend you can almost throw the notes away from Friday because these cars have not been on the racetrack since Friday and the weather is 20 to 30 degrees warmer this racetrack is so slick these guys it's a chess match from the get-go Saturday was a welcome day off for some of the teams they were able to go home back to the Charlotte area and enjoy a day off or in some cases a day at the shop so a lot of unknowns as we come to the fastest track in NASCAR and we go trackside and now ladies and gentlemen for those most famous words in Motorsports please welcome our special guests from the United States Special Operations Command [Applause] [Music] [Applause] engines afire we're set to go racing around for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series I'll show you our starting lineup across the crawl at the bottom of the screen and gets a bit updates beginning with Matt Yocum mic Darlington Raceway maybe 285 miles away for the Atlanta Motor Speedway but pulling a number of crew cheese today they say that same tire wearing out characteristic we always see at Darlington is what they're expecting to see today here in Atlanta modifiers are always taking on two tires it'll be four tires today on every stop in fact that got ten sets of tires already mounted lugs glued in the nine pick kasey kahne a third of the fit here last year they are expecting I'm hoping for better things today to Steve Byrnes well thank you Matt Jeff Gordon man he's made his very first Nextel Cup start here in Atlanta in 1992 today will be his 26 he has four wins and as much experience as gordon has added together with crew chief Robby Loomis they really don't know what kind of a race car they have as Larry McReynolds says there's a lot of unknowns they haven't been on the racetrack since Friday there's been a truck race Friday night a Busch race yesterday a lot of rubber on the track Robby Loomis said when the green flag falls it's gonna be a lot like a happy hour session to see what they have to the editor of speed by illustrated in current tony stewart has to go down as a favorite to win this afternoon the last seven races here he has been almost 25% of the laps won one of those races ran the Busch race yesterday pretty shaken learned as a new car he's been fast in practice and I spoke with him moments ago he predicted a very fast slick racetrack just like he likes him to Jeanne Zelasko well Joe Nemechek led a race 563 laps to California before his engine failed and then it was a pit road miscue that cost his third place car at that time could fall out of contention the OU one team says they have paid the past two weeks because they have been knocking out the door Joe Nemechek feels this will be their weekend he likes the car a lot and he likes the track he has two top hands in his past five races here Mike thanks Jeanne the threat of rain from the weekend has dissipated it'll be a nice sunny day about 68 degrees to go racing here in Atlanta 43 drivers are ready 100 some thousand fans are ready so let's go [Music] the Department of Defense has a new website where you can support America's troops read messages for service personnel learn to send your own messages or care packages and find ways to volunteer or make donations to go to support our fighting forces find out more by visiting America support you not a my L Tuesday the Nextel Cup standings took a turn Jimmie Johnson left Vegas with the lead the penalty dropped in the second behind Kurt Busch Kevin Harvick fell from 8th to 10th in the standings there's your top ten including yesterday's winner the rookie Carl Edwards now here's the danger zone drivers 35th and above after five races are exempted from having to qualify for the show but look at the Joe Gibbs cars one of the Evernham cars and the Wood Brothers presently on the outside looking in now Larry said earlier the teams were off yesterday and many of them had a chance to go home but the place was an empty of Nextel Cup regulars Darrell know there were nine nine of the top ten finishers in the Busch race yesterday are in the field today I am so excited about that if I'm a driver I got to run that race yesterday under very similar conditions you know what else I'm excited about I remembered to take off my clear shield and put my tendon shield back on for the sunshine today but the drivers were not the only one working yesterday even though the Nextel Cup garage was closed I saw a lot of Nextel Cup crew chiefs that had no affiliation with Busch teams walking up and down pit road I think the biggest thing all of us learned especially watching that Busch race when that man waves that yellow flag you better get you four more Goodyear tires well anytime you run at a racetrack faster than the speed of which jet planes take off aerodynamics is key here's Chris and Jeff at our Ford cutaway car yeah thanks Mike we're just down below the hollywood hotel and just got the little rotisserie thing go working right guys go into the corners at 199 miles per hour the aerodynamics paramount why is it so important to have a perfect fender well Chris what you're doing with this fender is you're putting pressure on the front end that's what helps grip the front tires and any time you run into somebody to run in something damaged these fenders lock this fender in and all of a sudden you lose that grifoll that tire as jeff burton explained to me you go down that corner 190 miles an hour turn the wheel and the car wants to go straight and that's not a good thing all right steel with a little bondo so what could a driver or the crew do if there is something wrong with the fender and the driver can get into the pitch well until you get an opportunity to get in the pitch he's my hunt around look and find a way to enter the corner to make the best of that bad situation and that means roll out of throttle early you'll just have to do that till you get a chance to go to pit road hope those guys can make a little bit of adjustment only not to make NASCAR man dad you got to kind of keep the car shaped up like they've told you to but you want to get that fender back in as good a shape as possible so this car go around the racetrack get the front grip you want and give you an opportunity to win this race you are mr. Fixit so at this racetrack today no such thing as a minor fender bender Mike one to go when they come to the line here let's have a look at today's weather it's going to give us about 68 degrees I think the biggest thing we were talking while ago is the fact look at the track temperature we were very cloudy and overcast on Friday but look at there now over a hundred degrees and it's the middle of day it's gonna continue to go up just makes these cars slide around more and more more chassis adjustment yeah we've seen a lot of tire wear particularly right rear tire wear so that slipping and sliding gonna make it even worse here's our NASCAR on Fox ride-along program Dale Earnhardt jr. Kasey Kahne Jason Leffler Michael Waltrip Kevin Harvick Jeff Burton Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett all carrying our NASCAR on Fox onboard cameras two cards to the rear mike wallace for an engine change and a Kyle Busch who crashed in qualifying went immediately to a backup car that will start in the back watching that the primes who did you see that I think everybody will be able to see that we've got plenty of cameras roads feet we've been seeing that be a factor every single week forty five miles per hour the fuel window 55 to 60 lap but trust me after about lap 15 that drivers say we get a caution I need some tires Oh yesterday they fell back to the field like flies man I mean once you do if you didn't take tires you went to the rear look at this joy I love it man it's like being in a big old stadium like great feeling great atmosphere here let me tell you about a good feeling next time we come around over a hundred and ninety miles per hour reach up there and pull those belts tight one more time get up on your feet in the suite here we come Bobby jr. - sukar didn't get a very good start back straightaway car around Kenseth in the 17 remember this they're still right Bobby Labonte early in the race at Las Vegas they're still trekking back there Kirk push our points leader in the 97 car and just like yesterday we don't get through the first lap here that started off a turn - and I'll tell you what happened Bobby jr. got up on the outside there and I can't remember I can't a who had to lift but that's what bottleneck these guys up 16 points and look at Jeff Gordon at a track where aerodynamics is so important oh and a really tough break for Shane Mele who had a superb qualifying run and it has gone for naught Steve right before the green flag Mike joy Bobby Hamilton Jr was concerned that he had a flat left rear tire a flat left rear tire that may have been the culprit here he does Steve we can see it on the monitor and he was up on the outside over there and he and someone got together off of - and that's what started that casey mears there's Bobby Labonte beginning in the points Bobby Labonte is not even in the top 35 right now it's Casey Mears that got loose first I think reacting to what they saw bobby labonte though who was one here six times and that Joe Gibbs number 18 it is a second straight week of frustration scott riggs may have got in the back of he got into the back of Kasey Kahne and turned him right there and here they go but again I believe something I believe Casey may have lifted because of what happened in front of him Jeff Gordon doesn't make really really hard contact all he does make contact Dave Blaney squeaked through there's Matt Kenseth 17 Travis Quaffle got it twice and there Labonte comes to a halt right in front of Jeff Burke 97 car minor damage I would think you're riding with Jeopardy's e means easy caution is out on lap one for a multi-car pileup exiting turn two cars that have come to pit road after that pile-up include Casey Mears Robby Gordon Bert Bush Matt Kenseth Bobby Hamilton Jr and Jeff Burt Jeff Gordon's taken his car to the garage yeah they're a the 32 car had he was clear and clean of all this it happened back there like we saw with Scott Riggs and Casey Mears it looked like Casey Mears in the 41 car was loose off the quarter and in its lung got back around overcorrected and of course they started stacking up behind him dick Berggren with chef Gordon we've got a mini monitor back here and Jeff is most interested in seeing what happened take a look tell us what happened it's hard to tell from there looks like there was some contact with the 41 and a couple other guys and and then he got you know turned sideways and once that happened they just it just caused a big wrecking I thought I was gonna get through there I saw smoke but then they all turned down in front of me so unfortunately a short day for the DuPont Chevrolet and a lot of other guys I'd like to see a few more angles and go back a little bit further see kind of how it all started you know I'm not exactly sure what went on there but you know we're gonna fix it as best we can get back out there and it's not gonna be a fun day but it's gonna be a long one for us how bad is that car I mean uh you know mainly just body damage but you know we'll think we'll actually have a pretty decent car and get back out there promise red flag right now I can't work on it and and by the time we do get back out there we're gonna be somebody laps down doesn't matter how good we get it I guess we'll just be racing the guys that also have damaged the nose of the car has pretty well pushed in both the right front the left front and the grill and to complicate dick NASCAR has a minimum speed that each car must maintain in order to be able to stay out on the racetrack could not be a hazard to competition so some of these wounded cars are gonna have to get pretty well fixed up to be able to go back out on track [Music] fireworks at the start here at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Fox turn to lap one and you watch this car watch right here these two cars 25 and the 10 now they make contact watch the smoke fly and that's why he got his left for your tire cut down right there Bobby jr. now back behind them I'm not sure if drivers reacted to seeing the smoke or if the spotter said something but that's what created this mess behind them I'm not sure that the two are related but they more than likely are now we looked at multiple angles and cannot confirm whether there was contact between Scott Riggs in the white number 10 and the green 41 of Casey Mears because when we see the 41 here he's already sideways and Riggs is obviously going past we definitely know everything behind that was a chain reaction see what we got on this look we got a lot of looks you gotta realize something they're doing 185 90 miles an hour right at that point and just like we heard Jeff Burton spotter Jeff Burton's way back here spotter was saying easy easy easy they're reckoned in front of me look at rusty right there unless he went right through the middle of that and here's Burton making contact here after being told to take it easy bobby labonte he got I don't know how many times he got hit and dick Berggren is with the sixth time Atlanta winner yeah and three times he finished second and had hoped to turn around a tough season here at Atlanta what happened out there I know a little bit of on TV there and you know a couple guys already got into two guys two cars get into other cars off turn two you know father mouse saw like say it's 500 miles nothing not one lamb boy can you tell the disappointment whoa Betty the engines have fired on the cars that are sitting on the front stretch meanwhile the 97 team waiting for NASCAR to say the red flag has been lifted the red flag now lifted has been an advantage for this team it gave Jimmy Finnick Mike Kelly and the boys a chance to look at the damage on the championship leaders car one big issue they had there's a broken fender brace in the left front corner sighs the cosmetic damage they've already beaten out a lot of the sheet metal they're gonna have to fix that fender brace Jeff Hammond showed you the importance of fenders especially here now that fender brace will hold that fender up in place as that car dives down to the corner they are going to have to fix that on the 97 car Steve Matt problems for 2003 Nextel Cup champ Matt Kenseth he has steering problems basically his car is out of line they're trying to get it squared up right now crew chief Robbie Reiser talking to the team lot of damage on the 17 car he's on the road the teams had yesterday off and all of these teams are working double overtime today after a lap one crash I don't want to say the qualifying on Friday night not getting back into race car little Sunday is the problem but it's part of let's join Kristin for a visa race break thanks at the Ford cutaway car below the Hollywood hotel with Jeff Hammond for over four champions involved in that nine car wreck Jeff why don't you illustrate to us a little bit some of the things that Matt Steve we're sweating crews are working on cars with damage we'll start with I guess Kurt Busch's car Laura and Tom are riding out trying to get these fender braces straightened back up you see this is the inner structure work to help support the nose and build out where the fenders are mounted when all this is damaged it changed the shape of the nose so they're going to go back in there with the Hammers try to beat it back out hopefully it's reinforced enough we're again they can make that Aero work across the 97 car other guys that they're going to be working with if you'll take a look inside you look here is the tie rod ends a lot of times you get hit real hard in the front end it will Bend a tie rod it will Bend a lower control arm it can vent also an upper control arm so these teams will be taking a look at these areas and making the necessary repairs where they make the adjustment where the tie rods or having to replace the parts they've got to get these cars where they'll drive straight at these kind of speeds and give it a driver an opportunity the Beast race Bobby Labonte very upset beat the point of emphasis 500-mile race when you're repairing a car after a lap one hear what goes into it knowing that this is that long a race number one you've got to get it right the first time NASCAR's now come down with a new rule if your car cannot make minimum speed they'll make you go in the garage and you won't be allowed to come back out so get it done right the first time make sure it's safe and can maintain that speed is so important this has been a a visa race break from the Ford cutaway car let's check in with dick Berggren dick well this wreck was no respecter of either veterans or rookies you have heard from a couple of the veterans already travis kvapil a rookie here in the cup series wow that car is really torn up what happened well as best I could tell the 41 car got loose off of turn two and basically everybody just kind of checked up and got up into it I was going to try and go below it somebody got in my left rear and well just got wadded up I hate it for the Kodak guys we had a really good race car it's a brand new car they worked really hard on it was fast and I was gonna try and have a good run for Brian desana today little guys sick so hopefully hopefully I didn't ruin his day I just hope he enjoys the race and we'll go get him next week for everybody all right this one is bent front and back big time let's go back to the top of the show in the danger zone these are car owner points accepted for qualifying are the top 35 here is Bobby Labonte two weeks in a row out of the race early and after five races they begin using this year's car honor points to determine who has to qualify and who doesn't so that team is in a deep hole right now yeah you got to be within 400 points of the leader to Folly run four races and worry he's already almost worn to make a brief red flag period five laps complete officially all under caution a little bit up on what Jeff said you've got a long way to go I mean the race just started so you've got to fix the car right now so if you have any chance at all but making up laps are staying out there running fast do it now got a long way to go and that red flag was welcome for those teams that basically had to repair their car because it was eight and they were able to formulate a game plan without being at work on it we talked about Rusty Wallace they're the two cars it's barely getting through looked like he maybe had a little bit of damage and Jimmy fitting crew chief from Kurt Busch the 97 they have their car repaired and they're back out there and they are still on the lead lap there are 10 cars under repair from this accident and already four of them have gone laps down pace cars and we go back to green to begin lap six single-file restart ryan newman out front but for how long here comes Jimmy Johnson Jimmie Johnson in the 48 he looked back there's in that green and white number 99 is these two cards with a class the field yesterday in that Bush race I mean already we're seeing stars run multiple brew BC random this whale already running the high side we saw that a lot yesterday in the Busch races win the big difference three in the top four right there Johnson Edwards and Biffle got 300 miles on this track yesterday they're comfortable these other guys they got to get up to speed I mean you know they've been it's been like a says mrs. Friday that they were on the racetrack it's the one to mix the man running fifth Kasey Kahne he ran that race as well yesterday [Music] I guess we keep talking and everybody will have a Busch car next week dick Berggren with a disappointed rookie well yeah Shane mill has had a tough weekend hit problems on Friday night in the truck series yesterday a crash today a crash this thing is really torn up how hard you hit I have pretty good as one of those deals you're not expecting a hit and couldn't see for all the smoke and somebody run into me in the back you know turning it on into the walls it's unfortunate we launched Winfield yesterday which is a great multivitamin by going to technology say maker Trimspa it's disappointing to get it started off like this but we've got a great crew and we're gonna run this car though a twin fill Chevy at Bristol and we'll be back next week with a 3rd to Winfield Chevrolet Street closed meeting he's all done for today thanks dick of the top seven drivers only to Ryan Newman our pole sitter until Nemechek currently 6th did not compete in yesterday's appearance 312 saw on FX and Joe is usually one of the guys that runs all the or most of the Busch races Greg Biffle in that 16 car he was almost below the white line it looks like right now not exactly you know just don't see how that can qualify as fast as it does be impounded and not and not fall back in the race because you know you you've got to have a special setup to go that fast the best race setup either we've seen a good bit of three-wide racing off turn number 2 right there jason leffler scott riggs going at it there's Jamie McMurray in the picture with Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler and riding with we got a lot of cameras out there you know there's a difficult part of this racetrack it's a little slick right over there you hit a little patch that they have in the track over there a black streak you can see it occasionally it's like tar every now and then you'll hit that the car will take off you've got a lift somebody's around you they always have a chance to run it over you and there that's really the only you might say 90-degree corner you've carried so much speed you just run out a race track as you go up on the straightaway up the cars involved on the lap one accident Robby Gordon and Rusty Wallace running one lap down Matt Kenseth is 7 laps back and in the garage Travis Kvapil Bobby Labonte Shane meal and Jeff Gordon will we keep wondering when Kasey Kahne is going to break out of the slump that he started this year with and get back to the for me hat last job right now I think he'd probably be tickled to death to run second like he did four times last year he's in fourth place right now Matt Kenseth in the 17 car I think he had a tire going down he's back on pit road right now he has six laps down about to go seven well what what a miserable day attract this fast and a car that's not driving right it will it will wear you out now in qualifying we were seeing upwards of 199 entering the corner telemetry on Kasey Kahne showed 194 under race conditions and that's still awfully fast because we're 12 laps into this run we know the cars will not run as fast today in race trim is a willing qualifying trim because you have a lot of things open like front-end open to cool the radiator and oil cooler this is the two different lines here the 12 car it gets off the turn for a lot better than the old one because you got a little freer line off of there the car runs launches off the corner lot better it does if you're on the bottom watch the difference in these two cars oh one can pull up in the corner but then the twelves got the better line off the core for speed giving good straightaway speed this is a battle for fifth position right now not surprised to see Joe Nemechek and that Oh run run so good I know this is a different racetrack from Fontana but this is the same car where he was so strong about three weeks ago out there before the engine expired Greg Biffle Kasey Kahne third place going off into turn one seeing the same thing with these two guys right here Kasey Kahne in the 9 that's where he ran the Busch race yesterday right up against the wall Greg Biffle ride around the bottom Joe Nemechek caring for assets paintjob this week at sponsor it's passed pole sitter Ryan Newman that changes ways [Music] Jimmy Johnson still eating Carl Edwards five about six tenths of a second Waker state aerial coverage Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton just about a half hour drive south of Atlanta off i-75 Trek has been here since 1960 had two different configurations and seen some great racing Mark Martin moves up on Ryan Newman who continues to drop back that is eighth place here's Matt one of the racetracks where this 12 team test right here in Atlanta felt comfortable coming in today's race variety the car is just really tight and getting tighter just trying to hold on settling in by himself hoping for a caution soon they fix this race car on pit road well Matt that puts a period in what DW has been talking about I think to run fast around here qualifying you have to have your call a little bit stud but you know for the race you need to free it up and a lot of cars were loose the other night that's cars that are running pretty good right now see Tony Stewart the 20 car out there this is going to be a battle when he catches round noon the 12 this if he have battle for night so Ron is about to fall out of top 10 I'll continue the car one of our biggest futher movers is Michael Waltrip in the 15 car he started back in 37th he's an 11th working trying to get in the top 10 two things Michael won the Busch race yesterday he ran in it and also his race team is a team that won this race a year ago with Dale Earnhardt jr. and I talked to Michael this morning he was very optimistic yeah Tony Junior said don't worry dude we got the right setup in the car you'll be good to race and know looks like he's pretty close before here's Matt he's got the right setup and he also has the right race car this is the same car that Dale Earnhardt jr. won with here one year ago Michael hasn't said a lot on the radio the car really to his liking his shows huge huge climb meanwhile his teammate Dale Earnhardt jr. much like he was in practice much like he wasn't qualifying loose all the way around this race room well if you were watching qualifying and you news when you got out of that car that's the car you had to start to race in today I would have not slept very well for a couple of nights that thing was evil Ryan Newman in the 12 just lost two positions to Tony Stewart in the orange 20 end to Michael Waltrip in the 15 while Newman has five straight poles here but his average finish of this track is 14 there's Michael going after Tony Stewart ninth place you know stone usual thing about Michael Waltrip Darrell we talk about it all the time we go to a racetrack where you rim ride you run at the top of the racetrack Michael Waltrip was the first one but he's running right around the bottom of the racetrack and he is here in 3 & 4 so you know what that tells me maybe it's not Mike because that car last year rode around the bottom here when their junior drove it so has a lot to do with 7 and that's our first singular virtual crew chief question to vote text the word crew 91 or go to foxsports.com he'll be entered for a chance to drive away in your own singular 31 car why his de I struggle the cruise the crew swap crew or car swap as you wish new rules or otherwise speaking of de ah we're riding with the other side of the spectrum dealer heart see you hear him telling his crew chief he run though I'm real loose in the corner you can go nowhere loose in the corner because it messes the whole corner remember he started in 35th he's 29 but he's only about seven or eight seconds from being lapped by our leader Jimmie Johnson and he's not the only one in dire straits Rusty Wallace only about five and a half seconds from going a lap down to the leaders I think rusty got taken by surprise the fact they came on pit road and didn't realize they had as much damage to the left side of the car as he actually had NASCAR's brightest new star Carl Edwards won here yesterday from the pole did a backflip at the start/finish line at the finish is he on a roll Steve he sure is Mike and he's got an important family tie in this sport his father and Nextel Cup veteran Kenny Schrader are cousins when Carl was 16 he North Carolina worked as a volunteer in Kenny Schrader's shop Carl told me this morning it was an entire month before Schrader sat him down and said son what is it that you want to do here he said look straighter I'm I'm here to drive your Arctic are traders somebody to drive a car and that's when you're going to get experienced Carl said he wasn't very happy about it at the time but that's what he did he went back to Missouri got in a dirt car three years later there was a big race that muttley Missouri Kenny Schrader was there annulus Oskie was there Carl Edwards beat them all and that was a big turning point in his racing career he gives Kenny Schrader a lot of credit because he was excited about the season we talked about it in pre-race some of the mishaps that have happened in football terms joe said we have had flashes of a great offense but have had too many turnovers we squandered a couple of great opportunities with this right now he's bouncing around a little bit a little too tight from the middle of the turns off can't wait for the pit stop to make the adjustments Matt halfway through this run the last time by that's what Tommy Baldwin told his driver Kasey Kahne Casey said what was my lap time the last time by I changed up my line down in three and four and one and two G's to see if it would help right I'll try something else the car a little on the tight side but Tommy says that's a lot better than being loose another fellow who usually runs well here at Atlanta in fact almost won a race here at Atlanta is Dave Blaney in yeah I mean he seems to be carrying the richard childress banner because he started back in 27th and now he's in the top 10 at o7 car and Kent but how about far behind him Kurt Busch to the 97 car our current champion he restarted this race back to left five back in 35th position and he's up to 11th this team right here is one of the reasons I keep getting on my high horse saying if NASCAR is not a team sport there's never a bit of teams we'll remember during that red flag he was with the left front completely torn up remember what this team did in those final ten races repairing fenders and responding to problems this team had there is knocking on the door the top ten ten finishes his last 11 races last year the dick Berggren how about Dave Blaney Emmitt a pretty decent day Mike but he called to his crew and told him on the radio that the car is tight everywhere and I certainly think that yeah Bush is going by him right now but I certainly think that he must love this place because back in March ol one he led 70 laps look as if he was going to win the race before a hub failed and he had to go to the pitch that dick Atlanta was the only race in the chase last fall score a top-10 finish they feel like they have caught a huge break Kurt said that was fine the steering wheel was straight they made the changes to that left front corner putting a piece of aluminum right below the headlight area to try to piece together the broken sheet metal there at the seams and right now he says the car trying to chase down 15 of Michael Waltrip that'll be for ninth place meanwhile the leader is in heavy traffic Jimmie Johnson has just lapped a couple cars and now he's coming up on Rusty Wallace yeah and he's got to keep pushing it because he's got Carl Edwards breathing down his back bumper there so he's got to keep going he can't take too much time or get bad you guys now those three cars Mike and Rusty Wallace we're running with Jimmy Spencer side-by-side a lap ago so fortunately for the leaders they've gone single-file but as Jimmie Johnson has to pick his way through Carl Edwards ready to pounce Carl Edwards the 99 car his car is once you turn it to the bottom almost over white land and rest here he's able to pick that problem and drive off the corner all the way around the box I don't believe any driver has ever won the Busch and the Cup race at Atlanta same weekend yes we listened in on Carl Edwards [Music] so what that means is is when he's got the wheels turn to the left and he's back in the gas the front is not digging quite enough for him he'd like to get that front end down in the racetrack a little bit what they have to be careful I don't want to get him loose we've been seeing how cars that are loose [Music] 38 laps complete in the Golden Corral 500 you're watching NASCAR on Fox [Music] participate in our next results passing the bouts and most of you spoke and said it was the crew a problem with Dale Earnhardt jr. who currently is running 28 the trying to avoid going a lap down he came in 27th and points he stands there currently at the moment not looking too good for those guys right now they really need a costume try to work on that race car so they can get it adjusted where maybe he can get up there and get up through the ranks and dig himself out of this hole he's found himself in right now the leader of the first lead change last week's winner Jimmie Johnson keeping his streak alive in every race this season the having a lead Johnson getting past pole sitter Ryan Newman who led the first five laps now we got ya sitting right here he's the south Joe Nemechek son looks like John John Hunter right there he's keeping a close watch on he's dead comedy few a future a future crew chief we should say for the US Army I won it with Jimmie Johnson again Chad Knaus his crew chief is here in the pits while he is appealing that the two races special yes he can be here while they're going through appeal but after to see if there'll be some decisions made by the a committee that will review everything and we'll have a pretty a better understanding well not they're gonna Justice ruling or not every state look right the earth Chad right here sit on top of the pit box just like he was yesterday it was part of the bush race also watching his driver lead this race right now it looks like the car still working really well and as Jimmy pointed out it's beginning of the day they would love to go ahead and win this race go through the post-race inspection and be able to say look guys see we won the race we didn't have to have anything go wrong it was a mechanical problem all right Mike but after the 20 car that's a good question as his teammate Bobby Labonte returns to the track after lap one crash damage Tony Stewart is falling through this field like a rock his last lap 3290 that's eight tenths of a second slower than the leaders and he's lost about seven positions over the last three or four laps something's wrong with 97 over here and turn four he's coming to pit road it's wobbling a little bit like you may have a flat tire man DW that's exactly what he's saying on the radio right front possibly down on the 97 dodged a huge bullet with that crash at the opening of the race making his way back up through the field to the top 10 the Sharpie guys on the wall when he for him to pull to his wrinkle the jack man dives around the right side they pull off you can see the tire is cut down the inner liner and held up they come around to hit the locks on the left side we told you earlier this was the only place in the chase and he did not score top-ten finish last year and he's away it almost look think he made contact with someone with that right front tires he came down pit road ahead gear rubbed off ever we've got great cameras and replays producers who found us this let's see this is joe nemecheck he's caught he was battling Joe for fifth place oh he didn't make any contact with anything he just lost it right at the tire right there it was awfully lucky where that happened on hitting get up in trouble but let me his luck may be with him as well his lapse from that schedule bring back picked up what they really want they need this thing so bad is to run through the course of green flag stops and you know what the way he was going with those four fresh tires he probably will be leading this race well you know what I looked up in a dictionary lucky and it said Kurt Busch we talked about comers and goers Darrell and at this place a great examples Tony Stewart he felt like a stone well he's ratcheted himself back up he's back up in the top 20 and he's out now his lap times were only three tenths off for the leader so dick what was wrong if anything well quite a bit has been wrong early early on in the race Mike he said that the car was tight on entry but was good off then later at about lap 41 about 10 laps ago he said the more the car goes the more the back end gives up the tail loose for Tony Stewart that's his problem see some of those green flag stop start here's Bill Elliott in the 91 car and I talked a lot the Dodge teams this morning they felt like they were getting the worst of the fuel mileage of most of the cars this is a scheduled four tire stop Steve and Larry Mack Bill Elliott Austin bill from Dawsonville saying his car is very very tight they're going to make a track bar adjustment two rounds up on that 91 car Chris Andrew the crew chief the track bar adjustment Mike Wallace is in Jeff green and Jason Leffler have also already made their green flag stops Leffler was in about ten laps ago a little bit early for the length of this run there's the important McClure car the Lucas Oil for Mike Wallace and he comes back up Michael Waltrip has passed Joe Nemechek as if I've been to the top half dozen garlic suck is pretty good Michaels does on the long run and that's what you want here today indication of any more caution flags things are pretty clean in raining right now we looking at the back of Michael Waltrip 15 car you can see how much he could pick that throttle up and stay in it as he pulled away from those cars behind him and he's pretty much still around the bottom of the racetrack Matt Mike the big issue for Mike we'll watch at Tony Eury jr. Shruti Tomac he has to back off earlier than normal where he was back off his point where he would get entry into the corner Pizza par is so loose but he is great the center up off the corner you can see that thanks math pitstops Jamie McMurray is in Greg Biffle is in and Kasey Kahne dick Biffle is in and his pit stop had been planned for about five or six laps I knew right when they wanted to bring him in Biffle with a very good race car today no major changes he is running in third position prior to this pit stop never won here in the Cup Series but he does have one horse race and the nine of Kasey Kahne at six and Mark Martin on pit road look for a chassis adjustment for Kane I love it a side you can see the ridge pulling in the back window for Cade crew Schack sighs mark partners in is away Mark Martin service also completely Mayfield Nemechek Sadler Elliott Sadler along with Scott Briggs now on pit road and the fifty of Judy Spencer Jeannie he's going to wait a couple laps but I might as well come in get these taken care of getting the fuels getting four tires they're gonna free this car up just a little bit and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 48 of Tony Stewart in his pit area they have pulled the rubber out of the right rear that hopefully will cure his chassis problem Tony Moore said hit by a tire last week is on duty to Steve Carl Edwards in the 99 said he was losing grip especially when he got on the throttle they'll put off four tires they have dropped the air pressures on the left side for Carl Edwards long stop having trouble getting it full that no grip on the racetrack for the 12 moving them in a wedge adjustment and try to fix that tightness with an air pressure adjustment for Ryan Newman big weekend for Roger Penske yesterday he scored as two hundred and fiftieth win as a car owner in auto racing when this Penske IRL cars finished 1-2 Hello Castroneves finished second and Sam Hornish took home the victory at Phoenix Michael Waltrip guys waiting for the 15 car to come to a stop sign [Music] assault then he is down easier to give you the drivers who have not stopped they are Jimmie Johnson Dave Blaney Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd Casey Meares Kevin Harvick Brian Vickers of the Lance Sterling Marlin and Mike Bliss so Bliss is in Marlins in here come John's my big question this is the first green flag stop we've been seeing at every race will these guys dodge the pit road speeding penalty that we've been seeing time and time again Jeannie and Jimmie Johnson Spencer well we have been talking all day about the cup drivers involved in the Busch races and that includes Jimmie drawn to the big thing he took out Kent fresh tires new tire stickers whenever you can whenever possible and that's when you again cars been running pretty good just a little bit snug slippery mo Rusty Wallace suffered damage on that lap one accident that's had to get on pit road and tape the batteries of the battery compartment so as Darryl said earlier a lot of damage to the left side of that number two car one driver who has not stopped his rookie Kyle Busch in a backup car after a qualifying crash he can't hear his crew on the radio they asked NASCAR to black flag and get him in for fuel just remember that's a backup car that they had no track time with after crashing in qualifying the other night Dale Jarrett the 88 car the UPS car he has inherited lead I would anticipate he'll become the pit road here pretty quick though maybe even this time looks like so green flag stops Dave Blaney led a lap he's now in along with Brian Vickers and here comes Jarrod as you predicted Ricky Rudd had the chance to lead a lap but rather than run out of gas and the Wood Brothers take serviced ol boy junior - fast exiting the pits a mapped by the electronic timing system and he will get a pass through the pit penalty I know character but I think some of that frustration of just not running well and things aren't going right that's why create situations like that the driver tries to make up for all the other problems you do this Larry without losing a lap no I think you will come close to losing another lap and remember he does not have to stop in his pit box he has to just come down pit road to pass through at 45 miles per hour but guess who has inherited lead now that we've cycled through Greg Biffle in the 16 car we'll remember he was one of the cars they hit pit road the earliest to take advantage of those four fresh tires Dale Jarrett to fast entering pit road as we told you in Daytona the old method of timing the cars with stop watches and segments the driver a more accurate system they have so Jared and Earnhardt have both been gigged for too fast on pit road it's a drive-through penalty at pit road speed and those are the areas for you make up time under the old system GT and getting off pit road those last pit boxes and the first one coming in you could push the envelope a little bit right there and get away with it let's get an update on tire wear here's Jeanne pushing the envelope and feeling pretty lucky right now that would be the Oh one of Joe Nemechek what you're looking out here are the front tires the right side on the left side and you can see some serious tire wear there feeling as I said pretty lucky in this pit right now that they escaped but potentially been a problem as I mentioned a little early because of my vibration and we got to battle right here now this will be for the third position Carl Edwards in the 99 Jimmie Johnson in the 48 it looks like Carl Edwards will get trapped behind Robbie Gordon that seven car and Jimmie Johnson to take the position they work past Kevin LePage I tell you I think Carl Edwards all he's trying to Jimmy Johnson in his sights after yesterday's race I think he knows that's the guy he's got a beat and this is our leader Greg Biffle in the 16 car sandwich between two cars trying to get back on the lead lap Jason Leffler an 11 and Dale Earnhardt jr. in the 8 and things have gone from bad to worse for the H team on the pace laps they split the field in half they use two pace rope pace vehicles so that each driver can match up his jib road speed to an inch in rpm apparently that calculations didn't work at bail Jarrett's case while serving his penalty pass through 67 laps complete at Atlanta Motor Speedway Greg Biffle in front of Kurt Busch by 3.7 seconds to record here on fox night to have you with us some from Atlantic rectal your leader Jimmie Johnson currently second but has led most of the weight on the first lap for former champions involved in the wreck including Jeff Gordon who has now backed on the track but it would drivers like Matt Kenseth and popula body in trouble Carl Edwards who won the Busch race yesterday currently running fourth Jeff Hammond having some of the problems in the pits that you got to be a kind of a circus performer sometimes to get things done with guys pull in there well they call it problems right now but can you come down pit road you're on allow that happens seven men over the wall so when Carl came down there were a lot of things that needed to be done to the car and what they wound up doing was really put two birds one man to do that three jobs so as he comes off pit you know so everybody goes to the right side pay attention there's began spam backer present she and he pulled some windshield tear off makes the chassis adjustment then he said oh yeah back on the fish gas to the car runs back up he hooks up the Phoenix fueling the rest race car but this spits off just a little bit of slow he had too many things to do but they got it all completed and he's still running fourth I think get a little help him out he did the work of five other guys Ellen you're out now one-man band meanwhile Carl Edwards hanging in there for Greg Biffle Jimmie Johnson Kurt Busch currently running third and Jeff Gordon back in the race after being involved in that nine car wreck earlier that involved a number of the headliners yeah he's 72 laps down but Robbie Loomis and Jeff ball realize it you've got to get these bad boys to go out there and just be the best we can't we still got a long ways to go and we got almost 200 49 laps more to go so a lot of things can happen and they realize every point counts right now Dale Earnhardt jr. in front of a Sterling Marlin and you know it's worth pointing out jimmie johnson who has led the most laps so far currently running second as Greg Biffle yeah he's trying to put a lap right now trying to get Mallen running the 17th and you know he sits on a row right now he's got that number 16 car right down that line where you wanted to be and he's this motoring through this field and Jimmie Johnson competing in the same chassis the car that won the Atlanta race last fall in both races so here at Lowe's Motor Speedway last year I really got a really good battle I never see the 9 car luck riding behind Tony Stewart there in the 1640 car me they don't want to roll over and play dead for sure Casey can't the only dodge is his top ten running fifth let's check in with Matt Yocum go ray evernham the car owner was looking at the tires at came off Casey Cain's car now the right side showing considerable air very similar conditions to the tires that came off Michael Waltrip scars well and a few other teams on my end of pit road so we talked at the beginning of the show about tire we're showing a lot of it here at Atlanta teens are seeing that now the 97th car of Kurt Busch running third his car is tight again remember he painted Mike joy back on lap 51 with a flat right front so pushed third behind his teammate Greg Biffle in front of teammate Carl Edwards with Jimmie Johnson in between a final note on that Carl Edwards stopped the gas man isn't he really Larry the only man on the crew that has freedom of movement everyone else's movements is dictated by the man next to him or the man he's working with who else could run around and do that yeah I mean the other guys that are there basically the two tire changers jet they have something going on the entire stop the gas man you know he has a little bit of Liberty there but I think what caught him off-guard just a little bit remember that was a green flag stopped he almost had to dump that entire 22 gallons of fuel in before they let him go it just seems like real good management to me you get so many people got so many things you got to get done and I like the way they orchestrated that whole deal for a final word on this let's go to Steve Carlton and Mike that didn't rattle Carl Edwards at all his radio crew chief said the cars real good still just a little bit tight and they've been reminding car including spotter Bobby Hudson for the beginning of this race as he goes by the 97 of Bush take care of your equipment we're gonna race Harper just be patient reinforcing that virginity to young Carl Evers just 25 years old what was the plan that got him to Victory Lane yesterday here in Atlanta I'd like to know what the definition of patience would be to a young guy like Carl it was 25 years old with all the enthusiasm he has I'm sure it wouldn't be the same as it would be for someone like me we just watched Greg Biffle in the 16 car put Dale Earnhardt jr. in the 8 car another lap down he is now two laps down and we're not even a third of the way through this race I'll tell you another car that's having a good run needed a good run not a great qualifying run on Friday night started back in 31st Ricky Rudd in the 21 car he is up to the 12th position he finally has his crew chief back Michael fatback McSwain he's been recovering from back surgery his car has been involved in three wrecks in the first three races of 2005 and none of them were of his making so good to see this car they just want to see the checkered flag besides being in the garage area 15 cars on the lead lap on the last of those is Brian Vickers who had a small role in the first lap I caught up a little bit in that plea what preceded the first lap accident and he's about three seconds from going a lap down watch Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick battle along with Mike Bliss this is at 19th place debris going into turn 1 in the quad oval the dogleg here a start/finish line and the first corners and I thank you that's gonna really benefit a man that was running pretty good to begin the race the 20 car Tony Stewart because he had went a lap down he should get this free pass that'll be a big break for Tony that 20 group big break for a lot of Congress again now we make some chassis adjustment Yunior just went two laps down yet not a good break for him Jeff Burton Casey Meares and Brian Vickers were at the tail end of the lead lap in so they get a reprieve due to the caution flag everyone pulls up behind the pace truck there's the Victory Junction Gang Camp Camp rajae Kyle Petty look if they tear I'll say have ya windshield that's what all those tie wraps work just look at them right there tear offs and that's just something rather than try to pull a tab they can just hook your finger in a tie wrap and pull about the reason that we're seeing a lot more tear offs and we're seeing them on the front of other race cars is because these tires are wearing so much more than they did last year they're getting a lot more rubber on the racetrack that rubber is that ended up on the windshields and on the hoods and routes the cars you see a lot of black marks on the cars as we go through the race today and Darrell even though it's become a little bit overcast here this is probably one of the worst racetracks in the world late in afternoon driving off into turn one with the Sun greg biffle we'll head for duck Ricker and leave everybody lead everybody down pit road dick and he has got a terrific race car Mike the only change you're gonna make to this car besides four tires and fuel they're going to put a half a round of wedge in the left rear that'll add just a little tiny bit of weight to the left rear tire help the back into the car stick to the race track a little bit better the pit crew has been stellar all year long there goes to half round in Pacini jimmie johnson telling his crew chief Chad Knaus that the car is turning good and comfortable but he needs a little bit of help in the center of the turn and off so the plan here is to raise the track bar make a slight air pressure adjustment and ease off Steve JD Carl Edwards saying the 99 is very comfortable they just rushed left-side air pressures up quarter pound the 97 is in Kurt Busch they're gonna make a return visit a lot of Commerce a close call between the nine of Cade in the six of Martin look for the 97 to make a return visit they want to take full advantage of this caution to fix that left front fender that brace is broken it's pushing that valence back they feel like the cars running great considering the cosmetic damage but they feel like hey it's better to be at the end of 20 cars than 42 they're going to take advantage of this caution you start right there the Ricky Rudd the 21 car they were the we're real winner on pit road game for spots with that pit stop so when your cars working good you picked great works good now you see right there Ricky Rudd gained four spots a lot of teams like Joe Nemechek Mark Martin Michael Waltrip gaining two and right there if you notice Greg Biffle in the 16 he had one of the fastest pit stops as far as to throw time he saw the red light on Kasey Kahne not his fault he had to swing wide around Michael Waltrip who left his tail hanging out on the edge coming down to the green flag to the restart to begin last night a great pit bull bringeth Jimmie Johnson Carl Edwards Joe Nemechek and mark Parton on the outside of the lapped cars Kurt Busch made a late stop for cosmetic and Aero adjustment to that left front fender so he's tailing Charlie free pass look at these pass they're already three wide coming off down the back straightaway 12-car they're trying to get up there to be the first car a lap down where maybe he can get the free pass simply get it on the cop and Dale jr. up high two laps down drive through Pitt penalty caused one of them and for the lead jimmie johnson greg biffle going at it looks a lot like yesterday with Carl Edwards right there with him yeah it's like Jimmie Johnson in the 48 saying look you you stole my thunder you came to pit road a little early under green while ago we've got those tires sixthly change of the day boy she's got to fight its way up from the back let's hear what he has to say prior to excuse me car let's hear what Carla pretend to say priority is good stuff okay I'd rather try to fix this thing early on I think we're abuses all right so deep it in just the jump stop I think there's probably only about what 20 cars on the lead lap now okay but you know there's a butcher to the fact that we gotta take the tire off and put a brace on they're dead for better to put us to the back of 20 cards instead of 42 I think that was the key have any cars on the lead lap but we're not like we had 30 or 40 cars we only had 19 or 20 and I just I loved it the driver has that kind of back in the one they need to do he helps the crew chief so much when he's thinking about where he's gonna be what needs to be done if you keep the driver and the crew chief working together that's going to make the end result a whole lot better seven lead changes once we got racing after the lap one crash that involves seven cars a short caution for debris allowed everybody to pit and now we're back under green with Jimmie Johnson leading Greg Biffle Carl Edwards Joe Nemechek and Mark Martin the Golden Corral 500 on Fox presented by n3 Fowler from Gillette is brought to you by the new singular raising the bar by levitra ask your doctor about it today levitra when it counts by napa auto parts get the good stuff and by FedEx proud sponsor of the number 11 charm so Kurt Busch currently running 16th is you're gonna look from the FedEx cart Jeff Hammond Larry McReynolds was talking about the decision the communication obviously that happened I would imagine at least the problems with the 97 car in that initial first lap Trek when his car was just slightly grazed you know it's slightly grazed to still the damage but you see it you hear him talk about how critical that is they needed to fix it so they could really get serious about making their chassis adjustments you know we laugh a lot of times about telling the driver to shut up and drive with that communication be able to get that information back and forth and making sure you make the right decisions is the key to have a successful race team and right now Jimmy Fannie Cooper fish are on the same page Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing up to 11 he was involved narrowly escaping a major wreck at the part of that but certainly was involved in that first plant pilot yeah he just barely got through there but he's done a really good job for working his way up through the pack today and it's just good to see him back from being competitive now what do you tell it if you're one of those drivers who is a lap down or two laps downs we got a look with Dale Jarrett on board ups what are you telling your driver well right now Jeremy Mayfield is the guy that's one lap down and he's the best position Kakashi does come out you want to let him know what he needs to do keep the 12 far behind hang air with the leaders try not to abuse your tires you're in a good position cost you comes back out we're going to get an opportunity to move our way back up we still got a lot of racing to go you can't quit you got to figure out strategies to fight your way back up on that lead lap and give your team an opportunity to Sparkle score points and to fight you need to communicate well Kyle Busch in the five car having some communication problems with this crew and Matt Yocum has the latest Matt was back to the old-fashioned way of communication doing hand signals sticking his hand out the window for his Lewis on entry now during this caution they switched out they diagnosed it was his radio push-to-talk button something broken possibly in the wiring this wraps around the steering column bolts to one of the spokes in the steering wheel they changed that out now communication is back like we should be on the 5 car pal Busch running in the 25th position still a nice comeback after a qualifying crash here on Friday night he did not get the most of time and had the start based on [Music] that's Kyle Petty and you see on one of the steering wheels folks the radio button there yeah that's it yeah right there it's a radio button College pretty comfortable his car he's not you see his arm he's not he's not straining he's just pretty calm voice working the steering wheel a little bit getting the car to go through the corner the way he wants it to but he looks pretty comfortable you see kind of got a relaxed grip on the steering wheel kind of got our own cruise control tenth place Scott Briggs trying to hold michael waltrip who once again is marching his napa chevy toward the front still around the bottom of the racetrack where he's been the entire 101 laps where i don't think he's ever been his whole career here darryl he likes to rim ride here well he likes that car I guess and it's a hook on the bottom for him it looks like it's good on the long run he seems to fall back a little on the restarts but then as they run along and the tires start to wear a little bit that car really gets better for him and I know he's on fairly fresh tires but they're what I'm impressed with when he picks that throttle up just listening to the engine he's able to stay in it he's not having a feather and play with and he's racing scott riggs right there now Scott's on another good run today he's running 10th he's about his business and I know he's happy with his run because he missed the show here Scott Riggs into ten in the fall Waltrip completes the pass and again this is this is really out of character he died for now really on a character for Mike here be clear when you get since Harry Gant retired Michael had always been the first driver to find the top lane of the racetrack here Harry was high wide and handsome masseur okay who's made another great recovery Jeff Burton in that 31 car started back in 38 remember he was involved slightly in that crash back on the back stretch of lap one and now he's up there battling for the 10th position with Scott Riggs in the 10 good recovery for Kevin Hamlin Jeff Burton for that great finish back in 2001 for Dale Earnhardt with Kevin Harvick driving for Dale Earnhardt this crew chief for this car Kevin Hamlin was a crazy another nice recovery for the driver who got loose off turn two and and again casey mears spin was what triggered that big wreck ma lam we have been unable to confirm whether or not there was contact between the 41 of beers the Nicorette dodge and scott riggs to initiate that or whether mirrors just got loose as one driver who drove through it told us yeah that 41 car now just remember I think was about a year ago here he'd almost he had a car that could have won this race and he had an engine failure right near the end of the day otherwise he may have been in victory circle take a look back at earlier today show you what happened contact there off the turn two some point I gotta believe that had an effect on looks like he may have gotten into 41 at Parkdale now we've completed 106 lap Jimmie Johnson leading Greg Biffle by just a couple car lengths happy Palm Sunday here from all of us at Fox from Atlanta here's a look at the coca-cola Racing family in today's race is also the first day of a spring and right now Jimmie Johnson your leader but Greg Biffle running second we followed Kurt Busch at Tony Stewart some of their story throughout the afternoon we've gone through a hundred 12 laps with 213 to go here in the Golden Corral 500 I've looked for dick Bertrand in the background actually he was fixing the a3 chariot wheel and has the latest unpractical currently running second thing now Chris did your therapist tell you to stop that stuff that your ego is going to be any more better by picking on me anyway Biffle has had a terrific run his crew chief Doug Richard has been calling out I'm still him until he got right behind the number 48 Jimmie Johnson he just called on the radio Biffle didn't said I have never had so much fun in my life a few laps ago as he came by his pit Biffle let out a war whoop and said so much grip it's awesome Steve but Carl Egberts also having a good day dick he's just told his crew chief Bob Osborne his car's just a little bit three in the center but he said a few laps ago he had buzzed his tires we're just gonna back off just a here also asking spotter Bobby Hudson what sort of lines the other guys are running Hudson replied that he won't wanna tow Nemechek was running a higher line all set up to three up I will work on that our next stop there is Edwards in third behind Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle to give you an idea what tires are worth Brian Vickers just made a green flag pit stop came back out on track and is running 4/10 of a second faster than this man his teammate your leader Jimmie Johnson yeah that is it just it's a little bit early on this stop right here we anticipate that probably maybe he had a vibration or something but yeah it's worth a lot I think if I was struggling Larry I'd be doing some short pitting because tires do make such a big difference now here's Vickers we just spoke up he has new tires 160 miles an hour hundred 62 in the middle of the corner what does that translate to how about 260 some feet per second that's almost the football they got a car smoking down in turn one Mike Wallace party been running pretty badly Wallace comes on to pit road I'm sorry we were talking about Brian and we're gonna get a caution count the four car is quite a bit of smoke and I'm sure he must put out some debris he's been running on seven cylinders here and go by making quite a bit of noise and he lost an engine on Friday that's pretty sad go to the rear of the field I think this car should be a huge break for Jeremy Mayfield the 19 car we mentioned Brian Vickers coming in early he had a vibration we took out of the back but it felt like the front just wasn't ripping is good so yeah just to go a little bit yes oh you're talking about yahooo snetkof she was a big break for Jeremy Mayfield we just mentioned about him getting the free pass but Brian Vickers is the guy that did not see that caution to go he's he is now a lap down so when we restart there will be 16 cars on the lead lap with the addition of Mayfield you know when things like that happen you always say man how unlucky can I be make a pit stop and get gunk ocean comes out pit road will be very busy with these 15 or 16 cars dick Berggren I'm sure four tires have more adjustments well don't just miss at all for Biffle he likes the cars so much all they're going to do is put four tires on it same air pressure no wrenches in the back of his car he has got a real weapon today to GT 48 Jimmie Johnson still a little stuck in the center and actually just started again though he's hoping the air pressure adjustment will free the car up steep just a quarter round of bite in the left rear for Carl Edwards just a little bit free for tire to stop the 99 the six car mark part best car here last fall didn't get to Victory losing a little bit of time on the left rear but they said the car was free the day ahead snuck them in a track bar adjustment to try to take him up a little more track bar also for the nine of kasey kahne there you see the race off pit road mark martin good top-5 run those guys gave two positions as well as Elliott Sadler in the 38 group and Jeff Burton in the 31 I think the reason 248 the 40 car lost that one spot Larry is they had a tire laying in front of the car and when the right front tire changer and the jack man went around to the left side they had to jump to tyre to get to the other side of the car hurt him just a little bit here they come you see the tire I think throws his tire right here in front of the car right there I say he's hung up he's bought the jack man really hurt him getting around the car and I mean you're not talking about maybe a half a second when you're changing four tires dumping this fuel in in 13 to 14 seconds huge difference I want to lose the lead in the pits got a long way to go buddy [Music] currently forth today yesterday ran in the Busch race was on the pole but the first 29 laps felt back and that had to work his way back up through the field Carl Edwards didn't like Michael Vick working through a defense here in Atlanta and the 25 year old from Columbia Missouri pulled into Victory Lane with his first ever Busch Series win his famous backflip in his victorious pool this is unbelievable I got to thank a lot of people this is the biggest win of my career first Busch win thank charter first of all hi oh man the Roush Racing Jack Roush Brad parrot my whole crew this is awesome to win from the poll and to come out here and race but guys like Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson they're unbelievable so this is the biggest win of my career million dollars file worth flipping over Carl Edwards and four built for the road ahead his road ahead filled with a lot of optimism now in the 99 car in today's Cup race currently running fourth behind another Ford in Greg Biffle Mark Martin is third Jimmie Johnson second we're getting ready to go green let's rejoin Darrell Larry and Mike Carl Edwards road ahead is filled with two Ford's teammates of his and a Chevrolet as the Roush contingent owns three of the front four spots as we go back to green the start last one 23:47 jobs [Music] on the high side head work stirred and gunning for second strong resist race goes on he's gonna bid for battle his teammate Carl Edwards in the 99 yeah this is the best track position mark he's had he's been seventh eighth ninth place he's up there in clean air now pretty clean anyway behind him Jamie McMurray in 242 and Bobby Hamilton in the 32 on the low side our outside posted her that's the battle to be the first car a lap down to hopefully get a free pass there you see them side-by-side right there Mark Martin has two wins here chasing a third now this team tried to stay ahead of the racetrack they went back and forth debating whether to make the track bar adjustment or not even though the corn has started to Snug up mark said let's use this run as an experiment for later to see how much his track in this car tighten up on this run so we can plan ahead to the finish one car that shot forward on that restart was Tony Stewart right now he's in a big pack of traffic just ahead with Kevin Harvick just behind but Stewart has climbed up into the top dozen battling Jeff Burton for position and trying to gain on blading I remember when this race started today it was very very sunny out and the track temperature was probably a little a little higher than it is right now Larry and that may be why you see some of these guys that were struggling a little bit back in there starting to move forward now you just mention that you think it's getting a little overcast and cooling down if you notice the air temperature has not changed that much but just look at how much the track is cooled down and that definitely changes the handling characteristics these racecar that's what these teams and crews are trying to keep up with [Music] when you've got a soft tire like we have here this year the tires are much happier we started to race so the tires are getting happier and some of the cars are too but Jeff Burton right here he just got past that 97 car that was a battle from 13th hurt struggled a little bit after that last restart after the repairs were made looks like maybe they made some more adjustments he gets his car a little better the amazing thing guys is we're not quite halfway we have 16 cars on the lead lap we have 12 cars fighting to get back only left it's only one lap down and one thing I noticed when they repaired the 97 car of Kurt Busch he had that left front fender way way out there so they may have had to come back down pit road and work on that get his streamline a little bit better because that'll make you loose when you get that left front fender out too far that's been in Kurt's pit jimmy penny cold Kurt Busch in the radio we are done fixing the cosmetic portion of this racecar now we can just work on the chassis handling we told you earlier the brace was broken they have fixed a lot underneath that fender now they're just trying to dial him in chassis why since working in the 13th position running behind dave blaney in front of Stewart and what you think about with the damage he had early on he started back our lien raced in 40th place and marched right up into the top five then they fixed the fender and he struggled a little bit so maybe they broke it again we talked to the top of the day about drivers who competed in yesterday's 300 fall Kyle Busch race and would they have a leg up on the drivers who didn't get any time to track yesterday here's what's up here's the finish of yesterday's race to top 10 nine of those top 10 the first nine finishers are also racing today let's Cuba that a boy though to Michele Jourdain jr. and only his fifth Busch Series start he was best in class he probably felt as good as Carl Edwards did he's a new dad you know he's got to step it up now he's got to take care of the family he won't ever since that last restart that last pit stop he watching Joe Nemechek it is so one car he drove by Mark Martin for fourth now he just overtook Carl Edwards for the third position in 99 the Jo has got to be so disappointed after that run he had in California he had the car to beat and good to see back up there got a chance again today Jeanne absolutely that's what they're banking on as I mentioned earlier Joe said he really felt like this was going to be their weekend and they tried to foreshadow what was going to happen with the weather here and that's kind of what we saw the last pit stop the car has really tightened up as we watch yet another lead change here today the only one tightened up they gave a track bar adjustment some air pressure adjustment again would be the weather change in it appears few working guys change of the day as Greg Biffle drives past Jimmie Johnson but he's not ready to give up did it on the low side and then Biff went to the high side you can see Jimmie Johnson just peak into the low side as they came off to nice thing out on the Midway here at Atlanta in the posted booth break Biffle sponsor folks can write post-it notes to service men abroad co-promotion with the National Guard pretty neat deal as you watch the mark Quaker State aerial coverage that rod did Hammond and I had this morning in that big ol Chinook coming into the third turn over there and he banked it in there you know I said whoa salmon that was quite a ride that was a thrill right there boys scott riggs eight than the nine of kasey kahne tenth our pole-sitter Ryan Newman in the 12 is a lap down in 22nd here's Matt both Riggs and Kane trying to knock down their first Nextel Cup career victory now Scott Riggs says the 10 car has been pretty comfortable most of the day with anything a little on the tight side the last run came in the ninth cars he's trying to work around the lap car a pole sitter Ryan Newman whose car has just been bad tight all day long doc kane says his car also did you see him motor on the outside has just gone to the tight side he will not turn a rocketship earlier in the race battling an ill-handling car down well Darrell had talked about it I think it's because basically the racetrack has changed okay you know God it says well you see where the Chargers are running right there three of them on the lead lap Carl [Music] the guy that's running pretty darn good race is a mister combo right there he's in sixth place right now Elliott Sadler quietly been in the top ten and lot like mark Barton looks like his car has gotten much better with this overcast condition you've been seeing it all year loan guys a lot because I think that the packaging stars have and a lot because of the weather changing comers and goers and we're seeing here again today I just believe a lot of it has to do with and I only own the term I know you make your tires mad you don't hunt your carbon handles so good you make your tires happy you make your car handle good you seem to go forward carl edwards is drawing a bead on joe nemechek trying to get third place back now they have now fallen three and a half seconds behind race leader Greg Biffle so we'll see if Carl's content to ride a while see if they can make up a little bit of that or if he's gonna go back after Nemechek I just get this sense based on what I saw yesterday with Carl Edwards I just get the feeling and he's saying look guys like Jimmie Johnson and I'm looking at my mirror and I got to Mark Martin coming up these guys are pretty darn smart they've won a lot of races think I'll go to school and as you said overheating those tires is like overcooking at stake you can't get it back ya know it is what it is these two guys been going at each other for about the last 15 or 20 laps were riding with Michael Waltrip for the 15 looking back at Dave Blaney in the Oh seven these guys have been battling for eleventh for a number of laps good runs for both these guys and Michael doesn't seem to be you know he's been up in the top five or six and all of a sudden he doesn't seem to be quite as good as he was earlier for 23 laps from halfway in the Golden Corral 500 presented on Fox by m3 power from Gillette walking back don't forget to check out NASCAR nation this week and every week Monday through Friday gets on beat of a Highnesses book get to know the drivers more about surrogates patented slowing sport [Music] sometimes in your area greg biffle we did with a hundred seventy nine laps to go taking the lead for the third time earlier today Jimmie Johnson running second Carl Edwards third those Roush cars three of the top five and points coming into the race today and holding their own here well you got to believe right now Carl Edwards won that race yesterday how much information did they transfer to today's race because these all these car seat lines are just working so flawlessly and they work in good on long runs as well as a short run these cars is extremely good and it's a group because we see Cole ever got here yesterday's winner the Busch race to make it look so easy you got two veteran mark mark right there just kind of followed or drunk young rookie right there in fourth place it's just good to see all of a bear just very patiently working on their cars and thinking about hey 50 laps to go we're really going to the hammer and let these guys get after all right let's get back to a Carl Edwards at Steve burns will report on the 99 car Steve well Chris just a little while ago Darrell Waltrip talked about making those tires angry before the pit stop on lap 118 I'm buzzed the tires that was my fault I'm not going to do that anymore and as Jeff Hammond said the game plan here the 99 camp is take care of the equipment go and then they're gonna go strong JD I guess it's a common theme everybody worried about their tires it makes perfect sense the 48 of Jimmie Johnson coming on the radio a little bit ago and said look I'm a little tight up so shortly guys after he gave up the lead and he said everything's pretty much okay I'm just gonna ride around for a while if you don't mind and trying to take care of my stuff and really just watch the tires what he's talking about another Hendrick car a 25 of course reporting tire brought he had to come in and you better believe the 48 crew was making the way down to check out the tires as it turns out there was nothing wrong and Jimmy would like to keep it that way with his thanks Jeanne green flag stopped for Casey Mears so now we have 15 cars on the lead lap let's take you back to the after effect of the lap one crash out of the race Mike Garvey Travis Kvapil Shane meal from that one but look at Bobby Labonte steamed left on your screen a whole new set a front-end sheetmetal on that car so he can go out and run for points and Jeff Gordon 76 laps down but they've got it back out there and have competitive speed I mean better than minimum speed no way to salvage a good day out of this but you've got to get what you can get Gordon has already advanced two positions from where he would have been if he stayed in the garage that's worth six Nextel Cup points and depending on how things fall the rest of the race might be able to end up with a top 35 well that might be encouraging to some of the other teams because 15 of the last 32 races have been won by Hendrick or Gibbs at this racetrack now that's good news for the Ford guys except for the fact that Ford is won one race here in the last 15 and so with Jimmie Johnson lurking there and the Ford boys running as strong as they are maybe today's the day to change all that that's a big change Darrell because I'm the old configuration of this race back in the head Jarrett days or the Bill Elliott days racetrack but when I think about that 24 car horn Robbie Loomis somebody what an up-and-down year already just four races they win the Daytona 500 they have a gym problems and Fontana they finished fourth last week at Las Vegas moved to third boys get involved on a left one crash here you mention Casey Meares yeah he was still one of those cars I was on the lead lap in the 41 car be getting the report you see him right there he had a flat tire reason he had to make that unscheduled pit stop and he's about to fall another lap down Greg Biffle Jimmie Johnson Carl Edwards bark bark and Joe Nemechek 153 laps complete the Golden Corral 500 outfox is presented by new Empress our nitro from Gillette feel the power the world's best shave [Music] Kurt Busch has just slammed the wall like sitting turn number two and brought out the caution yeah he's already been in the wall here and the tires down on the right front you heard him say earlier that they were using that right front a little bit man look at the debris fly but the good news is all that debris brought a caution out where they can get the pit road things [Music] like he's got my hips squeeze through there I think they got quite a bit more damage than just that fender that's their second right front tire that Kurt Busch says he has lost today they're gonna take it behind the wall to make further repairs just moments before he hit the wall he said we're gonna make a track bar just don't want to go down he's also talking about what air pressure adjustment he wanted to make to that right front but boy this day has turned ugly with a championship point leader coming in to Atlanta Kurt Busch two of the top five have had trouble Kurt Busch the point leader and Jeff Gordon coming in here fourth swept up in the lap one crash you know Kurt's not gonna he's not gonna like coming to Atlanta you know last year blew up here and really got him in a dogfight for the championship bad luck today again Greg Biffle is having an absolute career day here in Atlanta and they are going to change virtually nothing in the car that's about the biggest change they've made in this thing all day long it's a little bit tight on brand new tires and then the car comes in Jeanne with 48 of Jimmie Johnson who's saying look the car just is getting tighter I guess the 16 really has their stuff figured out cuz I need something to help me Center off track bar adjustment and four-tire Steve Harlan were still just a little free around a wedge and you see they had a piece of tape to the grill mat good stop going by Mark Martin's team he's away it's gonna be close so the 40 is going to get a slight track bar adjustment from Artie was solid before the stop right a that 16 they have been on the mark all day long but looks like Joe Nemechek that group gained two positions Carl Edwards and 99 they lost two positions Kasey Kahne down here Tommy ball in that group they gained two spots there you see the times right there and that's the entire pit road greg biffle joe nemecheck you see they had the fastest of the top ten ricky rudd michael waltrip the slowest of pit road times including the pit stop Jeannie well guys track here in Atlanta was a place of Bobby Labonte had a lot of fun memories to carry along with him I don't know if today will qualify we saw him taken out so early in this race too early and then he literally had his hand out the window right when car bus hit the wall some type of projectile some piece of metal hit his hand so he's doing ok but insult to injury I guess an hour maybe the other way around yeah injury didn't son I think you're right GT lap down cars fitting there's Kyle Busch he's made a nice recovery here running one lap down after the policies have there's our pole-sitter Ryan Newman from the bowl has gone the other way screw here they own the mark we see it week in and week out at the car drivers over tomorrow [Music] welcome back to Atlanta Motor Speedway 163 laps we've just taken half way in the Golden Corral 500 greg biffle in front of Jimmie Johnson Mark Martin Carl Edwards Elliott Sadler and Ricky Rudd five Ford's in the top six spots and Dave Blaney Kasey Kahne Jeremy Mayfield and Jeff Burton and show you what happened to Bobby Labonte as he was cruising around here 48 laps down when there was a problem with Kurt Busch's tire tire flat and things begin to shred now there is the body way up the top of your screen right there that was a pretty good sized piece of rubber that hit his hand so hopefully Labonte is okay we need to mention that caution was timely for Jimmy McMurray in the 42 car he gets the free pass so he's now back on the lead lap we have 15 cars on the lead lap let's get downstairs for a visa race break with Jeff Hammond a lot of times we keep hearing these teams talk about making trackbar justice well folks will take this a second we turn our Ford cutaway car up on the side this is what we call a track bar it actually ties into the frame as well as the rear in housing it controls the rear roll center of the car and what the teams can do it affects the car as far as entering the corner exiting the corner so they'll make adjustments but running this screw up and down you can see it moving up but this is what we call once I make it a track bar adjustment and you're moving this bar which affects the rear roll center of this racecar all of these types of adjustment have a bearing on what these four tires do entering as well as through the center of the corner and exiting so when you hear us talk about making track bar just now you understand where a track bar is located at what it actually ties in which is the rear end housing and how we adjust it during a pit stop located right here out at the top of the back rear window Mike thanks Jeff for that visa race break hundred sixty four laps complete just past halfway now another penalty on pit road this time not speeding but not staying in these what they call the established lane in the driver handbook I guess would be out of bounds if you want to look at it that way as a commit lying down here you see the cones you see Joe Nemechek the oh one hit the cone so basically he did not make it before the commit line in NASCAR's eyes there's a car that was running in the top five or six the penalty will be since it was under caution tailing the longest line so he's going to be back there in about 15th position they went ahead and came to pit road topped off with fuel not as well yeah it looked like he got come on pit road a little too hot run up on the back of the 38 car there Elliott Sadler and had to swing out to keep running Jamie McMurray got the free pass he'll be the 15th when we restart this race the Golden Corral 500 percentage by m3 power from Gillette is brought to you by errands errands makes dreams come true with dream prices on dream products by coca-cola racing family coca-cola the official soft drink of NASCAR by loans where you'll find all your home improvement needs whoa it's improving home improvement and by dawn you can take life as it comes or you can grab life by the horse time for our State Farm safety report so farts but a safe race through 167 laps Jeff Hamlet is near the Ford cutaway car Jeff whenever guys have problems baby with the driveshaft what NASCAR is done here's the draft chef you'll notice it's painted white that way in the event the drive chef dust happened to break and follows out on the race track the other drivers can avoid it the black asphalt white dry chef they know to try to stay away from it as well as NASCAR has mandated a safety strap to try to help that prevent that driveshaft and fall down and hitting the racetrack and to get ready to go back to green break bimple out in front once again this time Jimmie Johnson in tow we're telling it's after Ricky Rudd Dave Blaney Kasey Kahne Mayfield Bert Jeff was talking about those drive chefs used to be black on the racetrack you wouldn't see it you'd run over to the NASCAR started painting white makes it a little bit easier to see Jimmy Johnson in that 48 car his car is so strong through the center of the corner now the car 30 line right there the 32 car Bobby Hamilton ginger outside pole sitter what he'd like to see is a caution and he would get the free pass back on the lead lap I think he's had a good race car she said that miss happened on the back schedule at one Kyle Busch in the five car remember he is a lap down pushing mark part of the six marks in the third position I think it's just so interesting and always I know from driving how the track changes son goes and the track cools down and a car that you really didn't like the car that wasn't happy at all all of a sudden you love it so man this thing has come alive and Darrell I still think as we see Dale Earnhardt jr. the 8 car the Budweiser car still not happy he's back in 28th position two laps down but how about Ricky Rudd that 21 car he said they're running in sixth position is this this is a great turnaround for this race team fatback's back Andy back into that back is back in back at the track back at the track nice climbed through the field over the veteran from Chesapeake Virginia today Mike Bliss running right with him one lap off the pace in 18 lead change again these two have gone at it all day long and this will be our if it holds up at the start/finish line the only place lead changes are officially score if Johnson gets his bumper out front it will be the 14th lead change of the day beats everyone off pit road Jimmie Johnson sits back there for a few laps after a restart and then he takes the lead Biffle had stretched out pretty good after that last restart and up to this point here and now looks like they made some good adjustments on the 48 car he's gonna walk the dog sure what Greg Biffle had to say during this last caution period we're looking at a few more stops three or four with going to hell the job very drivers keep it up but it will keep everything smart keep everybody's head in it here still a long way to go but dear that's information you want to know when you're out there yeah I can tell you how many laps there is to go in a race but you four know how many pit stops are we looking at heavy chances are we gonna get to a justice race car you know what I like - Doug Rooker do you think about Doug he was Dale Earnhardt's crew chief in 1980 waiting when he first image won his first championship came from California young kid wet-behind-the-ears and he is hung in here and here he is probably in one of the best situation even in his life and he's been around he's worked for a lot of different teams and he's been in the Truck Series and other places before when he got with Greg in this in this 16 car they have really gelled the other thing I like Darrell listening to that was how calm his driver Sampson thought that instead of running that car 290 miles Jimmy Johnson last nine races five wins nine top tens believe it just seemed it doesn't matter where we race short tracks road courses speed blazes team they are on the law and you know last week just think about how many times that car gets inspected down engine gone to tech because when you win they stay check you out a lot closer than they do if you run 56 lien change number 15 puts Biffle back to the front look at Jimmy's last nine races last season are the ones above the line and then he picked up right where he left off in 2005 three races three top five including a win and again to update his crew chief Chad canals penalized by NASCAR but he has elected as is his right to appeal and to stay the suspension until the appeal is the cars measurement the food measurement was found to be out of specification out of adjustment at the conclusion alas we traced similar on the five Alan Gustafson similar situation with a quarter panel height out of adjustment meanwhile Kevin Harvick's crew chief Todd barrier is appealing but he has begun to serve his for race suspension for unapproved modification Richard Childress and barrier and Kevin Harvick said earlier that they are hoping to reduce the severity of the suspension but don't expect to escape and entirely since they had tested here were ready for here they felt like that was as good a race just odd to be off as any around here DW for quite a while between Elliott Sadler the 38 Rick's brother than 21 these gay guys are battling fifth position right Virginia boys are having at it let's catch up on bad backs McSwain ricky brought his [Applause] [Music] how about your race car can you get some more spots yeah I think so I mean the pit crews been working really hard and really strive let's tail off we're happy with our car conservative because of where we are in points you know this year is we see Kurt Busch our champion and our points leader coming in to Atlanta back out on the racetrack now he's in 37th position 20 laps down just back to Ricky Rudd you know we know it's rusty Wallace's last year Nextel Cup mark cartons last year lot of speculation around Ricky Rudd he made some very powerful but short comments came back in January doing the meter tour in Charlotte he said you know what when I'm not competitive you know don't feel like I'm competitive that's when I walk away I'm probably have no final year final season last call the way he's running looks like he's gonna be around for a while among the drivers of the batch trouble today you've heard about Bobby Labonte and Jeff Gordon's swept up in the wreck early on but what about Dale Earnhardt jr. one lap down due to a pit road penalty lost another lap but just plain got lapped on the racetrack Matt he's two down still two laps down running back in the 28th position now the day as far as points goes jr. still running in the 27th position in the championship standing for the car still extremely inconsistent it was loose early could barely hang on to it then the car went back to the tight side when they pitted on lap 119 now it's back to the loose side if you look at his times is about four to six tenths a second a lap slower than the leader not a good day for a guy many figure would be in the championship fight early on this year not a good season so far for him I just think when you you think about Dale Earnhardt jr. you think about Tony Junior Eury jr. and that's the only crew chief that man has ever had since he's been in racing I think he took him out of that comfort zone and it's going to take some time I'm not saying that there's any problem with Rondo I'm just saying it's going to take some time [Music] Roush Racing teammates Carl Edwards and Mark Martin pupil and teacher well maybe but Edwards at least in the Busch Series has picked up a remark mark left off getting to Victory Lane is concerned now the battle side by side for third but not surprised to see mark running good here you heard Matt Yocum earlier say he's won here twice but he ran second here in the fall led a bunch of laps up to near the end and this is the same race car but to think about it this Mark Martin seems like his car is getting stronger and stronger is this race then folks and these long green flags Larry is what takes its toll on an engine here these are high speeds lots of rpm and this is a 500-mile race the last 50 miles 75 miles of this race seems like to always catch just somebody up in an engine ricky-rock got past elliott sadler let's a change at fifth place who's the 48 year old well a Ford has won here in 15 races but let me tell you there are 1 2 3 4 5 of them in the top six this is Kasey Kahne in the 9 car he's in 9th position now Dale Jarrett in the 88 car he is 29 3 laps down earlier in the race he had two consecutive pit road speeding penalties under green Scott Riggs just ahead of Kahne they are racing for 8th place good run by Scottie I for the empress' and another guy that's just ahead of him dave blaney just trucking along here he likes it land and like tow we almost want to race here a couple years ago having a great day today Blaney came out of the World of Outlaws came to NASCAR transom Busch races got into Bill Davis's Cup car and he anybody who was here that day will tell you he would have been a winner dadgum loose wheel got him heywhat kasey kahne no in the nine car got a heck of a run off looks like he's going to carry it down through one and two but he's got to fall back in line on the backstretch behind Scott Riggs let's update the man that had the penalty the last time we had a caution Joe Nemechek had been running up in the top five for most of the race hit the commit cones when they came to pit road and right now he's only been able to get back to about 12 position problem is he's almost a half a lap just hard to make up that ground when you get in the back like it's kind of like some reminds me of the movie Gladiator you know every time you go in the arena you get so you get a little bit more competition gets a little bit tougher well now you're gonna have to bite the Lions remember he restarted back in 16th position as many cars as we have a lap down with the inside line that's like restarting in 32nd position Brian Newman just in front of Nemechek qualified for his fifth straight poll but he's going to have to go some to equal his average finish here of 14 human is a lap down in 22nd remember the new procedure here practice on Friday qualifying Friday night then you don't cut touch the car until race time certainly Newman had to set up good number poll but not quite good enough yet on race day you see it qualified on the mark race after race just that average finish and I talked to some of the members of the Penn school organization this morning and they said you know what and we've talked about this Darrell they have to close the deal you start to finish and you know it kind of reminds me of golf some guys can drive for you know they can drive the ball a mile but they don't have a lot of finesse when it comes to the greens Jimmy Johnson where Jimmy is telling his crew chief check is tight into the turn and into the center the turnin actually what it is doing is bogging the engine down slowing it down I said we need something in the right rear or a little less in the left rear to help steer the car planning the adjustments for the pit stop he's one second back of Greg Biffle right now and I think again we've been talking about it it keeps clouding up more and more the track keeps cooling down they go have to keep making adjustments to keep up with this and one thing that's bothering me about T a 16 car Biffle you they keep saying don't touch the car they're not making any adjustments sometimes that's not the best thing I mean that is a substantial drop right there I mean you just look the air tiffany has not dropped Harley at all but just look at the difference in with Jeff Burton is Plaxico past kasey kahne for night [Music] young guns million-dollar watching win game fine game pieces on specially mark Gillette will beaten Duracell products there's winning code number eight four nine seven four five visit Gillette young guns come for details rules to get a free game piece that's where the young guns are running one of whom took some time to analyze the surface of this racetrack each of the racetracks when you have fresh tires and take the nose off and you go rip off a lot you know you're going fast you feel that speed and the thing with Atlanta is it's in the southeast where they have that gritty asphalt and salt mixture just raises the coarseness of the track chews up tires and so by lap 30 you wanna come in and get tires because you're all over the place so Atlanta is the fastest place you run on but yet it drops off almost as bad as Darlington does so it's a tough place to race me it's been a tough place for the defending Series champion today Kurt Busch 21 laps down after multiple tire problems here's where the past winners in Atlanta fare three of them in the top five Johnson Martin and Rudd but the rest of them well down the list yeah and those two guys in the very bottom there have boards got four wins here LaVon he's got six that's ten wins at the bottom of the list caution is out for the fifth time today there is Bobby Hamilton Jr who was trying to get back to the lead lap crashing in turn two this couch will be a huge break for one of those past winters it was on that list told me Stewart because he was not very far from when I lap down in that 20 car we were very very close to green flag pit stop start the breakout yeah you know it always makes you wonder you getting that close to a stop tire wear out is that what happened you know he had a right front look like down and there was such a fine line here we've been here these guys all day long talk about their cars being loose their cars pushing you can't have a car be loose but at the same time if you tighten it up too much it just works that right front tire oh boy fuse light these turns are so big here but if you're leaning on that right front tire you're leaning on that baby a long time and during this run Bobby Hamilton Jr was running that car very hard trying to stay in position to get the free pass instead he causes the free pass and it will go to Brian Vickers that's a shame they had a great run at Las Vegas last week finished 11th came here with another new car set on the outside of the front rows this team starting to turn around things get old look to work with them it's baby steps and they're taking them and they're getting there and that's encouraging dr. dirt yeah and I mean Greg biffle's pit I didn't hear all day and it's the same story no major changes they're going to let the right front tires sneeze 1/2 pound of air pressure but that's it this set of tires has essentially the same code numbers as the tires that have come off the car to GT from no major changes have on the 48 Jimmie Johnson said all we've been able to do is keep up with the track maybe we should double our translation over adjust for what will be steve half around a wet and attract margins Carl Edwards floor tires he's got just a little free mat trying to tighten up mark Barnes race cars a sixteen goes by the forty eight goes by mark was concerned right before this Kashi he was starting to ease out of it a little bit but he might have something amiss with that right front but nothing else referring back the crew looking over the tires at this moment see the real loser right there on those pit stops Mark Martin in the six car those guys lose two positions Jeff Burton is thirty one team they gained him two positions Dave Blaney in the top ten loses three should see an arm pump there from Jeff Burton we're riding in his car he picked up two spots you see right there Greg Biffle Jeff Burton we talked about the positions game course Biffle had done to gain two fastest times on pit road Marc Park one of the slowest I think if you listen to mark Martin's radio though and he says you know I feel something going on with that right front a veteran driver like he said I'll squeeze out I'll make it to the pit stop guy like Bobby jr. you know he doesn't feel that BAM into the wall checking the tire we're in mark Barton's pit as the lap down cars come in I'd say that won that make their stops you know Greg Biffle we've been talking about his group all day long on their pit stop let me show you with one of our animations what's really helping him hit selection they had a pretty decent qualifying this is an opening to the garage area so there is no one that pits in that so he's able to pull right out no one will ever block him in right there and that has to be helping their stops as well and there you see it right there they opening yeah Tony Stewart is right here but this goes into the garage area so they have a clear shot out each time they picked that race car that's a long stop for Stewart he's one of the lead lap cars and he is still there but just barely Mike I mean he was hanging on to the lead because they were coming up on him pretty quickly take a look at Greg biffle's pit stops position after the pit stop he won every time can't get any better than that remember those times that's four tires and 22 gallons of fuel you think they're not athletes out there on pit road I never thought that bad how about marks tires looking over marks tires the team says that they are showing some wear but nothing more inconsistent than what we've seen earlier just a little bit of green in this across the top of the tire the stop before mark is extra sensitive to that right front the stop before Pat tracin gave him the temperatures across the the entire tire so mark knew exactly what that tire was looking like temperature-wise to ease any concern that he may have well Darrell Kurt Busch pops the right front hits the wall Bobby jr. pops the right front hits the wall you're going to start thinking about your right front and then the thing that these telling mark is when he gives you those tire temps they take temps in three spots inside shoulder metal outside shoulder if you're abusing the inside of the tire you're gonna blow it out and so that's why I mark once in a one or my tire temps across that right front well the pit road speeding police is still at work because two cars on the lead lap Joe Nemechek in the o1 Jeremy Mayfield too fast entering pit road it looks like possibly Jimmy Spencer Matt Kenseth who are some laps down too fast exiting but that's two stops in a row that Joe Nemechek del-one they've had some sort of infraction a little bit Larry's when they get to the end of pit road there are cars in front of them and I'm not sure maybe they're not seeing the commit line until they're inside the box and I think what's happening a lot on the exiting some of the teams were telling me that last segment is somewhat of a long segment and when you clear the last pit box you think you can go when you keep right do you think when you're at the end of the pit lane there that the only way but there's still about two more pit boxes to go well let's go with a hundred and twenty laps to go Greg Biffle still leading Jimmie Johnson Carl Edwards Ricky rut Mark Martin Elliott Sadler 5 for 20 ever lay the top half dozen then it's Jeff Burton Chevy Casey Cain's dodge Scott Briggs a day late Tim inevitably here is somebody restart will spend the rear tires looked like that could have happened a Biffle that time in Jimmie Johnson in the 48 he's going to take advantage but Greg Biffle gets that good run on the high side track racing down the backstretch behind them going into turn one they were four wide at about sixth place don't look now but there's tail that way Johnson with the Lowe's Chevrolet on the bottom leads this lap from Biffle who takes it right back heading for turn one are you sure about Nick today well you get such a run down the straightaway when you're on the high side like Biffle is and you get five below when you're on the bottom like Jimmy is there 248 that's how come they kind of meet in the middle of the back straightaway one coming and one going I must have blinked they gave that lap to Biffle in these guys I mean we've been complete changes at the start/finish line there's no telling how many times they swapped the lead in other areas of the racetrack and in the 48 car Jimmie Johnson it's hard to stay down underneath speeds are running off two corners here without taking the chance of getting sucked around Edwards in the 99 top three three different lives through one and two look at that ricky rudd that 21 park there a b and c lab tell me darling at these speeds running this close going into the corner like that this little frightening at this stage of the race or is this just a lot of fun no you're having a good time you know you just kind of know what your car is capable of at this point so you know how hard you can drive it in you know how good my cranky run to 21 cars in trouble running it looks like boy he's gonna cause everybody here to get in trouble with him oh boy aw just watching the 21 car looks like he maybe have a left for charity just a little bit but watching the guys at the front you were talking about indigo watch we could get in the road he's definitely got a tackle that is too white hopefully get it on pit road and not get himself in trouble to get brother he's on pit road biggest thing here can't speed on his pit stop he's probably gonna go a lap down right here but they just gotta get back out there did they know they have a good race car yeah they do have a race car but this surely is that he's got no brakes that's what it is a busted wheel shoulder he just said or something of that nature brakes should the problem with Ricky Rudd you don't use a lot of break here in the race itself but you do lay your foot on news breaks lead change turn to Johnson with a run from the top to bottom of the racetrack the edge is Biffle but no way he's going to clear him but the cast is will not give up and we still have over a hundred laps to go there's where it gets a little touchy for the guy on the inside because he got to have a little bit of room on the outside to clear and he just can't quite make [Applause] this time thing 1 & 2 Jimmie Johnson to the bottom Greg Biffle all the way up to the top of the racetrack the bottom will prevail if you can just stay in the gas as you exit is on the box so you're gonna have the shortest come out of the distance to go sometimes you can get bogged down down there though Darrell you and Larry both sometimes you see a situation beside be smart let him go if he's working you that hard saves their tires and realize at the end of this run you can get it back so you got to throttle back sometimes and realize this big picture is how are you going to finish if you've used that right front tire and you've already seen what guys do it don't wind up in a wall well these are the two best cars on the racetrack right now a 48 to 16 and they've been there cars have been really good all day long I think what the aero package that little bit smaller rear blade back there you want to get in clean air as quick as you can riki runs really fine ride is over he's taking that car to the garage been watching this battle right here this is a battle for about tenth position between joe nemecheck in the old one tony stewart and 20 in McMurray 242 remember McMurray got back to the lead lap but I've been watching that 20 car DW I think you mentioned earlier it's like he runs good only old fresh tires he really starts to fade got about a 10 laugher there if they get a caution late he's on the lead lap he might be alright but he's not good on the long run ten laps to go at Atlanta Motor Speedway [Music] Corral 500 presented by M free power from Silva is brought to you by it next L go to foxsports.com to find out how you can be the next L fan of the week I know we call this the next I'll fan of the week but I cannot be a bigger fan of the Two Gentlemen next to be serving our country name and rank sir it's our first class promoter beau Anthony Garrett captain Michael Sheridan now getting the cheers now at NASCAR a big thing with the military yes it's a big morale booster man fact we have three fanatics in Afghanistan right now colonel pryzer Colonel Manning and staffs on air would get them all in there and the parallels between the military and NASCAR do you see them definitely you've got your drivers on the front lines all the crews supporting them and all the fans supporting everybody and everything they do just like us and we of course support your our Nextel fan of the week and thank you for serving the country on behalf of Fox Sports everyone here at the Nextel experienced big silly guys back to you all right thanks Jeannie and to the Troops watching across the globe glad to have them with us and we appreciate them big part of our fan of the week for more information log on to foxsports.com Nextel Jimmy Johnson earlier 103 laps to go but Atlanta where champions meet like on the very first lap in violet balls of the back stretch it started with Casey Mears of the 41 kind of went sideways and Jeff Gordon caught up a little long with Matt Kenseth Kurt Busch even Jeff Burton here's a look from Jeff Burton's hit car camera somehow he weaved through and then ran into Bobby Labonte they red flagged and once they got to going Kurt Busch came in as the points leader tire problem yeah right there you see a right front tire went down on him the true crew came in they made a change he got a glove brake stayed on the lead lap and later on he lost another right front tire and losing the right front fender you see just blew it totally off the race car had to go behind the wall to make repairs and then after that it's pretty much been the Jimmie Johnson Greg Biffle show Johnson at his 48th car Biffle in his 16 between the two they traded lead six times in this race we've had 20 lead changes so every Cup race so far this year lead changes and right now Johnson leading Biffle with Carl Edwards Mark Martin and Kasey Kahne rounding out the top five so Carl Edwards one of the young drivers not necessarily a rookie but Curtis younger brother Kyle Busch who is a rookie has done a good job of hanging around in this race after a good run last week yeah he's had to struggle here early on but he's fought his way back as he's still one lap down but they've got that race car where little he's running about fit on the racetrack and his lap times are good enough to be in the top ten if he just get a break and get himself a caution right now they've got the car working pretty well for him if he can just keep his nose clean he may have an opportunity to fight his way back up here and that top five or top ten meanwhile Jimmie Johnson try to become the first driver to win back-to-back Atlanta race Jeff Gordon did it in 1998 and 1999 let's rejoin Darrell Larry and Mike there's Johnson with a one-second lead on Greg Biffle then Carl Edwards Mark Martin Kasey Kahne has taken fifth from this man with Ricky Rudd in the garage Jeff Burton climbs to the top of the nice guys you'd like to see have a good day list 60s three fourth place finishes here - fifth place finishes and Atlanta well one with I think stub older brothers and then the rest of the Roush Racing and just remember he started this race back in 38 he was involved in that crash on lap one so great recovery by this race team and Childress has five wins in the spring race here at Atlanta thinking back to not too long ago when Kevin Harvick won this race and with Dave Blaney running up the top ten Childress right now has two cars in the top eight both those race teams needed good runs here all these drivers have hero cars you can get them at the souvenir trailers the big collecting thing in baseball football under sports our rookie cards and I think Steve Byrnes is about to go us one better hey Mike remember I told you look at earlier Kenny Schrader told Carl Enders to go back to Missouri and get in a dirt car Carl needed an angle a way to get noticed his mom Nancy suggested that he make business cards so he did and it says if you're looking for a driver you're looking for me now a lot of the local racers made fun of Carl gave a lot of flack for doing it but you know what it worked one of these business cards made their way to Roush Racing and now his mom Nancy is sitting watching a 25 year old son race for the win and of the weekend sweep hang out of that sieve that could be a valuable souvenir all right I'm gonna put you on the spot you're hunting a driver for your NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team a few years ago God gives you a business card what do you do with it I'd say that's nice probably put it in the folder and move on you know that doesn't happen very often but you know what I like his guys like him they have taken a little and done a lot that's what God is it that's what got someone's attention that's what got Jack's attention it's not taking a lot and doing a loop yesterday's winner in the Aaron's 312 Busch Series race his first Busch win after a successful run for Roush in the Craftsman Truck Series and just look at everything he's trying to accomplish this year and early in the season he's accomplished trying to win the Nextel Cup championship and he's well in contention now he's not eligible for Rookie of the Year Nextel Cup because the amount of races and he ran land injure but he is helpful for that award in the Busch Series as well as the Busch Series championship so that's his spotter Bobby Hudson just talking about Jimmy Spencer trying to anticipate there's that word anticipate DW which way Jimmy Spencer in the 50 car will go Bill Elliott the hometown hero moving past Tony Stewart here's Elliott Sadler battling Stewart for 14th position Elliott his lap down debris on the racetrack sixth caution of the day Stewart has really had his problems today Mike they have done just about everything they can to that car some of the adjustments have been so serious that he has come in they've just done all kinds of things to the car on a caution he'll go out make another lap come back in and change a bunch more stuff on it basically the car has been tight particularly entering the turns and in the middle a guy that a lot of people thought was going to win he's having a real tough day Tony Stewart run into the back when we've seen all day long it I wouldn't count him out you make the right changes on your car you can get it back up front and if we have a short run at the end of the race you might count him in that's right he's pretty quick for 10 15 laps look like ready to go to work here is we have right out about 92 laps to go this would not be the final pit stop should we stay green but we have 15 cars on the lead lap this should be four tires full of fuel and what teams need adjustments they'll get those adjustments this time piffle and johnson have each led over a hundred laps today Jimmy just took the lead the most laps led which is five more bonus points he's led 117 circus break pitbull and 105 nobody else worth counting today nobody else has led more than five laps dick Berggren patiently awaiting the rush on pit road and now for something completely different they are going to adjust Greg biffle's car why because he did a lead all the laps in that segment they're gonna try to tighten it up a little bit air pressure for sure maybe we'll see the wrench go in the left rear of the car as well watch this crew they have been in the front Mike Hillman in the back and they have been flawless Jimmy was saying look this car was just thinking about getting tight so just please air pressure adjustments that let's rear seat car leverage to just a little bit freedom no changes this stop for the sixteenth we know let's call it D CK the track bar adjustment on the nine the car was tight but it was getting better and go back up to the high look at the race off pit road look at Jeff Burton a thirty one group game four positions and then you look at Carl Edwards and a 99 those guys lost four positions a good stop for that 31 team and there you see the top times including the pit stop on pit road Jeff Burton's team backs it up with Kasey Kahne as well Mark Martin and Carl Edwards you see why they lost positions they were slow on their times been on pit road sixth caution of the day to go and still cars in contention on the lead lap welcome back to the Lana Motor Speedway the Golden Corral 5-under just 89 laps to go Greg Biffle saluting Jimmie Johnson time for a visa race break from the Hollywood Hotel Japan with Chris Myers keeping an eye on things and what should be an interesting finish we just saw in those recent round of pit stops as we're under caution how Jeff Burton took advantage and how it hurt Carl Edwards we're taking a look right now down pit road you see the guys starting to come out of the pit box at the top of the screenwriter you'll see the 16 on the outside light now coming out as Jimmie Johnson and they start down through there he's actually leading Biffle down through there but he realizes man I don't want to get caught speeds he slows down just a little bit Greg speeds up just a little bit there about neck and neck as they get toward the end of pit road and Greg says well I was gonna try to take advantage of almost that you see Kasey Kahne come out but he actually beat Jimmy Johnson off the pit get some lead back by that rough way right there took a chance and we go back to green of decent race break now back to green Jeff Burton after that great stop by the Childress team the new third place car there in orange KCK Mark Martin Scott Riggs Carl Edwards is seventh with Dave Blaney Brian Vickers and Jamie McMurray Kyle Busch got the free pass as we battle for the lead again yeah I tell you though this makes me nervous I'm telling you when you run underneath somebody like it it just really is hard to keep your car from getting into that guy on the outside I mean they are neck and neck again after lap one of a restart seven of a second separated with biblically other places information Jared the 88 car the UPS car he's in 26 two laps down but battle is back there between Ryan Newman in the 12 stolen more than the 40 trying to get that free pass being the first fall lap down pretty cool gonna change roles Biffle to the inside Johnson to the outset the hunter becomes the hunted cross over again nothing there that non-car Kasey Kahne in third position the racetrack but he has those three lap cars were riding with him here in between him and those top two well it's good to see him up there running well man at Daytona Fontana they have had some tough goes of it Las Vegas hey guys we're 240 laps into this race Kasey Kahne and Jeff Burton just ran their fastest laps of the race can you say cooler temperatures time to go you know this this race is it's physically demanding - I mean this joint is fast you get a lot of G's in the turn here and you're in the turns a long long time talking about cooler temperatures we've been following us all day long remember we started this race roughly about three hours ago the Sun was out it's been very cool and very overcast since then you see right there not much difference in the air temperature okay look at the difference especially in turn one in June just changes the handle of the car really picks up speeds up for gripping this racetrack Jimmy Johnson just about six car lengths behind greg biffle you're seating well you gentlemen are talking about cooler temperatures so that has to do with the weather with the race it is heating up and you can really start to feel the tension here in the in the pits Chad Knaus coming on the radio telling his driver look just we'll be left 3:25 but you know what Jeannie I think what Jimmy Johnson is saying the same thing I'm saying that 16 is on the east moving away from a Johnson right now and those adjustments they made this time seem to really help him talk about a turnaround the Childress team has come in here and run extremely well two of their three cars on the lead lap with Jeff Burton presently in fourth place here's dick position has a new body and had never been raced they tried it a couple of times tested it here and there but today is the first time it had seen competition Burton doing a great job at his pit crew Wow they have picked up 20 spots on pit road looking at pit stop after pit stop they did it in Vegas picked up 18 there picked up 16 in California Burton right now running in fourth position I bet he can't wait for the next round the pit stops repeat and his teammate Dave Blaney is also in the top ten well like always say I can make up a few hundreds on the racetrack you can make up seconds in the bids and I think they have made big gains under the hood of these race cars - and then the case - that was with Bobby Hamilton Jr settled an outside pole Friday night if they use Richard Childress engines there's Dave Blaney tracking down Mark Martin this is sixth and seventh making fifth when you had in the 10 comes Scott Riggs four six seven eight you know the Childress team that has been carrying the banner for most of the season already has been Kevin Harvick Fontana very strong at Las Vegas last week but he's been somewhat struggling were riding with him here he's one lap down back in 25th position a little bit of a struggle for this race team today but remember they are working without their crew chief Todd Barry yeah you know I questioned it Larry I mean why the I would wait for NASCAR to impose a penalty I take that into consideration or not when they hand out the penalty this week did talk with Richard Childress this weekend about that and he told Fox that they felt that the suspension would not be lifted entirely they hope to reduce it and they thought that since they tested here this would be a good race to miss if you had to miss one this battle here it's been going on you see scott riggs and the ten looked like he wiggled quantified Lucky's going to lose a lot of ground today Blaney in the O seven these guys are battling for seventh position remember our pole-sitter Ryan Newman in the 12 is one lap down right now back in 18th position Nemechek has recovered nicely from that pit road speeding penalty he's up for night yeah he's had two penalties on the last two pit stops one for hitting the commit cone and then for speeding on pit road the last time so nice recovery riding with Michael Waltrip looking at Jamie McMurray they are eleventh and twelfth behind them Elliott Sadler in 13th I think Michael in the 15 crowd must made some pretty major adjustments on their last pit stop but he came in running into fifth or six bot went out running ended like the 12th or 13th spot but he seemed like the cars coming back to the front [Music] Nemechek battling his teammate Scott Riggs in the 10 this is an 8th place - they have to be so proud because five races into this season these two teams they've been stronger qualifying day they've been strong on race day I mean it's just great I'm sure it's a great feelings Reed's got real loose again as he did about two laps ago down in three and four but the c2 race cars remember they have that hindered power so strong so consistent weekend weekend one thing I like about working with the Hendrick group is they share every they share information on everything engines chassis setups those guys can go and talk to chat canals or anybody on the Hendrick organization about setup and they'll help them with it Robby Gordon caught up in that little bit of that lap one crash he's fallen four laps down and xxx has Greg Biffle will put laughs 252 on the board and leave us with 73 to go in Atlanta the Golden Corral 500 oz bonds presented by m3 power from Gillette is brought to you by UBS to race the truck people love the truck the UPS the official delivery company of NASCAR delivers the chance to win four tickets to next year's Daytona 500 go to foxsports.com keyword UPS it works to you for all of us at Fox under 70 laps to go Greg Biffle leading the race that he has also said his career-high for most laps led in a race at 120 Plus Biffle has never had three straight top tens and in his 16 car he's hoping to do that not to mention win his 1/3 cup race in the last five tries for Jimmie Johnson they're trying to keep up with them 67 laps to go 67 laps to go Chris couple thing that jumps out at me at last caution guys came down pit road and adjustments to the cars we see Jimmy John continue to try to chase after Greg Biffle but all these guys Kasey Kahne Jeff Burt as well as his teammate Dave Blaney all had their fastest lap after that last restart so they made the right adjustments right now and they got ourselves a pretty good position I think they got to make one more pit stop so be interesting to see what these teams can do we've been talking about the 31 car and how great a pit stop pit stops they been having so it could kind of play into the fact they could get closer to the front these pit crews are going to have to make sure they don't make any mistakes in that final it's not pointing the Oh seven and in the 31 Jeff Burt Childress cars Roush Racing recently had one of their engine specialist hired away by Richard chill yeah well their aerodynamic engineers and Nicola and you know you wonderful now he's already having impacts over there not so but it's good to see you Richard Childress Racing to back up your battling in the top ten all right let's so get more on Jeff Burton with dick Berger dick well he was a lot better right for that round of pit stops but right now Burton is suffering from a car that is way too loose he's asked to tighten that automobile up a lot by the next round of pit stops [Music] he's got his hands full right there he's really cranking that thing I noticed uh we've been the car with him at agra too [Music] a lot of effort into the steering he really cranks that thing to the left watch him right here I mean he goes all the way down to slip he's using his see how he's got his left or is it right arm laying on the steering wheel that's support support baby she jus told him there jump down like Joe Nemechek my to loosen him up a little there girls believe he did he's talking about being loose that maybe no real loose yeah he's lost about four positions in the last three last four guys went to that 500-mile DW talked about it in the pre-race of the other race this is when those engine guys they get a little bit nervous these rpms they've been going on now for over three and a half hours little lower rpms late in the race now the cooler temperatures help a little bit as far as the wear and tear on the engine but still 500 miles on this racetrack where you're in the throttle all the time piffle and Johnson have dominated this race Greg has led 133 laps Jimmy 117 don't count out the young fellow in third Kasey Kahne is six seconds back and last year he finished third here in this race and fifth in the fall race with his crew chief second best racetrack for Kasey Kahne on going back to a race track for second time Tommy you've got that car back and continue what's Casey's saying about it now I was still a little off we've got to keep adjusting on it it's not charges running pretty good best let's run all year we just got to keep working on it the big thing is confidence the car still a little tight on entry but Casey said it really turns well from the center off say what else probably helped Tommy Bowen kasey kahne s9 team is whenever you go to a track and Goodyear takes a new tire there they go there and they do a confirmation test in Kasey Kahne in the 9 they were one of the ones that did that test back in January you know who the other car was Jimmie Johnson in that 48 car running second third right now he's coming back is restarted in about 10th place and he's backed up to four and he has the fastest calling the racetrack right now by about a tenth and a half of the top ten drivers entering this race in the Nextel Cup points only one of them still has the same point position Tony Stewart six here's how the top five came in Busch Johnson Biffle there's how things will there would be the new top five the way they're running right now nine and the top ten positions would change given the positions drivers are in right now say look this is the only you know race ring laughs what's the big deal about that but just remember it's not thirty-six race kids it's actually a twenty six race schedule before they reset for the cup some of those guys way down there like the Bobby Labonte and others Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson both batting looking to battles bad 650 looking for his third win in the last five races Johnson is going for his sixth win in the last ten we listed it on Jimmie Johnson's team you're doing everything you can but we got to try to keep it up in sight it's evergreen flex the fifth stop here at the giving that driver information letting him know how he stacks up against the competition out front which would be Greg Biffle as well as Kasey Kahne and Carl Edwards now we're about 20 laps away from that possible green flag stop that you have Chad canals telling Jimmie Johnson it could be that final opportunity for four tires and that final adjustment GD is in the pits of the lowest shipping not in Las Vegas to taste victory someone much more important needed him Mike could hours mother Catherine very ill she is still in Karen our nation's capital Knauer is here this week but as you can see mommy's definitely on his mind a lot of races but you only have one mom there's Jimmy Johnson from our Quaker State aerial coverage you'll see that he's 5.7 seconds behind Greg Biffle and he is two seconds up on Kasey Kahne in front of a huge crowd here at Atlanta but you know what makes mom happy put a smile on her face son that's good 55 laps to go in the Golden Corral five the good old fashioned Ford Chevy shootout it'd be ok MA that the make that the gold in the corral here Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson going at it back and forth Biffle has 146 lat Jimmie Johnson 117 and a crowd estimated at over a hundred thousand here at Atlanta Motor Speedway on this first day of spring and pomp Sunday and we already have some action on pit road Joe Nemechek with a cylinder problem boundary or something speed or coming down again for tires this will be their last stop of the day maybe they're trying to show up in at the same time and try to make the best of a bad situation take a look at our leader Greg Biffle is still basically pulling away for the rest of the building all right tell me about hanging rpm well we're talking about a sustained rpm what that means as a simplest tape off the front to do it in the sheiks cars they must run little bit warm but what it is is you grant this racetrack you get at a certain rpm with us you know 8,000 rpm and you kind of just stays here for a consistent period of time and it's really hard on the valvetrain Carey that's the same speed all the way around this racetrack and that's what we're talking about going to a 48 laps to go we have be good for some guys and bad for others Kyle Petty with the problem but just was going to ask what kind of strategy at this point because they won't have to stop again no this will be their final stop this is what happens into this race a lot of times you'll start seeing changing problems because that sustained rpm it's worth pointing out that the leader of the most laps in this race has failed to win the last three times and Jimmie Johnson as we said Greg Biffle while leading the way let's rejoin Darrell Larry and Mike is Kyle Petty continues to have problems and it's that time miles of this race always gets a few of them Joe Nemechek was running seventh of the time he'd had to overcome a penalty and move back up through Kyle Petty was running back at about 30th position when that happened to him just remember joe nemecheck runs Hendrick engines he lost an engine at Fontana a couple of weeks ago when he was up there leading the race then now Kyle Petty we have Kasey Kahne running in the top five remember the petty organization they're running Everingham engines so lot of organizations a little nervous right now there's Joe Nemechek going up [Music] like five points out of 15th place and the points in that that's the highest a pity card been in the point standing since 1999 here with john andretti at the will the 43 car sterling marlin will receive the free pass first car one lap down so that will give us 16 cars on the lead lap quite a bit of effective green quite a bit of fluid I think from the petty car coming on the pit road looks like a big streak of oil coming down and that's a blow Darrell because Kyle came in here 16th in the points he led laps in three races and they were pretty solidly positioned in the standings yeah that's the oil we're talking about right there and that's what NASCAR's taking a look at right now and that's the reason they've left pit road closed Bobby Hamilton Jr back in the race after spending some time in the garage after slapping the wall in turn two but he's 78 laps down there's the flag signaling we'll go one more time before pit road is open but this is when you walk around as that crew chief you've had all these guys on the back and say look I know you've been solid all day long some of the crews we've had some mistakes but this pit stop right here with about 40 to 45 laps to go this could be the make-or-break stop and you know what that driver we do not need any speeding on pit road coming in or leaving but you know something Larry I do you say that and you're exactly right but one of the things I found is the Borei emphasis I put on how important this pit stop would be the more times I'd have a problem you just kind of let you team if they've been solid all day you just kind of let them go do their thing because if you call attention to the fact a boy was this is the one that counts maybe just to do your deal you know what we need you just do your job don't make any mistakes but be careful brake Biffle and Jimmie Johnson have lit all but 12 laps today thus far next week FX and Speed Channel coverage from Nashville Superspeedway series qualifying a.m. Saturday the ARCA Remax series and Busch Series race presented by win Jul 1 big day of racing on Easter and you may think well it's an off weekend protect stepped up so the bush guys be there races next Saturday pitstop stick Bertrand well Doug Richard crew chief for Greg Biffle had a pit board passed around so everybody could read what they wanted to do to this racecar answer nothing they are going to go back out again with the same setup same tires safe everything that has runs so well for them all day long Chiti well it's been a pattern on the 48 car Jimmie Johnson is getting looser and looser throughout the day as they try to adjust the car is yes Lucinda turns around a wedge in the left rear and a track bar adjustment Steve JD Carl Edwards said we really needed that caution we've gotten really lose they made a track bar adjustment wedge and air pressure Matt left side of your screen is a sixes down in a way he's not going to beat the 48 off no changes for Mark Martin his car was too tense a second a lap faster than the leader Miwa kasey kahne his car was tight on entry tried to make some changes chassis and also air pressure to get this car the setup it needs to go to Victory Lane they entered pit road in the third at 5th position look at there we've been locked talk about lead changes all day long look at there they swapped it right there you heard about Yocum just talk about kasey kahne lost three positions possibly on his final pit stop now let's look at the pit road ties which includes a pit stop Jimmie Johnson you see why they went to the top Carl Edwards his crew comes aligned but there he's seeing Kasey Kahne and Michael Waltrip with the slowest times Larry do you mind losing those three positions if you can come out with a better car if you can make it better you know what maybe we'll make it better well we'll have a shot at beating these guys right here been leading this race all day long these fellas did good Jimmy Johnson out first Jimmy Johnson connects with pitstop moments ago yeah great job either these guys will be a crew a 13th 25 best all that you see they're really pumped up back Clark particular coach I mean he was really pumping everybody up my shirt Chris actually called Edwards out here they tell me all their guys if they were pumped up also they had a good pit stop got him back out he's four quick enough quick but here's the guys we thought as they came in as leaders Greg biffle's crew went to work everything was good on the right side it looked like they were gonna have another really super fantastic stop we need to retain the lead if you look on the left front to get the car up he didn't have all the nuts off had to reach back down grab his air range and you'll notice he's the last one to get done that was a difference that was a 15.7 stop and that was a difference between first or second we're taking it back to the streets Mike they're going great 285 laps in the book 40 to go as Jimmie Johnson leads Greg Biffle up into one got to be able to close the deal and that's everybody driver and crew Martin up for third Carl Edwards Dave Blaney an impressive fifth Scott Briggs Brian Vickers Jeff Burton Kasey Kahne Elliott Sadler that's your top ten 140 laps to go as we say business fix the pickup oh yeah I don't know if you can feel it at home or not but the intensity just help me dig that electricity isn't starched running through the air these last few laps of a race during that caution Joe Nemechek scar was pushed to the garage and Ricky Rudd returned to the racetrack 25 laps down Biffle in the 16 got a real good run on the high side I'll turn to that time down the backstretch let's see if he can Club the Dale go on through three and four but Johnson so strong I just don't know I think if whatever Jimmie Johnson's got Greg Biffle is going to find out right now and just remember before this caution Biffle had about a two second lead now Biffle takes it to the low side but look at this mess right here this is Jeff Burton in the 31 all the way back through Tony Stewart so that's basically about 9 through 15 with a bunch of cars it's a lap down dave blaney o7 last top-10 finished Pocono July 2003 he's on the mark today and he can smell it he can smell a good finish you can just see it you know it's like he could reach out there touch it now is he pulling product to the back of our part in the six car for four cars working really well he can run it in hard if it goes up the hill it's okay he's back to the throttle fast Atlanta seems to produce these rubber band races somebody will check out the field of string out but isn't it funny how by the end at all jumbles back together again when Kevin Harvick 2001 there were five cars fighting for the win well these two guys in front of 48 to 60 now Mike they have been kind of in a league of their own today everybody's gotten to them but nobody could do anything with we've seen a lot of impressive comebacks today including that of Brian Vickers knocked out of the race early last week in Vegas in a lap 12 crash with Dale jr. he came in here and gotten tapped on the very first lap in the backstretch he and Bobby Hamilton Jr got together and he is now back up for seventh place Jeannie yeah Mike he has to be in the running for maybe most cars pass today back to the prodigies said his day started making contact with the 32 he had to come in for minor repairs clawed his way back up had a bit of a penalty clawed his way back up at his worst he was down to 28th and of course off that lead lap but it's really just been like clockwork steady as she goes great pit stops very efficient and just minor adjustments at the cuz the car has been loose throughout the day but as we said right now he's very happy with the car and obviously I'm very happy sitting seventh I don't know what it is about that 25 car I've noticed this before but whoever drives whoever's working on it that car always performs in Atlanta whether it was Jerry Nadeau Joe Nemechek Kenny Schrader who members driving that car always seems to run good at plan really got this car behind as we see a bigger race with Elliott Sadler 238 back to about Jamie McMurray 242 this is about 9 through 12 back to Brian Vickers had that vibration had to make an unscheduled pit stop got a lap down with Bobby Hellmuth jr. had his problem he got the free pass back early [Music] fresh tires over the last three laps the first seven drivers in this race have just run their personal best lap of the race as we said business picking up that's what you want kind of like running a marathon got the kick better use it now's the time 33 to go see Jamie McMurray in the 40k oh yeah another car that was a lap down got back on the lead lap with the free pass and now he's up there battling Jeff Burt in the 31 for 11th spot trying to get to the top ten Burton's been going backwards Larry ever since the restart his car I don't know what they did do it but they it's almost like they didn't keep up with the racetrack in the right way with the changes it was going through one fellow who did scott riggs as he puts his babbling Chevy pass Mark Martin and that will move rigs up to fourth and he looks really good he's got a good good little run going here and as Larry said earlier nice redemption for a fellow who missed the show here last last fall right behind at mark mark no changes the last two stops for Mark Martin Pat trice and set it on Saturday or actually Friday said you know we need to have long runs that's exactly what Mark Martin needs on this final run a low trading turn one guys somebody blowing up he's not gonna get it man just Robbie Goering is a seven car Robby Gordon that would be the third race in the room that he is had engine trouble Snake Eyes [Music] but I would be willing to bed there we talked about it to begin to the show these guys they only have about 10 or 12 laps on those tires what do you think we're gonna do for tire I'm better becoming better believed seen what happened time and time again if you don't won't be unto you now with that said if everybody would stay out I might be alright with that but they're not everybody's gonna stay out and guess who's moving right up to his grade point average for Atlanta Ryan Newman he's gonna get a free pass get back on the lead lap and into the top 17 his average finish here is 14 Robby Gordon is still trying to finish his first race of the year and that's all he was trying to do here this was going to be a science project to see if we can make 500 miles with an engine but obviously he came up short again and there you see Chad canals making the decision okay what are we gonna do here boys we're gonna have about 25 laps to go we've seen we all weekend long keep the wheel straight he's coming to pit on that pit stop exactly helped those tire changers all-you-can his teammate Jeff Gordon has gone to the garage out of the race only one more position he could possibly pick up but they've retired the 24 dick everybody's in now crew chief Doug Richard told his driver Greg Biffle decock if the 48 came pitbull decided four tires they had discussed two but it was people's decision to take Ford to Jeannie well you better believe the 48 was coming in I mentioned it earlier that Jimmie Johnson round the Busch race and he learned Tigers are so important here coming in for four new ones just a tick tied off [Music] scott riggs career best finish for the Daytona running in the top five no changes for the 10 car no changes for the six of the big it's not gonna be won by Jimmie Johnson this time I'll say it's a race but how about Carl Edwards in that 99 car it looks like that group is the ones that's gonna really prevail all the way to lead the group off pit road as you notice right there Jimmie Johnson and the 48 lost the position but the real runner on pit road Brian Vickers his crew in at 25 career positions game when it really came I watched the 48 car Larry and he rolled into his pit box way too slow I mean look at these speeds right here from Brian Vickers I don't think we've hardly seen anyone as well as Michael Waltrip in the 39 second bracket for four tires look at the 48 delay I was watching him and he just creeped into his pit box didn't get that surge like they always do here's the race off pit road was a race Johnson got out of his pit and in front of Greg Biffle who yielded position and then the scramble right there but Carl Edwards yesterday's winner and NASCAR's I think newest big star finds himself in front I'm gonna get me one of those business cards I know that [Laughter] Schrader's told me to 28 laps to go at Atlanta Motor Speedway you're watching NASCAR on Fox restart Carl Edwards a little slow on the gas the fields stacked up a little bit but stayed in line it's really easy here late in the race you're excited you want to get going easy to spend the tires in then when you do see reeling Carl Edwards in a hurry trying to get into sleep back it's go time for Johnson and he completes the pass for the 26th leave change of the day thank Jimmy Johnson is one of those kind of drivers you just don't know how good he is until he counts see Greg Biffle vote Carl Edwards his teammate in the 16 car pulling up in there as well as Brian Vickers in that 25 car most of his positions game has Biddle pit row we've been talking about all year low rounds versus in turn right there in the top five to Hendrick Chevrolet is 3 Roush Ford's then it's the Childress Chevy conveyed Blaney in the Everett ham Dodge of Kasey Kahne Michael Waltrip up into the top 10 along with Briggs and McMurray Michael's had a really good day been up in top 10 just about all day long that's just a good turnaround for that time let's hear what Carl Edwards and crew had to say about this what could be final run man if you do don't worry about it coming inside big future steel don't worry about it it's his father Bobby backs it up there being that cheerleader that he needs to be for that young man they say they've got the driver they know that they just got to keep him tempered back a little bit cause it's big picture championship he's in the championship hunt right now and they want him to stay there that's the Bobby Hudson I remember he's got 30 years in this sport as a mechanic and as experience helping the rookie Carl Edwards Mike you talked about it while ago after the last race cars dropped in our top or just ran their fastest lap to this race 2950 that's down there where a lot of these guys [Music] michael waltrip battling with a couple of lap cars including Mike Bliss who right now is the first car one lap down at 18th in Missouri and I know we have a lot of racing all over the racetrack but this team that's very solid but they're racing with heavy hearts because Dave's go one time car chief for this team he had moved to Quality Control Manager his wife Ainsley finally lost her battle to cancer yesterday Angie Ricky Rudd's personal assistant as well as Richard grooms daughter our thoughts and prayers worthless cog in the brood famine [Music] Michael almost he slid right up in front of the 42 that was close elliott sadler throwing that 38 car he's been lurking back there trying to get back to the top 10 the yellow car he's back in 11th position pulls right up from the back bumper of that 38 car would be a car we drive me crazy because one minute it's running up front and running great the next minute it's going back through the field like something's broken on it behind that zero cars another car having a pretty decent run moved to the top 20 Scott Wimmer in at caterpillar 22 car he's back run at night teeth battling Mike listen to zero 20 laps to go in Atlanta and what had been a strung-out battle but for the front spot with Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle has now become a dogfight oh yeah this is when the crew chief and the spotter saying don't let them get away you're racing this guy you're racing that guy no more give all take we're into the countdown laps now 19 to go Jimmie Johnson holding Carl Edwards by four tenths of a second the Golden Corral 500 on Fox is presented by new and free power nitro from Gillette feel the power of the world's best day and brought to you by Home Depot NASCAR's all Improvement warehouse white Sunoco official fuel of NASCAR without Sunoco there'd be no race day and by shoving the defending manufacturers champion the revolution races on Jimmy Johnson trying to win back-to-back Atlanta races for the first time since Jeff Gordon did it in the late 90s held off Greg Biffle now trying to hold off Carl Edwards how about that Roush team versus the Hendrick team when they're bunched up to the top Jeff Hammond what do you think about teamwork butt out like you're gonna have much help today because it's pretty much every man for himself this race track the way it is has a lot to do with how your car works where they're working on the bottom or working on the top and right now Jimmie Johnson mr. natolly can't stay out in front of it Carl Edwards it's going to be one whale of a finish the other thing interesting is Kent Chevrolet control this racetrack for one more race there are two forks behind him there put a lot of pressure on him right now Jimmy's staying with a good thing the same chassis on this car they won with it Atlanta last fall and that he wanted Lowe's Motor Speedway win last year in both races Mike 16 laps to go Chris and these three are driving off into a different zip code Brian Vickers is three seconds back Mark Martin three and a half Dave Blaney has moved into sixth five and a half seconds off the lead ahead of cases gain of Michael Waltrip and Scott Riggs and MacMurray's team battle in a very similar situation and late talks and he made a huge move past four cars at once to end up winning that race so I know he's hoping maybe he gets one more shot at him here on the reset no driver has ever won the Atlanta Busch races race in the same weekend yet in the irony this was two of the best cars in the Busch race yesterday and here's Elliott Sadler finally making a move in the 38 car own Jamie McMurray in the 42 car this is that battle for kids position well you have to just you have to give it to Jimmy Johnson and Ted you know we give and week out there not just finishing races they are winning every week and just remember on Tuesday we will get the verdict where the Chad canals will be able to be with this race team for the next two races which is too short tracks Bristol and mark right there car winning last week but the height found to be out of adjustment by about an eighth of an inch beyond tolerance out of spec and that appeal will be here Tuesday and of course we'll fill you in next weekend you know what I do I take every car after a race and run it through there and get a nice measurement on every one of them I take an average and if you were within the average you're okay tell you what Carla every car not just five in the 99 he keeps looking to the low side but the Johnson in the 48 he just gets that good rock and they have left Greg Biffle Biffle is now one point four seconds back as Mark Martin takes fourth place from the bush past butch champion Brian Vickers you know I just I worried about biffle they this didn't seem to be making enough changes on his partner to really keep up with the change in track conditions they were very content to leave the car alone I know that's not a bad thing but I think that gets you behind maybe at the end of the day here for the 16th position Tony Stewart the 20 in the orange car sterling Marling in the 40 remember sterling got the free pass not that many laps ago everybody's racing side by side because they know there's only 12 laps to go see the guy that's really really just hanging tough Carl Edwards in that 99 car boys he is is right there and he's closing Darrel and it's just like yesterday when Jimmie Johnson set there and watched him hoping he had make a mistake the roles are reversed today Nancy she has been his biggest fan through his jump racing career like all moms and dads made huge sacrifices to get that kid here financially did everything they clocked the farm to get him here but you know what guys I think about this 9019 go back a year ago they didn't know whether how I'm never gonna be racing without a sponsor there was dissension between the race team they know what was going to happen and here there are bored he cut loose off door too he's digging in the barrel he could did right there the reason he got loose on the turn too is because he came off of there I mean he closed the gap on Jimmie Johnson a lot off and just turned to that time gather to back up Darrell and he did not lose a lot of ground [Music] let's see that again he's up high here and there's a Dalek black streak over there that's right there that you hit occasionally and it'll step that back in out in buddy at 185 miles an hour that'll get your attention but you're right Mike he did not lose that many positions you see it right here up on the high side in the throttle nose if he backs out he's gonna lose a lot of positions but what happens on these tires this year a slide job like that can take you right out of the hunt so he's gonna have to sit and cool his tires Darryl but will it give him another shot and now you see Jimmie Johnson Jimmy's looking around trying to find a little bit different place to run and yeah and he'll have to cool his Jets for Laverty here Steve Mike Darrell that's exactly what Carl that was just said he said I'm gonna build up a little more Menem make another run and given everything I've got Steve meanwhile his teammate Greg Biffle in the 16 car he's drawn him back in up there in the third position I think Carl is over driving his car a little bit right at this point just looking at him coming off a turn - I know that doesn't seem possible but I think that's what's happening smoke in trouble for Bobby Labonte he slows on the back straightaway one crash has soldiered around and made laps is fifty two off the pace and now drops down to the apron and you know Josh's car is doing what there's Bobby right there headed to the pits but Jimmy Johnson's car is doing what it does week in and week out gets better at the end of the runs see jack roush talking up there that's Bob Osborne he's putting his hand around saying look guys no matter what the outcome you guys are doing great Carl Edwards doing great pictures second ago is they come back around for five to go Greg Biffle is teammate 216 reeling in for second place Oh Edwards another slide there and and Biffle is going to be on him yeah I think it took Carl used his stuff up that sliding around is that these tires just will not take that Edwards first Atlanta Cup race was here last hour his first Atlanta race last October he started fourth finished third led 15 laps having us good or better day right now now he's got his hands full with a teammate the smart thing for Carl to do don't wreck the car let Biffle go is supporting one another you hear Bobby Hudson support Carl Edwards we see support Carl then you seen over there support bars telling them good job and you heard Doug's he'll tell Greg the 99 is asking for mercy leave me you can't do it you still got the leader in sight how can you let him go Darrell leave me alone that's on what you got left I guess you got three laps left is what you got a cup of the line try to go as high I like that idea if your tires are giving up find you another place to run and high would be good I think it's loose is that car the only place he can probably run it right now and you can see they put a little distance man and he scraped the wall going down into turn one that time he just got the tail right against it going down into one but he was the fastest of all drivers on that lap that's the battle for fifth right there Kasey Kahne in the night on the high side we've seen him there all day long as well is Brian Vickers in the 25 so what I like about a guy like Carl Edwards what you don't know and he don't know that he needs to be taking it easy right now he just closed up a bunch off it turn to our for he moved up the racetrack and it is really helping he I mean he is closing fast now he's got that Highline he's cutting that gap down boys and he's pulling away from Greg Biffle but he better hurry Darryl laughing I have to go halfway down the back he's coming 4/10 of a second last lap 3/10 70 laps ago and this is going to be another one of those atlanta's I'm telling you they're gonna be side by side when they come to the line next time back here they go white flag boys left he's there and he cut the margin in less than half hey boys watch this Jimmy goes up how to block him that may or may not be good he can get that rod right here if they can get a keep that momentum he's going to get it run at him he'll get one shot at turn three and when they come to the line it's going to be another one of those fantastic Atlanta finishes [Music] [Music] is the man right there that is the man yesterday we called him NASCAR's newest star today he confirmed it look at mom look at the tires bring her on in here we gotta back back slip if I'm doing double backside today I see a Darrell five laps to go he was sideways wrecking off turn he was smart he found him another land he was he was all over the place he moved high and here he came buddy [Applause] enthusiasm by this 25 year old from Missouri that's the show-me-state about show new record one yesterday he's gonna have a lot of help for this backflip I think come on get up on the roof [Music] [Applause] look at Jack he's up and attacks trying to get up in there get him some of this what's his alright that Jack might do a backflip you never know and you know what Jack Brown song about Argos and I'm telling you call that he's the real deal [Music] oh man what a thrill now for the second day in a row Carl Edwards gets to drive to Victory Lane [Applause] [Music] [Applause] yesterday in the Busch Series race he made this thread the needle move in the yellow and black number 62 get out of Jimmie Johnson and then Kasey Kahne to score his first Busch Series win two days two wins two biggest days of his life [Music] today here's the run for the checkered flag final lap he's there but here he comes he's got the momentum Jimmy I tell you Jimmy moved up trying to block Carl I actually think it hurt he thinks you made a run to bottom like he had been all day he may have been a lot better off but he moved up trying to block Carl and I think it really hurt him when they got together Darrell you see Jimmy's car slew a little bit and lose its momentum yeah give me right there I was trying to get up in front of Carl but he couldn't quite make it and I think it really took the momentum away from me gave Carl that good run off the high side you've got so much more speed when you're out there like that and here you come closing the gap and taking the lead how many finishes like this if we had at this place I mean look at the truck race and even yesterday's race was closing Harvick and Darrell in Jeff Gordon and it just goes on and on tracks a big rubber band things stretch out things come right back together and NASCAR's happiest young star gets to his signature move we said yesterday that was the biggest win of his career I'd say they've stepped up a notch Ziggler's career is moving [Applause] Jeanne's in victory lane guys carl edwards told me yesterday he had actually never done a back flip of a car twice in one weekend yesterday was the best day of your life so what's today man I don't even know all right I have a couple people to thank you first of all Scott thank you first day of spring well just pay on the fires Oh Office Depot triple-a World Financial Group charter I gotta thank Carl Jackie Howard Hall I'm really a lot of people help me thank you all of you folks back home Cedar Ridge our visa I can't I can't I completely understand that you told me yesterday that you have been riding dirt bikes and it made you more brave I don't think it gets more brave than this finished we just saw let me um let me tell you Jimmy Johnson is an amazing competitor and I'm telling I've never driven that hard in my life though I was following I thought man we might finish second but even if we do that's the hardest I've ever driven in my life and I was pretty proud of that so uh the car was sideways a couple of times and you saved it it's still on I was just on a mission we're here to win races I can't believe we won two this weekend thank you everybody for giving me opportunities I'm the luckiest guy in the world I am I don't think you need the business card anymore go celebrate by the way guys jack roush not here yesterday he had a prior commitment had to leave with five laps to go he is here today seat burns you better hold on to that old business card it's gonna be worth something look at this in the run to the flag Edwards the rookie gets his first ever win in dramatic fashion [Music] and now as fans of all three of NASCAR premier divisions no nobody celebrates a win like this young man I could do them [Applause] - welcome to the next Hill post race show brought to you by thanks to helping NASCAR groups get things done NASCAR Nextel partners in speed - one hundredths of a second and a crazy go nuts for Carl Edwards Jack Roush and route racing in Victory Lane here in Atlanta frustration for Jimmie Johnson and his crew chief Chad Knaus as they find fired out his suspension chapter Jimmy they thought they had to race one but this appointment there and see disappointed Jimmy thanks a lot Chris and Jimmy just watched that shot of Chad Knaus and Jimmie I gotta ask you about the shootout dw1 about loud if the fact that you had moved up the racetrack is that what allowed Carl to get past you yeah you know the the middle the top has been good for me at different times three and four I was pretty good on the bottom and coming to the white flag I saw the ground the 99 was making on the top and I tried to move up some to see what grip was up there and I didn't think that it would be as slick as it was in the center I guess I just needed to go up a little bit further and through the center I lost the nose I started to push a little bit was late to the gas and I knew I was in trouble when I came off before coming to the white I saw Carl coming got through one and two fine and then down the backstretch I knew where his line was and I tried to get up there to you know to use it and make him force him to the inside so the momentum off the corner and be on the top lane we carried by him for the win and he found a way around me on the top I don't know there couldn't be much room up there but he got around me on the top and then you know beat me and start finishing fourth straight top-five finish nice race Jimmie Johnson we go to Matt Yocum second last fall here to Atlanta for Mark Martin for today you were not only up on that wheel the final run you were up on that wheel all day this is a big finish after last week yeah we had you know just a little problem last week but we've got great cars with a vibrant worse and you know I just want to thank everybody that works so hard to give me this opportunity and we're gonna fight this thing to the bitter end you know I think that we can win races we needed to be just a little bit closer than we were today to get it done but we were right there car was awesome on long runs and just want to thank everybody that supports this craft and Gatorade and with Pennzoil all the folks that support us next weekend weekend off where is he gonna be Batesville Arkansas history to you fans day at Mark Martin Ford even Rusty Wallace and Kurt Busch are gonna be there Chris well this is salute to Carl Edwards day Jeff Hammond pretty dramatic finish to get your first win of the year though of your career the way he did it really because the thing is running what really strikes me about Carl Edwards right now is his heart I cannot get over the fact how much heart this young man's got he's got a great - got a lot of talent we've seen that today but he drives a lot with his heart I think this that it made a difference today he wanted his mother who he wanted to pay back for all that she sacrificed to give him a racing parts when he needed it he certainly has already aroused of drivers three of the top four including Greg Biffle and he's with our dick Berggren dick Oh Greg Biffle you had a great day today let's so many laps but how disappointing is it to not win this thing that's pretty disappointing you know we had great pit stops all day and then that last pit stop Carl beat everybody out and these cars are so hard to pass I get so air tight behind other cars and uh you know Jimmy and I had a lot of fun out there playing cat-and-mouse but when I had two cars in front of me I just couldn't do anything back there and uh you know a little bit too tight do you free it up cuz you're you know you don't know if you're gonna be third when you're leaving pit road or not but once you get out there in the track then you end up third and then I couldn't pass anybody so disappointing you know we had a really good car I could get closer to those guys but I just burned a right front tire off it trying to trying to do something with Carl there and he fell back and it made another run at him but that's too bad if I was a little freer I could have think I could have beat them both but never know a good day but this guy's never satisfied unless he's in victory lane thanks Greg all right well a Biffle and Jimmie Johnson put on a show these are the way of the points look into right everybody's roof we hope has been checked all right just everybody protect your distances but look at Carl Edwards up to three at Kurt Busch came in as the points leader the defending champ of the Nextel Cup points title currently fourth on Roush Racing a dominating there as well you see Jamie McMurray in at the tenth spot some guys in trouble in that thirty five point range because one more race right there's no more provision one more race right now and you think a look right here at the 31st position Bank kiss a former champion right now I had a bad day today all the way back in the back guys like Jason Leffler they're struggling they've got to have a good run at Bristol they're gonna be in a big big big trouble Bobby the body now back here in 37th so Ricky Rudd Robby Gordon these guys have got to turn it around at Bristol and that's not a good place to have to go to turn something around Jack Roush told us that they told a greatest able to drive Jimmy Johnson goes off to say hey good job good way to go and the Roush drivers as Carl said hey learn from the guys on this crew and he has enough to land at Victory Lane FX Beach Commerce NASCAR continuing Saturday Fletcher's qualifying ARCA Remax series racing Sherri's racing presented by with blue on FX our comforts nascar can kick the ball we will be at Bristol Motor Speedway sit Kurt Busch won there the last time around eleven thriver in history of NASCAR to win the construction area next don't come congratulations again do a car left if we don't see it from all of us on Fox have a happy Easter to you and your family Nextel Cup racing on Fox returns in two weeks Bristol our thanks again to Chris long muscles the wanted speed again the car leopards have we thank you for being a part of NASCAR on Fox hey it's time to get way [Music] [Music] you

Channel: NASCAR

Views: 74,335

Keywords: NASCAR, motorsports, racing, stock car, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, chase elliott, fantasy sports, fantasy fastlane, glass case of emotion, ryan blaney, crash, wreck, pileup, pit road, penalty, race track, super speedway, highlight

Id: gj2qPi8Yx7o

Length: 186min 16sec (11176 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 18 2020