Picks/Atlanta/SundayNight
#1
Picks/Atlanta/SundayNight
Points and Congratulatory Remarks
First off, a congrats to Jerry (77GP) who won the Bristol night race! He has 8 days to celebrate that big win before Atlanta! Congrats on win #2 for the year!!
With just three to go in Segment 3, Mike has opened up a decent lead on that end. But on teh overall, Carl maintains a still massive lead in the overall....
Defending Winner: zjerry
1) carlm54stl 2535 Leader
2) JuniorCar 2458 -77
3) SupplySgt 2443 -92
4) 03JGMonte 2418 -117
5) Cowboy6622 2416 -118
6) Leprechaun93 2408 -126
7) bblackstone 2407 -127
8) zjerry 2353 -181
9) 02 Earnhardt 2344 -190
10) montecarlo3831 2327 -208
11) lougreen03 2320 -215
12) butch049 2298 -237
13) 77GP 2192 -373
14) STUMPMI 2080
15) adgm2005 1905
16) silverfish33 1804
17) RocknSS04 1142
18) SuperSportSteve 928
19) 01 Monte SS 908
20) Ricks 2006 SS 714
21) MnteCrloSS47 616
22) nichols2k 480
23) 06 Mistre SS 428
24) Teacher 306
25) yutzybrian 211
26) monte06ltz 92
27) Racebound2 83
28) Possum 77
29) 04chevyboy 76
30) Emily666 61
31) SS Means Super Sexy 60
32) mousehousemoparman 54
Segment 3
1) 03JGMonte 671 Leader
2) SupplySgt 634 -37
3) MnteCrloSS47 616 -55
4) carlm54stl 603 -68
5) butch049 597 -74
6) bblackstone 597 -74
7) JuniorCar 595 -76
8) montecarlo3831 594 -77
9) zjerry 584 -87
10) Cowboy6622 582 -89
11) 02 Earnhardt 582 -89
12) adgm2005 579 -92
13) Leprechaun93 577 -94
14) lougreen03 565 -106
15) 77GP 552 -119
16) STUMPMI 535 -136
17) nichols2k 418
18) Ricks 2006 SS 311
19) silverfish33 184
Atlanta History
This race track isn't quite one of my favorite,s but it is close, and if I lived closer to Atlanta than Charlotte, I would probably like it more.... but utt is special to me. With only going there once a year, it is even more special.
And to make this weekend more special yet.... Saturday is my birthday!!!
Atlanta once had two straight straightaways... it looked more like Homestead than Charlotte or Texas. It produced great racing, but the owners decided they wanted to go to the dog leg format in the mid 90s....
Of course, you know I have to throw in my old shots.
I don't know what this shot is all about, but it is allegedly from Atlanta.... Cale Yarborough, 1968.
No idea what this is about either, but it is Linda Vaughan and Bobby Allison at Atlanta...
A Ford facotry photo, allegedly from Atlanta
and a rare shot of Smokey Yunick without his hat on in the pits in Atlanta in 1969.
the start of the 1968 Atlanta 500....
And Cale Yarboroug hwon that race...
And then this photo from a Grand America Challenge race in Atlanta for you Mustang and Camaro guys...
But tehre is so much more to Atlanta. From the mid 80s to the late 90s, this was the site of the last race of the season. This is where Earnhardt was crowned champion several times, Gordon was crowned champion here, and in my opinion, the greatest race in NASCAR Hitsory, the 1992 Hooters 500, took place here....
1992 in Atlanta was Pettys last race, and maybe one of hte only time he was ever caught cursing. Petty was caught up in a crash, and allegedly the rescue man wanted his autograph before pulling him out of the car and helping him out, Petty, however, wnated his cars fire put out....
But as it came down to the end, the focus was on Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki as they both ran for a champoinship. But Kulwicki came out on top in one of the last true underdog storys of NASCAR. I think it was a much bigger feat than the most recent Daytona 500 win by the Wood Bros...
Intro to this week at Atlanta
But the last race of the year is not in Hot-latna anymore. We do ahve labor day weekend. Hopefully, it will be a spectacular race. I think the slick, old surface will make this race pretty exciting. It means you've got to have the aero package right, the suspension right, and really manage your tire wear. The drivers who love slick race tracks will excel this week, but luck and all that mess will factor in too.
That being said...
The Favorites
Personally, I think the the favorite all but have to be the Hendrick cars. The only thing that makes me want to shy away from them at all is those engine issues from Michigan. Pocono was shortened, but Junior had a transmission issue there. That's my concern. But I think in two weeks, Hendrick can isolate this single issue and have it all fixed up in time for Atlanta. Three practice sessions should be factored into the engine wear though....
so I think all the Hendrick cars have to be favorites. Kahne is excellent here, so is Johnson. With how hot Junior has been all year, he is a favorite as well.
Gordon with his bad luck, even as the defending winner, coming off a third place finish, has to be a favorite this week to try to get that wild card spot.
Also though.... Greg Biffle has to be a favorite, and the only Ford to be a favorite. Kenseth has had several bad weeks now since Indy and just keeps crashing good cars. CAn't do that. Biffle was off at Bristol, but I think he'll be right on at Atlanta.
Brad Keselowski had his great run going in '09 when Edwards checked him and sent him into the fence...
And Pony Stewart (I know you're out there, STUMPMI, but I'm adopting the Brent spelling of his name) is great at these slick tracks, so I have to think he will be a factor this week. Hendrick engine though.... osme back luck these last couple of weeks....
The ones to watch
The first ones to watch are those other Roush Fords. Edwards is almost turning a corner, but I just think his bad luck will bite much like at Kentucky and Bristol. The speed is there, but the communiation and luck is lacking.
Kenseth may get his luck back, but I just do'nt know.
The next ones to watch ahve to be the MWR Toyotas of Bowyer and Truex. They are ones to watch and not favorites because we just don't know what to expect out of those cars with the new side skirt rules.
The Gibbs cars have to be ones to watch too. Hamlin got a win, Busch is kind of hot/cold, and Logano is hot/cold right now too.
With Kevin Harvick getting Gil Martin back on the box, he might be a factor this week.
Marcos Ambrose seems to do good on these races that require a lot of holding on so he might sneak in at Atlatna.
The Ones to Avoid
I have to say just everyone else!! Montoya, McMurray, Almirola, Hornish, Newman, Menard, Burton... all those people that just nothing good can ever happen to!
My Picks
Hmm.... tough one this week. Going to for now with...
1) Kasey Kahne
2) Greg Biffle
3) Jimmie Johnson
Subject to change if I suspect engine issues in the Hendrick camp for anotehr big track.
First off, a congrats to Jerry (77GP) who won the Bristol night race! He has 8 days to celebrate that big win before Atlanta! Congrats on win #2 for the year!!
With just three to go in Segment 3, Mike has opened up a decent lead on that end. But on teh overall, Carl maintains a still massive lead in the overall....
Defending Winner: zjerry
1) carlm54stl 2535 Leader
2) JuniorCar 2458 -77
3) SupplySgt 2443 -92
4) 03JGMonte 2418 -117
5) Cowboy6622 2416 -118
6) Leprechaun93 2408 -126
7) bblackstone 2407 -127
8) zjerry 2353 -181
9) 02 Earnhardt 2344 -190
10) montecarlo3831 2327 -208
11) lougreen03 2320 -215
12) butch049 2298 -237
13) 77GP 2192 -373
14) STUMPMI 2080
15) adgm2005 1905
16) silverfish33 1804
17) RocknSS04 1142
18) SuperSportSteve 928
19) 01 Monte SS 908
20) Ricks 2006 SS 714
21) MnteCrloSS47 616
22) nichols2k 480
23) 06 Mistre SS 428
24) Teacher 306
25) yutzybrian 211
26) monte06ltz 92
27) Racebound2 83
28) Possum 77
29) 04chevyboy 76
30) Emily666 61
31) SS Means Super Sexy 60
32) mousehousemoparman 54
Segment 3
1) 03JGMonte 671 Leader
2) SupplySgt 634 -37
3) MnteCrloSS47 616 -55
4) carlm54stl 603 -68
5) butch049 597 -74
6) bblackstone 597 -74
7) JuniorCar 595 -76
8) montecarlo3831 594 -77
9) zjerry 584 -87
10) Cowboy6622 582 -89
11) 02 Earnhardt 582 -89
12) adgm2005 579 -92
13) Leprechaun93 577 -94
14) lougreen03 565 -106
15) 77GP 552 -119
16) STUMPMI 535 -136
17) nichols2k 418
18) Ricks 2006 SS 311
19) silverfish33 184
Atlanta History
This race track isn't quite one of my favorite,s but it is close, and if I lived closer to Atlanta than Charlotte, I would probably like it more.... but utt is special to me. With only going there once a year, it is even more special.
And to make this weekend more special yet.... Saturday is my birthday!!!
Atlanta once had two straight straightaways... it looked more like Homestead than Charlotte or Texas. It produced great racing, but the owners decided they wanted to go to the dog leg format in the mid 90s....
Of course, you know I have to throw in my old shots.
I don't know what this shot is all about, but it is allegedly from Atlanta.... Cale Yarborough, 1968.
No idea what this is about either, but it is Linda Vaughan and Bobby Allison at Atlanta...
A Ford facotry photo, allegedly from Atlanta
and a rare shot of Smokey Yunick without his hat on in the pits in Atlanta in 1969.
the start of the 1968 Atlanta 500....
And Cale Yarboroug hwon that race...
And then this photo from a Grand America Challenge race in Atlanta for you Mustang and Camaro guys...
But tehre is so much more to Atlanta. From the mid 80s to the late 90s, this was the site of the last race of the season. This is where Earnhardt was crowned champion several times, Gordon was crowned champion here, and in my opinion, the greatest race in NASCAR Hitsory, the 1992 Hooters 500, took place here....
1992 in Atlanta was Pettys last race, and maybe one of hte only time he was ever caught cursing. Petty was caught up in a crash, and allegedly the rescue man wanted his autograph before pulling him out of the car and helping him out, Petty, however, wnated his cars fire put out....
But as it came down to the end, the focus was on Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki as they both ran for a champoinship. But Kulwicki came out on top in one of the last true underdog storys of NASCAR. I think it was a much bigger feat than the most recent Daytona 500 win by the Wood Bros...
Intro to this week at Atlanta
But the last race of the year is not in Hot-latna anymore. We do ahve labor day weekend. Hopefully, it will be a spectacular race. I think the slick, old surface will make this race pretty exciting. It means you've got to have the aero package right, the suspension right, and really manage your tire wear. The drivers who love slick race tracks will excel this week, but luck and all that mess will factor in too.
That being said...
The Favorites
Personally, I think the the favorite all but have to be the Hendrick cars. The only thing that makes me want to shy away from them at all is those engine issues from Michigan. Pocono was shortened, but Junior had a transmission issue there. That's my concern. But I think in two weeks, Hendrick can isolate this single issue and have it all fixed up in time for Atlanta. Three practice sessions should be factored into the engine wear though....
so I think all the Hendrick cars have to be favorites. Kahne is excellent here, so is Johnson. With how hot Junior has been all year, he is a favorite as well.
Gordon with his bad luck, even as the defending winner, coming off a third place finish, has to be a favorite this week to try to get that wild card spot.
Also though.... Greg Biffle has to be a favorite, and the only Ford to be a favorite. Kenseth has had several bad weeks now since Indy and just keeps crashing good cars. CAn't do that. Biffle was off at Bristol, but I think he'll be right on at Atlanta.
Brad Keselowski had his great run going in '09 when Edwards checked him and sent him into the fence...
And Pony Stewart (I know you're out there, STUMPMI, but I'm adopting the Brent spelling of his name) is great at these slick tracks, so I have to think he will be a factor this week. Hendrick engine though.... osme back luck these last couple of weeks....
The ones to watch
The first ones to watch are those other Roush Fords. Edwards is almost turning a corner, but I just think his bad luck will bite much like at Kentucky and Bristol. The speed is there, but the communiation and luck is lacking.
Kenseth may get his luck back, but I just do'nt know.
The next ones to watch ahve to be the MWR Toyotas of Bowyer and Truex. They are ones to watch and not favorites because we just don't know what to expect out of those cars with the new side skirt rules.
The Gibbs cars have to be ones to watch too. Hamlin got a win, Busch is kind of hot/cold, and Logano is hot/cold right now too.
With Kevin Harvick getting Gil Martin back on the box, he might be a factor this week.
Marcos Ambrose seems to do good on these races that require a lot of holding on so he might sneak in at Atlatna.
The Ones to Avoid
I have to say just everyone else!! Montoya, McMurray, Almirola, Hornish, Newman, Menard, Burton... all those people that just nothing good can ever happen to!
My Picks
Hmm.... tough one this week. Going to for now with...
1) Kasey Kahne
2) Greg Biffle
3) Jimmie Johnson
Subject to change if I suspect engine issues in the Hendrick camp for anotehr big track.
Last edited by Cowboy6622; 09-01-2012 at 08:44 PM.
#9
Since I've missed last week. cause of poor internet at the water park. I'd better do well this weekend. OK ..........Dale JR. Jeff #24 Gordon. & # 48. Since these guys have the fastest motors. Might as well go with them. Can;t wait till OCT ! When the Talladega race is on.