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TURNING LEFT: The Motorsports Blog
By Charlie O. Mallonee March 10, 2009 |
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Slip Sliding Away in the ATL Kurt Busch, Kyle’s big brother, decided enough was enough and reminded the racing community that he was winning races before his little brother became a star. Kurt’s Penske Racing Miller Beer No. 2 team did not just win in Atlanta … they dominated! Kurt led 234 of the 325 laps on the day when the tires went away quickly and keeping the car straight was almost impossible. The right side of the Busch’s car showed the contact he made with the outside retaining wall on more than one occasion. The warm temperatures in Atlanta played havoc with the handling of the cars all day long. A new set of tires would give the drivers three to five laps of grip and then, it was time slide all over the track coming out of the corners. The win was not an easy one even though Kurt led all of those laps. The 10th yellow flag dropped with just three laps to go in the race. That set up the always exciting and unpredictable version of overtime used by NASCAR known as the green, white, checkered flag finish. The leaders all went the pits for tires during the caution period. Carl Edwards beat Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon off pit road to become the race leader. When the green flag dropped, Busch and Gordon were able to pass Edwards. Gordon coaxed everything he could out of his No.24, but Busch and his Penske racing machine were not going to be denied on Sunday. Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards finished 1-2-3. The were followed by Kevin Harvick, Brian Vickers, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex, Jr. For Kurt Busch, this was his 19th victory in 296 Sprint Cup races. It is his second victory at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon posted his third top-10 finish of the 2009 season; however, Gordon has now gone 45 races without a victory. That is the longest stretch without taking the checkered flag in Gordon’s career. Gordon may not have won the race, but he left Atlanta in first-place in the points standings. He has a 43-point lead over second-place driver, Clint Bowyer. Carl Edwards’ third-place finish was he best showing of the 2009 season. The top finishing rookie was Joey Logano who came in 30th-place. This was the fourth time Kurt and Kyle Busch have won back-to-back races. In 2005, the brothers split the wins at Fontana and Richmond. It happened twice in 2008 at Infineon and New Hampshire and then again at New Hampshire and Daytona. The Sprint Cup Series drivers have this weekend off. The action resumes at the bullring known as Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22nd with the Food City 500. This weekend look for news on the upcoming Formula 1 and Indy Car 2009 seasons from Turning Left. 
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