Johnson Wins at Atlanta, Ties Earnhardt Sr with 76th Victory

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

With wrecks erupting behind him, Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in overtime under caution in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway—and then he remembered.

Almost lost in the euphoria of Johnson’s second straight victory at the 1.54-mile track was the realization that, with his 76th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, he had tied the late Dale Earnhardt for seventh on the all-time wins list.

But as the No. 48 Chevrolet rolled around the track on its victory lap, heading in a clockwise direction à la Alan Kulwicki, the six-time champion thrust his arm out the driver’s side window with a three-finger salute to the crowd, acknowledging the bond he now shares with The Intimidator. Continue reading

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 at Atlanta Preview

316325

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, Feb. 28

The Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: FOX, 12:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 500.5 miles (325 laps)

 

Daytona Drama: Hamlin Wins Great American Race by Closest Margin in its History

Denny Hamlin provided viewers more drama in the closing moments of the Daytona 500 than fans have seen in the race’s history. Literally and statistically.

The No. 11 Toyota driver made a move from his fourth position with less than two laps remaining in Sunday’s Daytona 500, dove between Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., then beat Truex to the start/finish line by 0.010 seconds – the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the history of The Great American Race.

Read – Joe Gibbs Racing Pumped for Atlanta Motor Speedway

Hamlin’s MOV on Sunday also ranks tied for the seventh closest in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.

Don’t be surprised to see another tight finish in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two of the top-ten closest finishes in NASCAR history are at the Georgia track. Continue reading

Kurt Busch Leads Stewart-Haas Racing to Atlanta

Photo - Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Kurt Busch will attempt to tie Jimmie Johnson for the active Atlanta Motor Speedway wins lead when he goes for his fourth victory at the 1.54-mile track in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

In addition to his three wins, Busch claims five top-fives and ten top-tens in 24 Atlanta starts. He owns the fifth-best average finish (14.7) and driver rating (94.3) among active drivers at Atlanta. Busch kicked off the season with a tenth-place showing in the Daytona 500. Continue reading

Five Hot Drivers to Watch as the Sprint Cup Series Heads to Atlanta

Photo - AMS

Photo – AMS

The 58th Daytona 500 belonged to Toyota with Joe Gibbs Racing and now teams are heading to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 on Sunday.

Drivers competing with the Chevrolet bow tie showed some promise up front early at Daytona with four of their drivers finishing in the top-ten. The blue Ford oval put one driver in the top-ten and that was now former Daytona 500 champion, Joey Logano.

Ruling the World Center of Racing at Daytona was Toyota as the most successful manufacturer with three drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing finishing in the top-five. So, with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams heading into Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, it makes sense that JGR drivers dominate the hottest drivers to watch list. Continue reading