Bucket Report: Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin in the Top Five at Atlanta

That’s right the Bucket Report is back! As Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson make the big headlines, the Bucket Report likes to shine a light on those a bit lower in the standings at the bottom of the Chase bucket so to speak. At Atlanta the Bucket drivers did shine.

Atlanta’s quad-oval track is one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. There are no restrictor plates at Atlanta thus leading to the track's slogan, "Real Racing, Real Fast". However, track temperature at Atlanta often changes drastically over the duration of the race, which can lead to handling issues.

Ranked 12^th – Kyle Busch (#18)

Over all Kyle Busch hasn’t had the Chase everyone expected, however maybe his Atlanta top five finish will make all that humble pie being thrown at him a little easier to get down.  Not to say that Atlanta was easy on Kyle, for almost half the race he struggled with a really loose car. On Lap 88 the No. 18 team tried a wedge and air pressure adjustments. Kyle was able to move up to tenth, but battling with car prevented a stronger push. On Lap 185 a track-bar adjustment seemed to tighten up the No. 18 car.

In the last fourth of the race Kyle would pass brother Kurt for fourth on Lap 309. On a sidenote what a race for Kurt Busch! This Chase has highlighted the nothing to lose attitude of the non-Chasers. Kurt Busch was the embodiment of the attitude at Atlanta as he kissed the wall multiple times but wasn’t being pushed out of the top ten. Jimmie Johnson would pass both brothers on Lap 322 leading to a fifth (Kyle) and sixth (Kurt) finish, a commendable day for the Busch family.

Ranked 11^th – Denny Hamlin (#11)

Martinsville hinted at a turnaround for Denny Hamlin and Atlanta confirmed it. Early on in Atlanta Denny, like teammate Kyle Busch struggled with his car, reporting a vibration. In his first pit-stop on Lap 86 the No. 11 team would make a chassis adjustment. Through out the first half of the race the No. 11 team would go on making minor adjustments.  With the car coming together Denny entered the top five.

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