Kobalt Tools 500: Winners and Losers in Atlanta

Four races into the 2009 season, and the cream has begun to rise to the top.

Here's a rundown of this week's Losers and Winners at the Kobalt Tools 500.

Winners

Kurt Busch

The field got Busch whacked the last two weeks. This time it was older brother Kurt Busch who bested not only his younger brother Kyle (see losers) who was three laps down, but the entire field. He ran a near perfect race.

His victory lap, don't knock it till you try it. Busch got the last laugh on the field on Sunday, scoring his first victory since rains shorten New Hampshire last summer.

Points: Third

Jeff Gordon

Yes, he is on my list again, until he has a bad race or proves otherwise he will come in second, again. After a caution caught them on the tail end of the lead lap they ran hard to avoid going down one lap. A Bobby Labonte spin allowed Gordon to stay on the lead lap and battle back to take the lead just after midway.

This team has been the most consistent. Even without a win so far this team has been challenging for the win each week and look for that to continue in Bristol.

Points: First

Carl Edwards

This time last year Edwards had already won two races, he looked like the guy to beat early last season.

Fast forward to 2009. Edwards has had a slow start—no wins and just one top five and that came Sunday.

Atlanta breathed life into this team when they needed it. A strong third finish doesn't tell the whole story they were on the lead lap all day but struggled in the pits and with keeping up with the track at times. 

But this team still has the same core guys from last year's run and they will get it together.

Points: Fourth

Brian Vickers

If it wasn't for a late race caution for Robby Gordon, Brian Vickers might have caught Kurt Busch late for the lead. Instead caution flew and Vickers had to settle for a fifth-place finish on Sunday.

This team should make the chase this season. With a strong leader on the pit box and in the car, making a run for a title this year should be well within their reach.

Points: 11th

Losers

Jimmy Watts

This name nobody will recognize—but if you saw the race on Sunday you'll know what I am talking about. He was the gasman for Marcose Ambrose that ran out onto the infield grass chasing after a loose tire.

If NASCAR had seen the runaway tire making its way to the track, they would have thrown a caution, so the result would have been the same.

In that moment he caused a caution, putting nearly the entire field one to two laps down and leaving only nine cars on the lead lap. He changed the entire race not even 100 laps into the day.

We could say he didn't know better, but it should be common sense. Would you run out onto the interstate or freeway with cars whizzing by at 60-70 MPH? I wouldn't think so.

Kyle Busch

Yes, it is one bad race. But this team was not very good all weekend. They seem to be really struggling with the setups for this team. Yes, they won last week, but they weren't the best car last week they got themselves into position to win late.

But Sunday this team didn't look like the same team. They struggled with the tires and track conditions, fell a lap down early, and ended up three laps back when it was all said and done.

They will be fine come Bristol, but you have to wonder this team doesn't have the same dominance they had early last year. Have they done something different—or has the rest of the field caught up?

Points: Seventh

Mark Martin

With all the hype coming into this season, he has failed to live up to it. Winning the pole this weekend I thought would be what they needed. But all that speed in practice failed to equate to the race and they were never a factor.

A late-race spin turned what looked to be a good finish into 31st-place finish and keeps them on the bubble heading into Bristol.

They need to finish well at Bristol to bolster their spot in the standings. Otherwise, this team will be racing its way in at Martinsville.

Points: 34th

Final Lap...

Well we have hit the first off week of the season and now we can begin to see who the real players are.

With the final race on last years old point standings coming  up at Bristol look to see some desperate teams try anything to get themselves into position to be in the top 35.

It was a real disappointment to see how empty the stands were for this race. After  strong attendance at Las Vegas and a surprising attendance showing at California, many thought Atlanta would have been pretty full.

But the poor economy is to blame for the poor showing on Sunday.  Expect more showings like this at more tracks this season if we don't see a turnaround soon.

A heads up to AJ Allmendinger, who has qualified for every race this year despite running a limited schedule and searching for sponsorship. He sits 20th in the points, with one race to go, before the cut off of last years points.

Enjoy the off week!!!