Kurt Busch Wins @ Atlanta Motor Speedway

Kurt Busch made it two spring wins in a row at the Kobalt Tools 500 @ Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA Sunday. This after a wild finish which seen two attempts at a green white checker finish the first time since Daytona. Kurt Busch had a strong car all day along with Kasey Kahne, Juan Pablo Montoya, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth who all swapped the lead throught out the day. This was Kurt Busch's third Atlanta win and second in a row in the March race as he wont last year. Here is the race recap with finishing order and updated points standings as the series go to Bristol in two weeks.

Before the race started Greg Biffle who had a practice crash went to the rear in a backup car and Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman changed engines so they started in the rear also. Dale Earnhardt Jr started on pole but it would'nt last as Kyle Busch took the lead on lap 1 and led the race and the first caution flew at Lap 5 when Robby Gordon cut down a tire going into turn one and crashed hard, that would be the start of tire issues that caused alot of drivers headaches on Sunday. Kasey Kahne would take the lead on the restart and start what would be a great day for him. Lap 35 David Ragan in his UPS 6 Ford cuts a right front tire and sent him in the wall, Ragan had a great car in practice and was starting his way to the top 5 when this happened. Kasey Kahne leads on the restart at lap 39 but a lap later Brad Keselowski got into Carl Edwards going into turn one and sent him up the track into Joey Logano and caused a crash the caution flew again. This would turn out to be a wild incident in the closing laps with Keselowski and Edwards.

By Lap 66 Michael McDowell, Joe Nemechek and Dave Blaney were out a few laps later Clint Bowyer tagged the wall but was able to continue on to pit road. Kurt Busch would lead after a round of pit stops but bad luck for Dale Jr the pole sitter as he would pit for a loose wheel on lap 114 and a lap later Mark Martin cuts a tire off turn four and saves the car but would make it to pit road .Under a green flag pit stop Jeff Gordon who was running top 10 would have tire trouble and then get tagged for speeding sending him 2 laps down a few laps later Joey Logano has tire issues after a earlier accident with Edwards and blows a tire in turn 2. Restart on lap 169 Denny Hamlin leads Kurt Busch on the restart an David Reuitmann would have engine trouble taking his car behind the garage. Kasey Kahne leads Juan Montoya on the restart. Kahne did have a great car all day and lead the most laps of the day. Tony Stewart would have tire woes as well coming to pit lane under green and then with 123 laps to go the 48 of Jimmie Johnson pits for a tire and vibration on his Lowes Chevy. Dale Jr, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon along with Johnson seemed to have tire issues through most of the race but it also affected other drivers. Brad Keselowski had a tire issue he pits under green but would eventually crack the top 5 until a incident with Carl Edwards later.

Denny Hamlin who had a top 5 run and led laps had tire trouble he came to pit road and then Johnson got together with Newman going into turn 3 and had a tire rub he came to pit road after that. Elliott Sadler and Jeff Burton were busted for speeding on pit road Burton had two penalties on the day. Elliott Sadler would get involved in a crash after getting turned on the restart up into Max Papis and another caution with 33 laps to go. Kurt Busch was getting caught after the restart by Juan Montoya but before he could catch him with 4 laps to go Carl Edwards got into Brad Keselowski and Keselowski spun on the front stretch the car got airborne even though the roof flaps did come up and Keselowski almost got into the fence but did'nt he hit the wall hard with the side of the car he would be ok but very shaken up. Nascar black flagged Edwards and parked him the rest of the race he had to go to the Nascar hauler thereafter. Well we have a restart with 3 laps to go the leaders take off for turn one Kurt Busch, Paul Menard, Jamie McMurray and Juan Montoya at the front. Kurt Busch takes the lead in turn one but Kasey Kahne would make a pass down below the yellow line and gain alot of spots into four when a big wreck happened collecting Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin and David Gilliland this setup another green white checker finish. The leaders pit and Kurt Busch got off first, Montoya would start second and he spun the tires on the start this would let Matt Kenseth by in his Valvoline 17 Ford but he was'nt able to catch Kurt Busch as he would go on to win the Kobalt Tools 500 in Atlanta.

Kobalt Tool 500 Top 10

1.Kurt Busch (2nd Spring Win) (3rd Atlanta Win Overall)

2.Matt Kenseth

3.Juan Pablo Montoya

4.Kasey Kahne

5.Paul Menard

6.AJ Allmendinger

7.Brian Vickers

8.Greg Biffle

9.Kevin Harvick

10.Scott Speed

Top 5 Points Standings After Race 4 Atlanta.

1.Kevin Harvick

2.Matt Kenseth -26

3.Greg Biffle -59

4.Jimmie Johnson -74

5.Clint Bowyer -86

The Series is off next weekend along with Trucks and Nationwide they return to the Bristol Motor Speedway in two weeks and im sure we will use up the three attempts at a green white checker at Bristol what do you think?