Blues Clues: Why Kurt Busch Could Win Atlanta & The Chase

With the Chase at hand everyone and their cat are predicting a championship win from either the RCR stables in the form of Harvick or the five time champ from Hendrick, Jimme Johnson.

What no one seems to be willing to do is look beyond these two and see the real sleeper in their midst: A Busch brother... and no, it's not the one you think.

Kurt Busch already has a championship under his belt, winning the inaugural Chase. He knows how to win, and with him taking the 2004 chase from starting in 7th place, this year's starting probable starting position of 10th doesn't look that daunting. All Kurt needs to move himself beyond the shadow of this younger brother in the Chase is a win. And Atlanta is the prime time to do it. Why?

He's already won here before.

Atlanta has given Kurt three wins, including one already this year. With the Chase featuring a bevy of cookie cutter tracks, and the recent speed that Penske racing has given Kurt in his Dodge, Atlanta might be the perfect test run to dominate the mile and a halfs in the Chase. Another win here at Atlanta and all the pundits might have been overlooking the single biggest threat for the Championship in 2010.

Not to say that there haven't been problems:

Being the only Dodge on track may at times seem like a real negative, as having no other teams to compare notes with can hamper competitiveness. But Busch has already shown that he can win with the package he has from Dodge and Penske this year.

With a win at Atlanta in 2010, Kurt could propel himself into the Chase as a winner and a real threat for his 2nd Championship.

And leave all the pundits wondering why they didn't notice him sooner.