(Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/301042Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)
The 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule changes mean that the drivers are headed to Atlanta Motor Speedway this week for the Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500.
The 1.54 mile track has 24 degrees of banking through the turns which allows for plenty of speed. However, the drivers should not be reaching those speeds of over 200 mph like last week since the track is one mile shorter than Daytona. This will allow for plenty of side-by-side racing and could make for some exciting racing for drivers and fans alike.
Something else that will be different for the drivers to adjust to at Atlanta this week will be the time of day the race is run. The last time they were on the track for a race it started in the daytime and transitioned into the night. The move to the spring has also moved the race to an afternoon race that will remain under sunlight from start to finish. This change will require the drivers and teams to adjust their notes from past races at the track.
(Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/301045Brian Lawdermilk/NASCAR via Getty Images)
With those particular changes being noted, who has a good chance of racing to a NASCAR Sprint Cup victory this week? Of course with all of the changes for 2015 in rules, cars, drivers and crew chiefs anything is possible since it is just the second race of the year.
However, here are the ten drivers with the highest driver ratings at Atlanta:
Jeff Gordon – 106.0 driver rating with 5wins at the track
Jimmie Johnson – 104.9 driver rating with 3 wins at the track
Carl Edwards – 100.1 driver rating with 3 wins at the track
Tony Stewart – 98.1 driver rating with 3 wins at the track
Matt Kenseth – 97.9 driver rating with 0 wins at the track
Denny Hamlin – 97.4 driver rating with 1 win at the track
Kurt Busch – 94.3 driver rating with 3 wins at the track
Kyle Busch – 92.8 driver rating with 1 win at the track
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 92.7 driver rating with 1 win at the track
Kyle Larson – 91.1 driver rating with – 0 wins at the track
Of course both Kurt and Kyle Busch will not be racing this week (or for the foreseeable future) so this is really a top eight list.
Armed with this information, the performance that he gave last week and the knowledge that this is his last full-time Sprint Cup season, I would think that Jeff Gordon will be a strong contender for the win this week.
Jimmie Johnson would also be another driver to watch closely for the win based on his past performance at Atlanta, his 2015 start at Daytona and his overall career in NASCAR.
Carl Edwards is with a new team so I’m not sure how much his past performance at the track can play into his chances for a win this week. However, he did look strong in his first race with his new team last week so I would not count him out as a possible contender.
Tony Stewart has had a couple of bad years in his career. A fourth win at Atlanta and first win of 2015 could be what he needs to put the past two years behind him and move toward a much better Sprint Cup season this year.
(Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/301051Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)
While he is not in the top ten in driver ratings at Atlanta, I think Kasey Kahne could also be a factor in the end for this week. He was the winner the last time the NASCAR Sprint Cup series raced at Atlanta. That win got him on the Chase Grid for 2014 with only one race to spare. That was his third win at Atlanta in Sprint Cup car and he was strong last week in Daytona.
A gut feeling also tells me to keep an eye on Matt Kenseth this week. Matt is fifth highest in driver ratings for Atlanta although he has not won a Sprint Cup race at the track yet. Matt appeared to have a car to contend at Daytona until an incident on the track caused enough damage to relegate him to a disappointing 35th place finish. I think Matt will be looking for redemption after last week and could finally score his first Sprint Cup Atlanta win this week.
If you have followed me very long (or know me even slightly) you already know who I will be cheering on for the win. After last week’s race I could also put him in the category of looking strong for a chance to win this week. However, since I am a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr., I typically try to make sure that there is plenty of data to back that up before putting him in as a favorite to win in my blogs.
No matter which driver ultimately ends their day in Victory Lane, I have a feeling that the race will be a great one to watch!
The Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 will get started at 12noon central time (1pm eastern) this Sunday, March 1st of FOX.
By: Buck Stevens
