Series Stalwarts Excel At Atlanta

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The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to the track this weekend for the first of two trips to Atlanta Motor Speedway. And let’s just say the series is making it count.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck regulars will mingle with a few NASCAR NEXTEL Cup regulars on what many describe as the fastest track on the circuit.

Joining the likes of Jack Sprague, Mike Skinner and Todd Bodine will be NEXTEL Cup familiar faces Ken Schrader and Clint Bowyer. But figuring out who will come out on top in the American Commercial Lines 200 isn’t as easy as one might guess.

In the past at Atlanta, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck regulars have battled for pride and have succeeded. In the past two years (four races), a regular has won the Atlanta event three times despite NASCAR NEXTEL Cup regulars often crashing the party.

The lone NASCAR NEXTEL Cup winner at Atlanta is Kyle Busch, who won in 2005. In that race, Busch scored an impressive Driver Rating of 136.2 and had an Average Running Position of 2.885.

Beyond that, it’s the NASCAR Craftsman Truck regulars’ show. In two Atlanta races, Erik Darnell has the second best Average Running Position with a 6.554 and the second best average Driver Rating of 109.3. Behind him in the average Driver Rating stats are Johnny Benson (108.4) and Todd Bodine (108.0).

Last year, Todd Bodine and Mike Bliss won the two races at Atlanta.

Quotable

“Atlanta and I have a love-hate relationship. I love racing here, but sometimes I don’t think she likes me too much. Two of the biggest wrecks of my career have been here, but I also set the track record and I’ve led a lot of laps here. ” – Rick Crawford.

“That is pretty darn cool and who would have thought it would have come to this when I competed in my first truck race back in 1995. ” – Jack Sprague, who, along with Crawford, will make his 250th series start at Atlanta.

“I’m looking forward to Atlanta – we know where the winner’s circle is. We did a burnout there before, and I’d like to put another one in there. ” – Ron Hornaday Jr.

Three Brands Have Won Races In Atlanta

With Manufacturers’ Championship runnerup Ford winless at Atlanta Motor Speedway, odds favor Toyota retaining or increasing its current lead in the standings. Ford got close a year ago when Todd Bodine edged Mark Martin’s F-150 truck to halt the latter’s two-race winning streak.

Actually, Chevrolet is the favorite at AMS, having won three of the past four races. Bobby Hamilton’s Dodge was the race’s first winner in 2004.

Manufacturers’ Championship

2007 Point Standings

Toyota 18

Ford 10

Chevrolet 10

Dodge 6

FAST FACTS

Next Race: American Commercial Lines 200

The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway

The Date: March 16, 2007

The Time: 9 p. m. (ET)

TV: SPEED, 8:30 p. m. (ET)

Track Layout: 1.54-mile oval

Race Purse: $536,410

2006 Winner: Todd Bodine

2006 Pole: Todd Bodine

No. Driver Pts

1 Sprague 355

2 Skinner 355

3 Benson 330

4 Hornaday 321

5 Bodine 306

6 Musgrave 298

7 Kvapil 290

8 Crawford 277

9 Crafton 272

10 Darnell 256