With the dominant season series champion Kevin Harvick (No. 21 AutoZone Chevrolet) and championship runner-up Carl Edwards had last year, it was tough for anyone else to break through in wins, let alone statistical categories.
But that’s exactly what happened at Atlanta in 2006. Jason Leffler (No. 38 Great Clips Toyota) finished sixth in that race, ahead of – you guessed it – both Harvick and Edwards.
And he did it in impressive fashion. Leffler had an Average Running Position of 13.077 and a Driver Rating of 94.9. He also accumulated an astounding number of Quality Passes – passes of cars in the Top 15 while under green – with 33. That number was third-best over the last two years at Atlanta.
Now the question is: Can he do it again? Leffler will have some stout competition once again as he challenges a list of drivers who have accumulated Driver Ratings in the 100+ territory at Atlanta: Jeff Burton (138.7), Tony Stewart (118.3), Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Arby’s Ford, 115.3), Edwards (114.7), Greg Biffle (No. 37 Cub Cadet Ford, 114.6) and Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Ragu Dodge, 111.5).
If last year’s performance is any indication, Burton might be the man to beat. The defending race winner brilliantly negotiated Atlanta’s lightning-quick terrain, earning top-three Speeds on the Frontstretch, and in each of Atlanta’s four turns. His Green Flag Speed was also the fastest of any driver over the past two years.
Keep an eye on Kenseth, too. He has a win at Atlanta and has finished fourth each of the last two years. His Average Running Position of 5.155 is the highest of any driver who has competed in the last two Atlanta races and his 388 Laps in the Top 15 is tops among any driver over the last two years at the track.
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