Race 2 Win: Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500

Nextel Cup Series

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Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 - Race Notes

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Track data:
Race #: 33 of 36 (10-30-05)
Track Size: 1.54 Miles
Event: Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500
Number of Laps: 325
Location: Atlanta, GA
Length of Event: 500.5 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 2,332 Ft
Length of Back Stretch: 1,800 Ft.
Degree of Banking in Corners: 24 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: 5 degrees

Qualifying/Race data: All records are on the 1.54-mile configuration (since fall 1997)
Last year's pole winner: Ryan Newman 191.575 mph 10-29-04 28.939 seconds
Last year's race winner: Jimmie Johnson 145.847 mph 10-31-04 3 hrs, 25 min, 54 sec
Track qualifying record: Geoffrey Bodine 197.478 mph 11-15-97 28.074 seconds
Track race record: Bobby Labonte 159.904 mph 11-16-97 3 hr, 07 min, 48 sec

Historical data
Previous winners at Atlanta:
Dale Earnhardt (9) Cale Yarborough (7) Bobby Labonte (6) Richard Petty (6) Bobby Allison (5) Bill Elliott (5) David Pearson (4) Fred Lorenzen (4) Jeff Gordon (4) Darrell Waltrip (3) Neil Bonnett (3) Morgan Shepherd (3) L. Yarborough (2) Marvin Panch (2) Buddy Baker (2) Rusty Wallace (2) Mark Martin (2) Dave Marcis (1) A.J. Foyt (1) Junior Johnson (1) Rex White (1) Jim Hurtubise (1) Fireball Roberts (1) Ned Jarrett (1) Dick Hutcherson (1) Bobby Johns (1) Bob Burdick (1) Donnie Allison (1) Benny Parsons (1) Ricky Rudd (1) Ken Schrader (1) Ernie Irvan (1) Dale Jarrett (1) Jerry Nadeau (1) Kevin Harvick (1) Tony Stewart (1) Kurt Busch (1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1) Jimmie Johnson (1) Carl Edwards (1)
Races won from the pole: 13 of 92 events (14%)
Races won from in top 10: 72 of 92 events (78%)
Races won from outside top 10: 20 of 92 events (22%)

Track Milestones

Fireball Roberts won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole at Atlanta in July 1960.

Fireball Roberts won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Atlanta, the Dixie 300 on July 31, 1960.

The track was re-measured to 1.522 miles in the fall of 1970.

The track was re-configured in the fall of 1997 with the front- and back-stretch designations swapped and the track size increased from 1.522 to 1.54 miles.

Three races have been shortened by rain at Atlanta: 1962 Atlanta 500; 1982 Coca-Cola 500; 1998 Primestar 500. The 1991 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was completed on Monday.

Qualifying Update
There have been 10 different Bud Pole winners in the 16 races at Atlanta since the track size changed in the fall of 1997. Only Dale Jarrett (March 2000 and 2001) and Ryan Newman (both 2003, both 2004 and spring 2005) have scored multiple Bud Poles on the new configuration. Qualifying was canceled due to weather in October 2002.

Track Update
There have been seven different race winners in the last seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races held at Atlanta.

Track Milestone
Geoffrey Bodine's 197.478 mph qualifying lap at Atlanta in November 1997 (the first on the new configuration) remains the fastest qualifying lap on a non-restrictor-plate track in NASCAR history.

Manufacturer Update
Dodge has not posted a victory at Atlanta since Richard Petty won there in the spring of 1977.

The Money
Purse $5,939,437
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $50,000
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $15,000

Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-6856; Right-side -- D-6858
Other Nextel Cup Tracks At Which This Tire Combination Is Run: None
Estimated Pit Window: Every 600-65 laps, based on fuel mileage.

Would You Believe?
Atlanta has produced three of the 10 closest finishes since electronic timing was introduced in May 1993. Both races occurred on the new configuration.

Dale Earnhardt crossed the line just 0.010 second ahead of Bobby Labonte in the fifth closest race (tied with Rockingham-2004) on March 12, 2000.

Kevin Harvick beat Jeff Gordon by 0.006 second on March 11, 2001, in the third closest finish.

Carl Edwards beat Jimmie Johnson by 0.028 second on March 20, 2005, the ninth closest finish.

Notebook

The field will consist of 43 cars set by two timed qualifying laps, with the adjustments afterward as required.

There have been 92 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway since the first race was held there in 1960. There have been two races a year except for 1961 which had a third event, the 250- mile Festival 250. Additionally, one race was a 300-mile event, six were 400 miles and all the others were 500 miles.

Ryan Newman is the defending Bud Pole winner for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.

Buddy Baker scored seven Bud Poles at Atlanta, the most of all drivers.

Ryan Newman leads all active drivers with five Bud Poles at Atlanta. All five of his Bud Poles have come in the past five races there.

Fireball Roberts (1960), Cale Yarborough (1978), Buddy Baker (1979), Alan Kulwicki (1989) and Ryan Newman (2003 and 2004) are the only drivers to win both poles in the same year at Atlanta. Roberts also won two poles there in 1961 but one was for a 250-mile race that was one of three races at Atlanta that year.

Thirteen races at Atlanta have been won from the Bud Pole. Nine drivers have won from the second-place starting position giving 24 percent of the victories posted there to the front-row starting spots.

Fifty-two of 92 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Atlanta have been won from the first five starting positions (57 percent). Six of the last seven races there have been won from a top-10 starting position.

Dale Earnhardt scored nine victories at Atlanta, more than any other driver. Bobby Labonte (six) heads the list of active drivers with Atlanta victories.

Jimmie Johnson is the defending race winner for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.

Bobby Labonte won the 2001 NAPA 500 from the 39th starting position – the deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Atlanta.

There have been five sweeps at Atlanta since the track opened in 1960: Marvin Panch (1965), Bobby Allison (1972), David Pearson (1973) and Bill Elliott (1985 and 1992).

The Wood Brothers are the most productive car owners at Atlanta with 12 victories. The Wood Brothers last won there in the spring of 1993 with Morgan Shepherd as their driver.

Richard Childress and Junior Johnson each have nine victories at Atlanta as car owners.

Bobby Labonte has scored six of his 21 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories at Atlanta: two in the spring and four in the fall.

Hot-Lanta
Ryan Newman has started on the front row in all six of his qualifying efforts at Atlanta (second – March 2002 and the last five Bud Poles) and started sixth in October 2002, when qualifying was canceled. He has posted four top-10 finishes in seven Atlanta races, including consecutive finishes of 10th in each of his first three.

Back-to-Back at Atlanta
Though there have been 11 back-to-back victories posted at Atlanta since 1960, there have been only five season sweeps:

Marvin Panch Both races 1965

Bobby Allison Both races 1972

David Pearson Both races 1973

Richard Petty Fall 1974 and Spring 1975

Cale Yarborough Fall 1980 and Spring 1981

Bill Elliott Both races 1985

Dale Earnhardt Fall 1989 and Spring 1990

Dale Earnhardt Fall 1995 and Spring 1996

Bill Elliott Both races 1992

Bobby Labonte Fall 1997 and Spring 1998

Jeff Gordon Fall 1998 and Spring 1999

The 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup - After Six of 10 Races

Tony Stewart finished second at Martinsville Speedway and remained the leader in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Stewart is 15 points ahead of second-place Jimmie Johnson. The 10 drivers will race over the remaining four races to determine the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion who is expected to win in excess of $5 million.

Seven drivers in the Chase changed points positions at Martinsville Speedway.

Only three of the 10 Chase drivers led at Martinsville Speedway earning lap leader bonus points: Tony Stewart (283 laps), Matt Kenseth (19 laps) and Greg Biffle (six laps).

Stewart has earned 40 lap leader bonus points in the Chase, 15 more than any other Chase driver.

Kurt Busch (35th at New Hampshire, 23rd at Dover, eighth at Talladega, 14th at Kansas, second at Lowe's and sixth at Martinsville) started the 2004 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup by scoring a victory at New Hampshire and then followed with top-10 finishes in the first six races of the Chase-thru Martinsville. He ranked first in the point standings after this race one year ago. Busch is now eighth in the point standings 172 points behind Tony Stewart.

Seven of the 10 drivers who made it into the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup are doing so for the second straight year: Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, and Carl Edwards are new to the Chase in 2005.

Nine of the 10 drivers competing in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup have scored at least one victory in the 2005 season. Five of the 10 drivers have scored multiple victories led by Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle each with five. Rusty Wallace is the only Chase driver that is winless in 2005.

Only one of the “Ford Five” Jack Roush Racing drivers finished in the top 10 at Martinsville: Kurt Busch (sixth). Matt Kenseth was 12th, Greg Biffle 20th, Carl Edwards 26th and Mark Martin 34th.

Tony Stewart has scored four top-five finishes in the six races in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, the most among Chase drivers.

Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson, each have scored five top-10 finishes in the first six races in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Jimmie Johnson, who also won at Dover, is the only driver to score multiple victories in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Jamie McMurray (seventh) climbed from 14th to 11th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He leads by just 18 points over 12th-place Kevin Harvick..

A total of $1 Million will be paid to the driver who finishes 11th in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Additionally, the 11th-place driver will also join the top-10 drivers on the stage at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards Banquet in New York in December.

The Chase Drivers at Atlanta

Greg Biffle has scored top-10 finishes in his last three races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kurt Busch has scored only one top-10 finish in his last five races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Carl Edwards has raced in only two races at Atlanta Motor Speedway finishing third and first.

Jimmie Johnson has scored four straight top-five finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Matt Kenseth has scored only one top-10 finish in his last four races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Mark Martin has scored top-five finishes in his last two races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Jeremy Mayfield has scored two top-10 finishes in his last 10 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Ryan Newman has scored only one top-10 finish in his last four races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Tony Stewart has posted seven top-10 finishes in his last eight races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Rusty Wallace has scored only one top-10 finish in his last nine races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Driver Milestones at Atlanta

Ricky Rudd.is expected to make his 785th consecutive start, extending the all-time record for consecutive races.

Dale Jarrett is expected to make his 600th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start this week at Atlanta.

Jeff Burton is expected to make his 400th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start this week at Atlanta .

Kevin Harvick is expected to make his 175th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start this week at Atlanta. Ricky Rudd Expected to Set Mark at Atlanta Motor Speedway Ricky Rudd is expected to make his 56th start at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Rudd will tie Darrell Waltrip and Bill Elliott for third all-time in starts there behind Dave Marcis with 59 and Richard Petty who holds the record with 65 starts. Rudd has one victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway (March 1987).

Defending NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Kurt Busch has competed in nine races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, scoring three top-10 finishes including a victory in October 2002.

Point Leader at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Tony Stewart has competed in 13 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, scoring one victory (March 2002) and seven top-10 finishes, all in his last 10 races there.

Tough at Atlanta in 2004

Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, and Tony Stewart all scored top-10 finishes in both races at Atlanta in 2004. Johnson and Kahne scored top-five finishes in both races.

The streaks continued this past March with Biffle scoring his third straight top-10, Johnson scoring his fourth straight top-five, and Kahne scored his third straight top-five finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Strong Starter at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Ryan Newman has posted seven straight top-10 starts, including five straight Bud Poles in his seven races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Winning From Up Front at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Twenty-two of the 92 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway have been won from the front row (24 percent). However, only one of the last 10 races there was won from the front row.

Atlanta Dominator
Jimmie Johnson has finished fourth or better in his last four races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the longest current top-10 streak among active drivers.

Active Atlanta Dominators

Starts- Ricky Rudd (55)

Bud Poles - Ryan Newman (five)

Victories - Bobby Labonte (six)

Top Fives - Bobby Labonte (12)

Top 10s - Ricky Rudd (22)

Average Start (more than one) - Ryan Newman (1.857 in seven races)

Average Finish - Kasey Kahne (4.33 in three races)

Laps Led - Jeff Gordon (975)

Manufacturer Domination at Atlanta
A Chevrolet has won four of the last five races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“Last-Timer” at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Rusty Wallace has scored two victories and 16 top-10 finishes in his 46 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, he has not scored a top-10 finish in his last six races at Atlanta.

And Beat Goes On
Kevin Lepage has been running at the finish in all 11 of his races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. No other driver has competed in 10 or more races at Atlanta without scoring a DNF there.

Owner Domination at Atlanta
The Wood Brothers have scored 12 victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the most of all car owners. Their last Atlanta victory came in the spring of 1993 with Morgan Shepherd scoring his last career victory.

Starting and Finishing Up Front at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Ryan Newman has a 1.857 starting average and a 13.571 finishing average in seven races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His starting average is the best among active drivers at Atlanta.

Kasey Kahne has a 16.33 starting average and a 4.33 finishing average in three races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His finishing average is the best among all active drivers.

Sweeps at Atlanta Motor Speedway
There have only been five sweeps at Atlanta Motor Speedway since twice-a-year racing began there in 1960. Bill Elliott (1992) posted the most recent sweep at Atlanta Motor Speedway, 13 years ago.

Don't Tell Me You Can't
Bobby Labonte won the 2001 NAPA 500 from the 39th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started in the 46-year history at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Only two other races in NASCAR history were won from deeper in the field (1950 Southern 500 and 1953 Raleigh 500- both won from 43rd).

Leading the Way at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Ryan Newman is the only driver to lead in each of the last seven races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Newman is also the only active driver that has led in every NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race that he has competed in at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Would You Believe?
Rusty Wallace is still 59 laps shy of leading 20,000 laps in his career. Wallace has led 19,941 laps and ranks seventh all-time.

Winning Tougher than Ever in 2005
After 32 races in 2005, there are still three drivers who won in 2004 that have not won in 2005: Elliott Sadler, Rusty Wallace and Joe Nemechek. Wallace is the only driver ranked in the top 10 that has not won a race but is also the only driver among the top-50 drivers without a DNF this season. There are six drivers not in the top 10 that have scored at least one victory in 2005.

Manufacturer Dominance
Chevrolet has clinched the 2005 Manufacturers' Championship. This marks Chevrolets 29th Championship and 25th of the modern era (since 1972). Chevrolet has won the championship in the last three years. A Chevrolet has won 16 of the 32 races in 2005. Ford has won 13 and Dodge has three victories.

Streaks
Rusty Wallace has been running at the finish in 45 consecutive races (since Bristol in September 2004), the longest current streak.

Who's Hot

Tony Stewart has scored 16 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes in 2005, both the most of all drivers. Stewart has scored four top-five finishes in the six races of the Chase, the most of all drivers. He has also led the most laps (583) in the first six races of the Chase, earning 40 lap leader bonus points, 15 more than any other Chase driver.

Jimmie Johnson has scored two victories in the first five races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman have each scored top-10 finishes in five of the six races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Rusty Wallace has scored 24 top-15 finishes in 32 races in 2005, the most of all drivers.

Ryan Newman has posted 26 top-10 starts in 32 races this season, the most of all drivers.

The “Ford Five” drivers of Jack Roush Racing have won 12 of the 32 races in 2005. Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won nine while Joe Gibbs Racing has five victories. Evernham Motorsports has two and Robert Yates Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Richard Childress Racing and Penske Racing all have one each.

Top 10 in 2005 Points at This Track

First
Tony Stewart finished second in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and remained first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He remains at the top of the point standings for the 11th time in the last 12 races, falling to fifth after Dover. He has scored 16 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes this season, both the most of all drivers. Stewart has scored four top-five finishes in the six races in the Chase, more than any other driver. His other two Chase finishes were both outside the top-15. Stewart ranked sixth in the point standings after 32 races one year ago. He has competed in 13 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, scoring one victory (March 2002) and seven top-10 finishes. Stewart finished ninth in this race one year ago and 17th there in March. He has posted top-10 finishes in seven of his last eight races at Atlanta.. Stewart has a 13.769 average finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway and ranks fifth among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Stewart has led 472 laps at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which includes laps in eight of his 13 races there.

Second
Jimmie Johnson finished third in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and remained second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has scored top-10 finishes in five of the six races in the Chase for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Johnson led the point standings after 17 of the 32 races this season. He has scored four victories in 2005 (Las Vegas, both Charlotte's and second Dover). He has scored 20 top-10 finishes in 2005, two less than Tony Stewart. Johnson ranked fourth in the point standings after 32 races one year ago. He has ranked among the top-10 drivers since Las Vegas in March 2004, 65 straight races. Johnson has competed in eight races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, scoring one victory (October 2004) and five top-10 finishes. Johnson has scored top-five finishes in his last four races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Johnson finished first in this race one year ago and second there in March. Johnson has a 12.0 average finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway ranking second among the Chase drivers in average finish there. He has had only one DNF at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Third
Ryan Newman finished 10th in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Newman is one of just two drivers that have scored five top-10 finishes in the six races of the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.. He climbed from fourth to third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, 63 points behind first-place Tony Stewart. Newman ranked ninth in the point standings after 32 races one year ago. He has scored 15 top-10 finishes in 32 races this season. Newman has competed in seven races at Atlanta Motor Speedway scoring five Bud Poles and four top-10 finishes. Six of his seven starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway have been from a front-row starting position, including five straight Bud poles. He finished 17th in this race one year ago and 14th there in March. Newman's 13.571 average finish at Atlanta ranks third among the Chase drivers.

Fourth
Greg Biffle finished 20th in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and dropped from third to fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Biffle has ranked among the top five after 30 of the 32 races in 2005. Biffle is making his first appearance in the Chase. He now trails first-place Tony Stewart by 83 points after the sixth of 10 races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has scored three top-10 finishes in the first six races in the Chase, all top fives. He has scored five victories in 2005, tied with Tony Stewart for the most of all drivers. He has scored 18 top-10 finishes in 32 races this season. Biffle has competed in five races at Atlanta Motor Speedway scoring three top-10 finishes, all in his last three races there. Biffle finished 10th in this race one year ago and third there in March, his best finish at Atlanta. Biffle has a 13.6 average finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway ranking fourth among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Fifth
Carl Edwards finished 26th in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and despite his finish climbed from sixth to fifth in the point standings. One year ago he ranked 40th in the point standings after competing in 10 races in 2004. Edwards has scored 18 top-15 finishes in 32 races in 2005 including 14 top-10 finishes. Edwards has scored four top-10 finishes in six races in the Chase for the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup. He trails first-place Tony Stewart by 149 points. He finished third in this race one year ago and first there in March, scoring his career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory. Edward's 2.0 finishing average at Atlanta ranks first among the Chase drivers.

Sixth
Rusty Wallace finished 19th in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and climbed from seventh to sixth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails first-place Tony Stewart by 166 points. He has scored 24 top-15 finishes in 32 races this season, the most of all drivers. He is making his first appearance in the Chase. Wallace has scored three top-10 finishes in the first six races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has competed in 46 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, scoring two victories and 16 top-10 finishes. His last victory there came in November 1993. Wallace has led 651 laps at Atlanta, but has not led there in his last 18 races. He finished 11th in this race one year ago and 27th there in March. Wallace has not scored a top-10 finish in last six races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wallace has posted 16 DNFs in his 46 races at Atlanta (35 percent). Wallace's 16.913 average finish ranks seventh among the Chase drivers in average finish at Atlanta.

Seventh
Mark Martin finished 34th in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and dropped from fifth to seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, now 170 points behind point leader Tony Stewart. He has scored four top-10 finishes in the first six races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Martin ranked fifth in the point standings after 32 races one year ago. He has posted 16 top-10 finishes in 2005. He has competed in 39 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, scoring two victories and 19 top-10 finishes. His last Atlanta victory came in the November 1994. He finished second in this race one year ago and fourth there in March. Martin has a 16.384 average finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway which ranks sixth among the Chase drivers.

Eighth
Kurt Busch finished sixth in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and climbed from 10th to eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Busch is now 172 points behind first-place Tony Stewart. One year ago Busch started the 2004 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by scoring a victory at New Hampshire and then scored top-10 finishes in the first six races of the Chase (thru Martinsville). Busch ranked first in the point standings after 32 races one year ago and went on to record his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship by just eight points over Jimmie Johnson. He has scored 17 top-10 finishes in 32 races this season. Busch has competed in nine races at Atlanta Motor Speedway scoring one victory (October 2002) and three top-10 finishes. He finished 42nd in this race one year ago and 32nd there in March. He has scored only one top-10 finish in his last five races at Atlanta. Busch has a 21.333 average finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway and ranks last among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Ninth
Matt Kenseth finished 12th in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and remained ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails first-place Tony Stewart by 172 points. Both Busch and Kenseth have scored 5,785 championship driver points after 32 races in 2005. Busch gets the eight-place position because he has three victories while Kenseth has one. Kenseth has scored three top-five finishes in the first six races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Kenseth ranked eighth in the point standings after 32 races one year ago. Kenseth has scored 19 top-15 finishes including 14 top-10 finishes in 2005. Kenseth has competed in 11 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway scoring five top-10 finishes. He finished 41st in this race one year ago, his worst Atlanta finish and 31sth there in March. Kenseth's best Atlanta finish, fourth (twice), came there in March 2002 and 2003. Kenseth has a 19.0 average finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway and ranks eighth among the Chase drivers.

10th
Jeremy Mayfield finished 28th in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway and dropped from eighth to 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has scored only one top-10 finish in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, finishing seventh at Dover. Mayfield has scored only eight top-10 finishes but has 19 top-15 finishes in 32 races in 2005. Mayfield ranked 10th in the point standings after 32 races one year ago. He has competed in 19 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, scoring five top-10 finishes. He finished 26th in this race one year ago and 13th there in March. Mayfield finished second in March 2004, his best Atlanta finish. Mayfield has a 21.000 average finish at Atlanta and ranks ninth among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

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