AdvoCare 500 News and Notes – Aug. 31, 2011
News, Notes and Storylines Preceding the AdvoCare 500 on Sept. 4
Dirt Background Gives Leg Up at Atlanta Motor Speedway
As the Atlanta Motor Speedway pavement has worn and aged, many drivers
in the garage have described racing at AMS as driving on a big dirt
track. With tire falloff being so pronounced, racers must handle a car
that slides around and has little grip.
When looking at the drivers who have historically been successful on
the 1.54-mile speedway, it is no surprise that many come from dirt track
roots and can handle a loose race car.
The late Dale Earnhardt is the all-time wins leader at the speedway,
taking nine checkered flags during his career. All but one of those wins
came before the 1997 reconfiguration of the speedway, but teams who
have raced on both layouts say that the ability to handle a sliding car
was a must on both surfaces. Earnhardt famously rode the high line to
his last win at AMS, a photo finish with Bobby Labonte in 2000.
Dawsonville-native Bill Elliott holds six wins at his home track, and
cut his teeth on the dirt of North Georgia early in his career.
Four-time champion Jeff Gordon has brought home four Atlanta trophies in
his illustrious career, and is another driver whose career was started
on the dirt of the Midwest.
Midwestern dirt is a common denominator for several drivers, many of
whom have had success at Atlanta. Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne
and Tony Stewart all come to mind when thinking of drivers that have
had dirt success in the heartland of America.
Newman has a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win to his credit at
AMS. He is also tied for the most poles in Sprint Cup competition with
seven, clearly showing he knows how to get around Atlanta’s slick
banking. Edwards has three Sprint Cup wins and one Nationwide win to his
credit at AMS. Kahne is a two-time AMS winner and Stewart has claimed
three checkered flags at AMS, including last year’s Labor Day weekend
event.
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