Here it goes...
Ken:
This week it’s on to the super fast, high-banked Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Tony the Tiger” posted his 1st of 3 trips to victory lane in 2002 in the Spring and the win was one of his few bright spots during the first part of the 2002 NASCAR season.
The same can be said for “Little E.” “Jr. was 2nd to Stewart in the Spring race and jumped from 12th to 7th the WC Standings.
I believe that this week’s match-up will be much of the same since both Tony and “Little E,” are two of the hottest drivers on the circuit over the past 8 races with Ryan Newman the only driver that has a better average.
Sunday, Tony will be driving the car he finished 3rd in at Charlotte (confirmed by JGR Monday morning) while I expect “Jr.” will probably be driving the same car he finished 2nd in at the Spring race. Predicting a winner between the two is somewhat akin to flipping a coin but I give the edge to Tony.
1. Tony Stewart – The winner’s purse in the Spring Race was $175K and is probably around the same for the Fall race. The bonus for winning the race while leading the WC points battle is approx. $300K (a record) which has been building since Sterling won it at Spring Darlington Race. Just enough incentive for Tony to put some extra change in his pocket and pad his WC lead.
2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – “Jr.” is on a tear and, let’s face it, DEI has the high-speed, high-bank tracks figured out.
3. Matt Kenseth – Don’t look for a repeat of Martinsville where Kenseth’s car was 4th best of the 4 Roush cars.
4. Ryan Newman – Last week’s 15th place was his worse finish in 8 races. Look for a return to the top five.
5. Bobby Labonte – It looks like JGR and Jimmy Makar have finally got Bobby back in the grove with a 2nd and 12th place finishes in the last two weeks. A good position to be in going into the track where he has scored his most wins.
Possible Top 5 Breakthroughs: Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Ward Burton
Ken Shafer
SideWays:
Well me and the boys at the shop feel like we’ve been run over by a truck and he backed up to see what he hit! Our fortunes have fallen somewhat. That’s the way these things go you’re only as good as your last pick. Needless to say ours wasn’t.
With that said it’s on to Hot-Lanta ! The Little Apple! Baghdad on Peachtree!…hmmmm OK so it’s in Hampton. How long will it be before we have a corporate sponsor for this track? Maybe UPS, Home Depot ..or Delta…it could happen!
OK while I’ve been hard on this crowd I think maybe the communication problem between the Eurys and Jr. has been worked out. The recent revelation of Jr.’s past concussion problems not withstanding, there seems to be a new attitude around the #8. So much so he deserves our pick at what we think is the best mile and a half on the schedule.
Heather:
I give up. Picking winners of NASCAR races is impossible anymore; everything is so unpredictable. I can’t believe Jamie McMurray won at Charlotte. I can’t believe Kurt Busch won last week at Martinsville. And I have no idea who will win at Atlanta.
I’m leaning towards Jeff Gordon because it seems that every time he has a bad finish, he rebounds the next week and does well. I think Tony Stewart will be a contender (but he is at every track). You also must consider Jimmie Johnson; he runs well there, and is trying to stay in the championship hunt. Rusty Wallace is still looking for a win, and Ryan Newman continues to impress and amaze me. So who am I picking to win the Atlanta race this weekend???
Bobby Labonte!
Don:
After last week at Martinsville, I am about ready to quit picking the top five at any race. Everyone of my picks had some sort of misfortune not of their own making. It's almost as if certain drivers had read my predictions and made sure none of them would have a good finish. With that said, here's what I see for Atlanta.
1. Jeff Gordon- Out of the points chase and nothing to lose.
2. Bobby Labonte- Hungry
3. Tony Stewart- Strong but careful
4. Jimmie Johnson- Very hungry
5. Matt Kenseth- The best of the Roush posse
Potential spoilers, Junior, Newman, Martin and biggest surprise, Terry Labonte.
Don
Rob:
Atlanta. The track that started the "Cookie Cutter" millenium. Once Bruton bought it and reshaped it to be more like Charlotte, everyone else said, "Hey, what a great idea!!"
I think Tony Stewart owns this place this weekend. He knows how to win there and he is running really strong.
Team mate Bobby should pull of 2nd.
And look for a surprise in 3rd, Steve Park
Alison:
With the season coming to an end as well as my chances for winning this stupid contest, I am going to go out on a limb and pick Ryan Newman.
Ok, it isnt much of a limb, but I need to try something to change my luck.
Mikey in 2nd place this week
and Mark Martin in 3rd.
Lisa:
I've been told to pick Mark Martin this week, and therefore, make
Rob and Danny give some more money to Colton's cause, The Foundation
for Fighting Blindness. Sounds like a good deal to me." Go Mark,
get that points lead back! Nothing against Tony or anyone else.
Mark Martin as the champion is just something I'd really like to
see."
Danny Z:
I really believe this will be Joe Gibbs weekend, so I have to take Tony
and Bobby, and the way Ryan has run lately, I have to throw him into the mix,
so to toss the salad and see what we come up with, here's my Atlanta
trifecta.
1 Bobby Labonte! He's hot, he likes cookie cutter D's, and it's time for him
to beat
2 Tony Stewrat to the line, mostly because Tony won't press the issue and
will be satisfied with a second place finish, no matter what he says.
Besides, he'll have to contend with
3 Ryan Newman, who will be chomping at the bit and scrapping his way to the
front, but will run out of time before he gets there.
Let's remember that this is really the fastest track in Nascar and
remember these guys in our prayers along with our brave servicemen and women
the world over.
Happy Racin,
Danny Zeeff
LAST WEEK"S WINNER- Marilyn Rapp (again!!):
My picks are :
1. Tony Stewart
2. Matt Kenseth
3.Jeff Gordon
My hope is that Tony Stewart will go on
to win the Winston Cup Championship
with Mark Martin second. If Mark comes
in first for the championship I will be even
happier.
God Bless America, the
drivers and those people
affected by the Snipers.
It isn't too late to get your predictions in. Send an e-mail to "My Prediction" . Put the winning driver prediction in the subject and put your prediction for 2nd place in the body of the e-mail. You may be on our expert panel for the next race.
