Parks Pit Report: AdvoCare 500

I’ve always been a fan of Atlanta, but since it’s been reduced to having one race each year it seems that my enjoyment for this race has gone up.  It consistently has brought about great moments, and this year had many different twists on the way to the checkered flag.

The biggest one that was a wrinkle for everyone was the new tire that Goodyear had brought.  The compound of the tire actually took inspiration from Goodyear’s street tire, TripleTred.  The on-road tire has three different designed cuts, with a center section that allows the tire to grip in ice and snow, a directional pattern to give exceptional traction in wet conditions, and also strong sidewalls to help in dry weather and cornering.

That idea was brought into racing as the Goodyear tire brought had different compounds going across the tire.  Teams wanted a tire that could wear out a bit, scrubbing off speed, but one that was durable for the speeds they were running.

Goodyear took that into consideration and the tire had the inner three inches of rubber be harder than the remaining surface.  This gave wearability but also durability.

Teams for the most part seemed to like it, and there were very few tire problems all weekend.  With Atlanta consistently being hard on tires, this seemed to be one that worked wonders, and was met with positive review.

Add in the fact this race is done on a Sunday night, and it seems to be a perfect event.

After this weekend, the race can be described as one that saw drivers secure their Chase spot, while others still are on the outside, barely looking in.  Guys like Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer had great cars, but wrecks and a blown motor ended their hopes for victory.  Others like Martin Truex Jr, racing with a broken wrist no less, didn’t win but have nearly secured their spot in the title run.  Ones like Jimmie Johnson, who for the longest time seemed dominant, has fallen off and for another week had issues in the race not of his doing.

Jeff Gordon led laps, and had a great car, but finishing sixth has him just outside the Chase, and in need of a win to get in, or race hard enough to make it into the top-10 without winning.

It has made for a great lead-in for the final race before the Chase.  Strap in, because Richmond is the last stop before the title goes on the line.

RESULTS:  1-Kyle Busch  2-Logano  3-Truex Jr.  4-Kurt Busch  5-Newman  6-Gordon  7-Montoya  8-Earnhardt Jr.  9-Harvick  10-Vickers

NOTABLE FINISHES:  12-Kenseth  18-Edwards  21-Patrick  28-Johnson  35-Keselowski  36-Kahne

CAUTIONS:  9 for 47 laps.  Lap 27-30 (Competition), 32-39 (#48, 5, 14, 31 Accident-FS), 59-63 (Debris-T2), 77-81 (Debris-T4), 194-198 (Fluid on Track), 207-212 (#11, 27 Accident-T4), 289-292 (#48, 31 Accident-T4), 294-297 (#55 Spin-T4), 299-304 (#31, 33 Accident-T4).

LEAD CHANGES:  28 among 13 drivers.  Stenhouse POLE, Montoya 1-24, Logano 25-26, Ragan 27, McDowell 28, Montoya 29-39, Edwards 40-58, Yeley 59-60, Mears 61, Gordon 62-77, Montoya 78, Cassill 79, Edwards 80-121, Newman 122-123, Logano 124-138, Bowyer 139-166, Logano 167-172, Bowyer 173-192, Logano 193-195, Edwards 196-200, Gordon 201, Edwards 202-203, Logano 204-212, Keselowski 213-243, Logano 244-251, Newman 252, Montoya 253-254, Logano 255-289, Kyle Busch 290-325.

TIME OF RACE:  3 Hrs, 42 Mins, 14 Secs.

AVERAGE SPEED:  135.128 MPH

MARGIN OF VICTORY:  0.740 Seconds

POINTS (Top-10, Wild Cards):  1. Johnson, 837 points**; 2. Bowyer, -28**; 3. Harvick, -42*; 4. Edwards, -42*; 5. Kyle Busch, -51*; 6. Kenseth, -69**; 7. Earnhardt Jr, -87; 8. Logano, -108; 9. Biffle, -110; 10.  Kurt Busch, -118.  WC1-Kahne (12th, 2 Wins)**; WC2-Truex Jr (13th, 1 Win).

**Previously clinched spot in Chase

*Clinched spot in 2013 Chase this week