Georgia On My Mind

By Mark Young

This weekend could prove to be a make or break race for many of the Chase drivers as the traveling Circus we know as NASCAR sets up camp near Atlanta, Georgia.  The movement up and down among the top ten in the points standings was so drastic that I think I need some Dramamine after trying to sort things out.  The races in recent history at Atlanta have been fast, and furious and I expect this weekend to be no different.  In fact, with the Chase being as tight as it is I would expect things to get turned up a notch or two.

Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, and winner Kasey Kahne all finished in the top ten back in March when the boys first visited Atlanta.  Harvick has a win there as well and Bush likes those 1.5 mile tracks so things are going to get interesting.  Atlanta used to be the final race of the year and that always seemed to add to the great racing that goes on there.  Whether it is the new or old track layout, there has always been great racing at Atlanta.

There was a time a few years ago when Bobby Labonte owned the Atlanta Motor Speedway.  He visited victory lane there more times than Jimmy Spencer visited the concession stands at Martinsville last weekend, six to be exact if you are keeping track at home.  But things faltered a bit at Gibbs' joint and now Bobby is wearing Petty blue.  If any of you remember, Labonte was having his way with the field back in March before engine problems sent him to the house early.  How many of you out there realize that Bobby Labonte has had four top tens in the last five races?  I didn't until this morning because......he isn't in the top ten so NBC doesn't give a rat's behind.  The clock is ticking and I think it might just go off in Atlanta on Sunday, just imagine the headlines. "Bobby LaBonte takes Petty blue back to victory lane".  Has a neat ring to it doesn't it.

Has anyone else noticed that the House of Roush appears to be falling apart?  Carl Edwards hasn't won a race all year.  Greg Biffle has only one win, a far cry from his performances of last year and Jamie McMurray has basically been non-existant.  Matt Kenseth is the only driver from the mighty Roush empire to do anything all year.  Rumors are flying around everywhere that Jack is going to clean house, but who are you going to clean house with Jack?  You have raped your Busch Series teams by throwing all of your Cup drivers in them and now have an empty basket where a bunch of young driving talent used to be.