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WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOM TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING ON THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES
WHO ARE STANDING GUARD OVER THE FREEDOM EVEN NOW.
WE ASK YOUR HAND OF SAFETY AND PROTECTION OVER EACH OF THESE
DRIVERS. OVER EVERYBODY INVOLVE THIS THIS
RACE. LORD, WE THINK YOU FOR THE
PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE AND ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS PLACE.
WE GIVE YOU OUR HEARTS AND THIS PRAYER.
EVERYBODY SAY TOGETHER. AMEN.
>> HERE TO PERFORM OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, PLEASE WELCOME WILL
CHASE. \M O SAY, CAN YOU SEE
BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT \M \M WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED
AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? \M
\M WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS
THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT \M \M O'ER THE RAMPARTS
WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY
STREAMING? \M \M AND THE ROCKETS'
RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING
IN AIR \M \M GAVE PROOF
THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG
WAS STILL THERE \M \M OH, SAY, DOES THAT
STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE \M
\M O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE \M
\M AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE \M
>>> DRIVERS INCLUDING TONY STEWART READY TO BOARD THEIR
MACHINES FOR 500 ACTION. THE STATE IS SET.
KESELOWSKI LOOKING FOR A BIG WIN.
>> THE STAGE IS SET. READY TO GO RACING.
LOTS OF STORY LINE. FINAL THOUGHTS?
>> I'VE GOT TO BE WATCHING TONY STEWART.
HE'S BEEN GONE FOR THREE WEEKS. I WANT TO SEE HOW HE DOES.
I WANT TO SEE HOW HE'S GOING TO HANDLE THAT 900 HORSEPOWER RACE
CAR. THOSE THINGS ARE WICKED TO
DRIVE. >> FOR ME IT'S THE YOUNG ROOKIE.
HE'S BEEN SO CLOSE SO MANY TIMES.
KYLE LARSON. HE STARTS THIRD TONIGHT.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM BECAUSE HE LOVES TO SLIP AND
SLIDE ON THE RACETRACK. >> SO MANY DRIVERS WITH SO MANY
OPPORTUNITIES TONIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING
ATTENTION OVER THE NEXT 3.5 HOURS.
THE GUYS WHO WILL BE CALLING THE RACE HAVE THE BEST VIEW UP TOP.
>> MIKE, THANK YOU. WHEN YOU READ THE PRERACE PRESS
RELEASES OUR TALK TO THE DRIVERS IN THE GARAGE, DRIVER AFTER
DRIVER AFTER DRIVER ALL SAYS THE SAME THING.
THIS IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE RACETRACKS.
THEY LOVE TO RACE HERE. WHY?
>> DRIVERS LIKE MOST NEW THINGS LIKE NEW TIRES.
BUT THEY LOVE THIS RACING SURFACE WHICH IS BASICALLY WORN
OUT. THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEARCHING
FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE MIDDLE TO THE TOP TRYING TO FIND THE MOST
GRIP THEY COULD FIND. BUT THE BEST THING IS TAKING
CARE OF THESE TIRES. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT?
>> THIS IS A DRIVERS RACETRACK. I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING IT'S
TOUGH FOR THE CREW AND CREW CHIEFS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHANGING TIRES A LOT TONIGHT AND THE CREW
CHIEFS TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE ADJUSTMENTS.
THAT CAR IS GOING TO BE SLIDING AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE
COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING ALL NIGHT LONG.
SOMETIMES THE DRIVER MIGHT TELL YOU THE CAR IS DOING SOMETHING
AND YOU MAY ADJUST AND MAKE IT GO THE WRONG WAY.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT RESTARTS. IF YOU FOLLOW NASCAR RACING,
THEY'RE A CRITICAL PART OF THE SPORT HERE IN 2014.
HERE IN ATLANTA, A DIFFERENT TWIST TO THEM.
>> THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE HERE.
THE OUTSIDE LANE IS THE HARD CASE TO GET GOING.
DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THIS. >> WE HAVE SEEN THE RESTARTS
HERE. THIS MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE.
CURT BUSCH RESTARTED THIS. ONE SET OF CORNERS.
LOOKS LIKE A VIDEO GAME. THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES ON
THE RESTARTS AND WE'LL SEE SOMEBODY TAKE ADVANTAGE TONIGHT.
>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THE CAUTION FLAG AND THE RESTARTS AS
WE GO THROUGH THE DIFFICULT 500 MILES IN ATLANTA TONIGHT.
>> IT'S HOT, 88 DEGREES AS THE RACE GETS STARTED AND A FULL
NIGHT'S WORK AHEAD FOR THE DRIVES.
WE KNOW THE CREW CHIEF IS HAPPY. >> THE ORAL-B USA 500 ATLANTA IS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY ORAL-B. AVAILABLE AT WALMART.
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE, NATIONWIDE IS ON YOUR SIDE.
GOOD YEAR, CHOSEN BY EXPERTS FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AND ***.
>>> A BEAUTIFUL STEAMY NIGHT HERE AT THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEED
WAY FOR THE ORAL-B U.S. 500. RACING ON A TRACK THE DRIVERS
LOVE TO COMPETE ON. THE DRIVES HAVE STRAPPED IN.
LET'S GET IT STARTED. >> RACE FANS, IT'S TIME!
PLEASE WELCOME TONIGHT'S GRAND MARSHAL, MICHAEL FINLICK.
>> RACERS, START YOUR ENGINES! >> READY!
>> IMPRESSIVE. >> A GREAT WAY TO GET A GREAT
RACE STARTED TONIGHT. CHECK OUT NASCAR.COM.
LIVE TONIGHT HERE AT THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
AFTER A TOUGH RACE LAST WEEK, OUR ESPN RACER NEEDS TO WIN TO
GET INTO THE CHASE TONIGHT. KASEY KAHNE READY TO GO.
WE'LL TALK TO HIM NEXT. >>> BACK IN ATLANTA WHERE THE
ENGINES ARE FIRED AND ABOUT TO BEGIN.
THE START OF TONIGHT'S ORAL-B 500.
THE SPRINT CUP SERIES IS THE SECOND TO LAST RACE BEFORE THE
CHASE GRID IS SET. AS YOU LOOK AT THE SEATING.
THE CRITICAL FACTOR, THE DRIVERS WITHOUT A WIN TRY TO FIND A WAY
TO GET INSIDE THE TOP 16 AFTER SATURDAY NIGHT.
KASEY KAHNE IS 33 POINTS BEHIND. THAT'S A LOT TO ASK OVER TWO
RACES TO GET IN ON POINTS. HE KIND OF NEEDS TO WIN TONIGHT
OR NEXT WEEKEND IF HE'S GOING TO GET IN.
>> WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT. >> WE HAD A LOT OF REQUESTS AND
QUESTIONS FROM YOUR FANS OUT THERE.
MOST WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHASE.
BUT WE CHOSE THE QUESTION FROM BRAD IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
SAYS WITH TWO RACES TO GO, LOOKING MORE LIKE A WIN.
HOW DOES THIS CHANGE YOUR APPROACH TO THIS TRACK?
>> WELL, DEFINITELY DOING WHAT WE GOT TO DO.
ATLANTA IS A GOOD TRACK FOR US. IT HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CALL IT A NIGHT HAVING A REALLY GOOD FORM.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE, HOW IT PLAYS OUT.
BUT I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE. >> I HAVE SEEN YOU RUN EXTREMELY
WELL HERE AND EVERYTHING. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS YOU KNOW
THIS AND IN MANAGING YOUR TIRES, BUT KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT THESE
RESTARTS ARE TO GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN GET AT THAT TIME,
HOW DO YOU MANAGE HOW HARD YOU CAN GO AT THAT POINT AND STILL
HAVE SOME TIRES LEFT FOR THE END OF A RUN?
>> RESTART IS BIG EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
ATLANTA, THE FRONT STRETCH SEEMED LIKE THE OUTSIDE WAS
PRETTY TOUGH. ONCE YOU GET TO ONE AND TWO,
THERE'S LOTS OF ROOM. YOU GOT TO GET THE MOST YOU CAN
EACH TIME AND JUST TRY TO CAPITALIZE.
IF YOU DON'T THE GUYS WILL DEFINITELY GET YOU FROM BEHIND.
>> I KNOW THAT IN A DRIVER'S MAN AND EVEN WITH THE HIGH SEEDS
HERE, CAN YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO GET AGGRESSIVE IF YOU FIND
YOURSELF IN THAT POSITION LATE IN THIS RACE?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S OUR ONLY SHOT.
WE GOT TO WIN. WE'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE
CAN. HOPEFULLY I CAN MOVE ALL OVER
THE RACETRACK AND FINE WITH THE GRIP.
IT'S A LONG WAY TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.
>> THANKS FOR TALKING WITH US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH
YOU LATER ON TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU.
>> KASEY KAHNE. READY TO GO FROM THE STARTING
POSITION RIGHT HERE AT ATLANTA SEEKING THAT VERY PRECIOUS
VICTORY. >> FANS GETTING A GOOD SHOW.
DRIVES WILL GET AN UPCLOSE LOOK. THEIR COMPETITION IS MOVING
RIGHT ALONG WITH THEM. KEVIN HARVICK CARRYING OUR JIMMY
JOHN'S ONBOARD. CASEY KAHNE CARRYING THE SPRINT
ONBOARD. JEFF GORDON HAS THE CHEVY AND
KYLE LARSON WITH THE GOODYEAR ONBOARD AND JIMMY JOHNSON WITH
OUR SPRINT AND KEVIN HART, JR. HAS THE DIET DEW.
>> TO SAY THAT TONY STEWART RETURNING TO THE RACETRACK TO BE
AN EMOTIONAL ONE WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
FROM THE TIME HE STEPPED BACK THIS THE GARAGE HE WAS WELCOMED
WITH OPEN ARMS. I TALKED TO HIS CREW CHIEF, CHAD
JOHNSON WHO IS UP ON THE PIT BOX RIGHT NOW, HE TOLD ME HIS
APPROACH THIS WEEKEND IS TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING ALL
YEAR LONG, FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND AND THAT IS WINNING THE
RACE. HE SAYS SO FAR, IT HAS WORKED.
BETWEEN TONY AND THE CAR THEY BROUGHT HERE, HE FEELS THIS IS
THE BEST OPPORTUNITY THEY HAVE HAD TO WIN A RACE ALL YEAR LONG.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, A WIN FOR TONY WOULD BE A BRIGHT SPOT IN
WHAT'S BEEN A DARK THREE WEEKS. ALAN.
>> JAMIE, THANKS. THIS IS PROBABLY A MOMENT THAT
TONY HAS BEEN READY FOR ALL WEEKEND.
JUST TO GET THIS RACE STARTED. >> I THINK HE'S BEEN READY FOR
I. THE WEEKEND HAS BEEN GOOD FOR
HIM. YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE IN HIM.
HE'S RIGHT NOW TRYING TO CONTROL HIS EMOTIONS SO HE COULD GET
FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND. >> WHAT HE'S LEARNED ABOUT
ATLANTA AND THIS TEAM, MAYBE THIS WILL BE A GOOD CHANCE FOR
HIM TONIGHT. >> CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FOCUS
AREAS OF THE NIGHT, THE DRIVES TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GRAB A
WAY IN THE PLACE. >> ONE ROOKIE HAS MADE IT AND
THAT WAS HAMLIN EIGHT YEARS AGO. LARSON HAS TO WIN AND HE'S IN.
BUT THE ROOKIE HAS TO REMEMBER HE'S 26 POINTS OUT OF AN AT
LARGE CHASE. HE'LL ATTACK IF HE THINKS HE CAN
WIN. BY KYLE LARSON HAS TO REMEMBER
THIS, HE NEEDS TO STILL BE THIS THIS CONVERSATION WHEN WE GET TO
RICHMOND NEXT WEEK. >> JIM, BIFFLE HAS HAD NINE TOP
TEN FINISHES BUT THE WINS HAVE NOT COME AND THE CHEW CHIEF TOLD
ME HE WOULD BE WILLING TO RISK TONIGHT TO GET FURTHER NORTH OF
THE POINT'S CUTOFF LINE. >> JAMIE McMURRAY HAS NEVER MADE
THE CHASE. HE'S GOT TO DELIVER BIG IN THIS
NEXT TWO WEEKS. 60 POINTS OUT OF THE CHASE.
THEY DESPERATELY NEED A VICTORY. THEY HAVE BEEN ROCK SOLID THIS
WEEKEND HERE IN ATLANTA. CREW CHIEF TOLD ME A MOMENT AGO
WE'RE CONFIDENT BUT THEY DEFINITELY HAVE TO WIN THE RACE
IF THEY'RE HAVING TO PULL OFF THAT TONIGHT AND SECURE ONE OF
THOSE CHASE SPOTS. >> ABSOLUTELY.
McMURRAY WITH A COUPLE OF NASCAR NATIONWIDE WINS.
HE KNOWS HOW TO GET IT DONE AT THIS RACETRACK.
THE SPEEDWAY MEASURES 1.54 MILES AROUND.
SO IT DOESN'T COME OUT TO AN EVEN 500 MILES.
500.5 AND 325 LAPS TO GET THAT DONE.
SO HALF A LAP FROM THE START TONIGHT.
>> TAKE IT EASY ON IT AS FIRST. JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO, HAVE A
GOOD DAY. >> GUYS BE CAREFUL AND SAFE DOWN
THERE. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.
>> TONY STEWART STARTING IN FRONT POSITION.
SUNSET IN A LITTLE WHILE. RACING INTO THAT SETTING SUN.
VISIBILITY ALWAYS TRICKY IN THE OPENING MOMENTS IN ATLANTA.
THE CLOUD COVER HELPS JUST A BIT.
325 LAPS. 500.5 MILES.
>> HARVICK IS GOING TO LEAD. STEWART IS PUTTING ON A SHOW.
>> JUST UNREASONABLE. >> THEY DIDN'T THINK HE WANTED
TO COME AND RACE. MADE A BAD MISTAKE.
LOOK AT THIS. GOOD LORD.
THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING SHOT OUT OF A ROCKET.
>> 7. >> USUALLY THE HIGH LINE IS
SOMETHING YOU HOLD ON TO FOR LATER IN THE RUN.
MAKING YOUR WAY UP. TONY WENT RIGHT THERE.
>> NOW PART OF THAT, THAT WORK FOR STEWART WAS SET UP BY THE
GUY IN FIRST PLACE IN THE OUTSIDE ROW AND NOT BEING ABLE
TO GET GOING ON THE START. THAT'S KESELOWSKI, TOO.
>> IT'S SO HARD. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
>> THE DRIVER STARTING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT ROW CANNOT
GET GOING. YOU TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND
TRY TO GO HARD AND ANTICIPATE AND YOU CANNOT MAKE IT HAPPEN
AND IT JAMS EVERYTHING UP FROM BEHIND.
AND YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE HE'S TRYING TO GET -- EASE UP THERE A
BIT WHERE HE'S NOT GETTING IT ALL AT ONCE.
THE THROTTLE TO IT. ALL THE DRIVERS KNOW THAT'S A
CHALLENGE. THEY'RE PLANNING FOR IT.
>> STILL, NOTHING YOU CAN DO. >> BRAD TRYING TO MAKE UP A
SPOT. 43.
KESELOWSKI TRYING TO GET BY HIM. STEWART CLOSING IN FROM THE
BACK. >> WHEN YOU WALK AROUND THE
GARAGE AREA AT RACE DAY AND YOU ASK THE CREW CHIEFS WHO HAVE ALL
THE DATA AND THE LAP TIMES AND SPEEDS, I'LL MENTION KEVIN
HARVICK, BUT A LOT MENTION JEFF GORDON AND KESELOWSKI AS A FEW
TO KEEP AN EYE ON. STEWART PICKING UP ANOTHER STOP
AROUND THE ROW FOR 6. >> THERE WAS ONE OTHER NAME I
HEARD. A DRIVER THAT LED HERE LAST
YEAR. THAT WAS CLINT BOWYER.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID HIS CAR WAS GOOD THROUGHOUT A LONGER RUN.
>> HERE'S GORDON, 24, LOOKING FOR 3rd PLACE.
>> YOU CAN'T COUNT MATT OUT ON A TRACK LIKE THIS.
HE IS SO GOOD WITH THE THROTTLE. IF THIS CAR IS CLOSE FOR HIM AT
THE END HE'S HAVE A CHANCE. >> NOW KESELOWSKI CONTINUING TO
TRY AND REGAIN LOST GROUND FROM THE SLIP AT THE START.
>> A LITTLE BIT OF LABOR. THE POINT OF THE RESTART.
A LOT OF PLACES WE CAN SAY WELL THE BANKING HERE.
THIS IS A FLAT STRAIGHT AWAY AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE AND THE INSIDE
LINES DOESN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM. IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
IF I COULD FIGURE OUT AND TELL THE DRIVERS I COULD PROBABLY
MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. >> HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL?
>> YEAH, I GUARANTEE. >> HARVICK.
LARSON, GORDON, KESELOWSKI, STEWART.
TOP SIX. HERE COMES CARL EDWARDS.
THAT THING GOT SHUT OFF. >> IN A HURRY.
>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE AS THIS RACE PROGRESSES AND WE
SEE KYLE LARSON, JEFF GORDON -- TAKING THAT SECOND SPOT AWAY
HERE. >> WHO IS GOING TO BE GOOD LATER
AT THIS RACETRACK? >> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THEY
TRACK PERFORMANCE IN PRACTICE, THEY MAKE GRAPHS OF THEIR LAP
TIMES. LOOK AT HOW SLEEK THE GRAPH IS
LOOKS LIKE GORDON HAS ONE OF THE BEST CARS IN THAT RESPECT.
MAYBE NOT THE SINGLE TIME BUT HIS CAR DOES HOLD ON ONE.
>> MENTIONED JAMIE McMURRAY IN THAT ONE.
OWEN IS IN. >> ONE WAY TO GET BUY.
>> IT IS. >> IT MAY HAVE BEEN A SLIGHT
TUCK. YOU CAN GET A CAR REALLY LOOSE
AT THIS RACETRACK. HE'S ALREADY LOOSE.
>> McMURRAY HE COULD SAY HE DID GET THERE.
>> THE DRIVER THING WOULD COME INTO THAT.
>> THIS IS PRETTY SOLID. >> THE NUMBERS THAT CAME UP MOST
OFTEN AROUND THE GARAGE WERE RUNNING 1-2-3.
NUMBERS 4, 24 AND 2 ARE GORDON AND KESELOWSKI.
>> LAST NIGHT -- >> THERE WERE 195 LAPS IN THE
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE. KEVIN HARVICK LED 159 NIGHT OF
THEM. THE LAST.
SOMEBODY ELSE LED THE OPENING AND IT WAS HARVICK FROM THEN ON
TO THE FINISH. >> HE'S OUT IN FRONT EARLY
TONIGHT AGAIN. >>> JUST UNDERWAY TONIGHT FOR
THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES, ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
THE WHITE AND BLACK CAR OF HARVICK.
HE STARTED AND LED ALL OF THE LAPS SO FAR.
GORDON TRYING TO CLOSE IN. UP TO SECOND PLACE.
NUMBER 24. WITH KESELOWSKI IN THIRD PLACE.
A FEW SECONDS BEHIND GORDON NOW. IN HIS YELLOW NUMBER 2.
SO THERE'S HARVICK, GORDON. HERE COMES KESELOWSKI AND A NEW
FOURTH PLACE RUNNER, TONY STEWART, JUST PICKING UP HIS
EIGHTH SPOT IN THE RACE AND UP TO A NUMBER FOUR POSITION.
>> GREAT START TO THIS RACE FOR TONY STEWART.
TALKING ABOUT HOW HARVICK HAS BEEN SO GOOD.
HE'S GOT SOMETHING HERE AT THE RACETRACK.
>> TONY HAS DONE ALL OF HIS PASSING ON THE HIGH SIDE OF THE
RACETRACK, HARVICK RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM.
>> KEVIN HARVICK. HARVICK EXITING TURN NUMBER TWO
RIGHT THERE. ALREADY CATCHING SOME LAP
TRAFFIC AND PUTTING SOME AT THE TAIL END OF THE FIELD.
32 J.J. FEW LAPS AGO SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE SEEN BEFORE BUT WE RARELY SEE AND PROBABLY A GOOD THING
WHEN KEVIN HARVICK HAD SOMETHING FLASH BEFORE HIS EYES LITERALLY.
>> ALMOST HIT A CAT. A CAT JUST RAN RIGHT IN FRONT OF
ME. >> I THOUGHT I SEEN IT ALL.
>> IT WAS A BLACK ONE. >> YOU COULD SEE.
>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT THERE,
BUT -- >> HE WAS PROBABLY WONDERING THE
SAME THING, THE CAT. >> THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
>> THAT'S WHAT HARVICK SAY IT WAS.
HE GOT A GOOD LOOK AT IT. >> WELL THE CAT HAD GOOD
INSTINCTS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. AT 200 MILES AN HOUR GOING OFF
INTO TURN 1. RYAN NEWMAN, 11 HAMLIN, 22,
LOGANO. >> ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE DRIVERS
KNOWS HOW TO USE THAT THROTTLE. THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
TAKES CARE OF HIS TIRES. YOU CAN ALREADY SEE HOW THEY'RE
SLOWING DOWN AND THAT'S WHENEVER YOU SEE THE DRIVERS THAT LIKE
THIS TYPE OF RACING REALLY START COMING TO THE FRONT.
>> THIS IS A PART WHERE THINGS CHANGE.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WHO HAS THE SETUP.
STARTING TO FLOAT TO THE TOP OF THE STANDINGS AND LOOKS LIKE
HARVICK'S CAR IS HOLDING OUT WELL.
IT KIND OF STALLED. >> WE'RE BEYOND THE NUMBER OF
LAPS ANYBODY RAN CONSECUTIVELY IN PRACTICE.
WE'RE INTO FINDING OUT WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW FROM A DRIVER
AND TEAM PERSPECTIVE. DALE, JR. MOVING UP.
>> THINKING YOU CAN PROJECT THAT OUT.
YOU DON'T KNOW WITH THIS TRACK BECAUSE OF THE WAY WITH THE WEAR
ON THE TIRES. YOU MAY THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD
CAR, AND IT TURNS UP YOU HAD A GOOD 15 LAP RUN CAR BUT MAYBE
NOT A GOOD 40 LAP RUN CAR. >> DALE, JR. DID NOT QUALIFY ALL
THAT WELL. THOUGHT HE HAD A BETTER RACE CAR
THAN THAT. WE'LL SEE.
AGAIN ONLY MOVED UP TWO POSITIONS SINCE THE START OF THE
RACE. SUNSET NO LONGER A FACTOR FOR
THE DRIVERS. CLOUD COVER HELPED THEM OUT.
HARVICK DOESN'T NEED ANY HELP OTHER THAN WILD CATS RUNNING
AROUND. >>> USA 500 LIVE FROM THE
ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY ABOUT TO HIT THE 50 MILE MARK OF THIS
ONE. CAUTION-FREE SO FAR.
HARVICK HAS LED ALL OF THE LAPS IN THE EARLY GOING.
DON'T FORGET TOMORROW FINAL ROUNDS OF THE DRAG RACE OF THE
YEAR. FROM THE RACE WAY IN
INDIANAPOLIS. THEY'RE ON ESPN ON LABOR DAY.
>> THAT'S THE BIG GO UP THERE IN INDY.
>> NEXT WEEKEND THE ACTION MOVES ON TO RICHMOND WITH GREAT SHORT
TRACK RACING. AT 7:00 EASTERN ON ESPN2 AND
NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT WE'RE ON ABC.
OUR TELECAST PRESENTED BY AUTO ZONE.
WHO MAKES THE CHASE? WHO DOESN'T?
WE'LL FIND OUT STARTING AT 7:00 EASTERN TIME.
THAT COULD SHAPE UP WITH YOU'RE IN AND YOU WIN ARE.
>> COULD BE A GOOD ONE. >> KEVIN HARVICK ADDING A BIT TO
HIS LEAD ON JEFF GORDON WHILE YOU WERE AWAY.
IT'S UP TO FIVE SECONDS NOW OVER GORDON.
KESELOWSKI IS 11 SECONDS BACK IN THIRD.
WE MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER SIGHTING OF WILD LIFE IN THE AREA.
>> I WOULD NOT DOUBT IF THEY THREW A CAUTION UP HERE.
IT'S KIND OF RUNNING AROUND OUT THERE.
THEY TRIED TO CATCH IT BEFORE THE RACE.
JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. >> WHAT IS IT?
>> IT'S A SQUIRREL. BUT IT'S NOT ONE OF THEM
SQUIRRELS, A REAL SQUIRREL. >> THAT WAS A CAT THAT RAN OUT
IN FRONT OF HARVICK. >> IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF IT
WERE A MOUSE THAT WERE OVER THERE.
>> YEAH. >> IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE,
TOO. >> KEVIN HARVICK IS PUTTING ON
SOME LAP TIMES AND PUTTING A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS QUICK RUN.
A COUPLE OF LAPS TO GO OFF OF TURN FOUR.
>> THE ONLY THING THAT SLOWED HIS PROGRESS ANY WHATSOEVER IS
JUST -- >> THAT'S WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO
SEE WHEN YOU GOT A CAR THAT GOOD WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS RIGHT IN
FRONT OF YOU. >> WHEN YOU HAVE A FIVE SECOND
LEAD YOU CAN BACK OUT. >> WHAT IS THAT ON JIMMY
JOHNSON'S CAR? >> SOME KIND OF DEBRIS.
NOT SURE WHERE IT CAME FROM. >> ON THE HOOD.
TALK ABOUT BEING DISTRACTED. >> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE.
>> A RUBBER STRAP OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING AROUND IN THE WIND
THAT HE'S PICKED UP. >> THAT GIVES YOU A GOOD IDEA OF
THE AIR FLOW OF THE CAR. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU
CONCENTRATE WITH THAT. >> HIS FOURTH PLACE CAUTION IS
OUT. >> I BELIEVE I HEARD RACE
CONTROL SAY THE DEBRIS ON THE RACETRACK.
I'LL CONFIRM THAT. >> SQUIRRELS, CATS.
>> DID SHARAPOVA WIN TONIGHT? JUST ASKING.
MIGHT BE THE SOURCE OF DEBRIS RIGHT HERE.
WATCHING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AS IT COMES OFF.
>> THAT THERE MIGHT BE WHERE JIMMY JOHNSON PICKED UP HIS
LITTLE PASSENGER. >> MIGHT BE WHERE SOME OF THE
OTHER DEBRIS IS FROM. >> THE TRACK IS KIND OF GREEN
AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY THAT HAD A CAR MAYBE
IMBALANCED. THAT ONE WORKED THE RIGHT REAR
JUST A LITTLE HARD. >> KEVIN HARVICK LED ALMOST HALF
THE FIELD IN THAT FIRST RUN. >> 22ND PLACE, AUSTIN DILLON.
THE LAST CAR. DANICA PATRICK, THE 10 CAR IS
THE FIRST LAP DOWN IN 23rd PLACE.
>> WELL NIGHT FOR THE CREWS. A HOT DAY.
GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF PIT STOPS.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACING TIRES AT EVERY
OPPORTUNITY. >> IT'S STILL 86 DEGREES OUT.
THESE CREWS HAVE BEEN AT WORK ALL DAY LONG.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE WORKING HARD ALL NIGHT LONG.
YOU SEE THE FLASHING RED LIGHTS RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.
PIT CREW. WHILE THE FIELD IS ALL GATHERED
UP AND SORTED IN THE PROPER ORDER.
THE PIT STOPS WILL COMMENCE. TONY STEWART RUNNING FOURTH.
>> HE'S GAINED EIGHTH POSITION AND DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HE'S
MISSED ANY RACES AT ALL. BACK TO FOCUSING ON THE CAR AT
HAND. HE SAID HE NEEDS HELP AT BOTH
ENDS OF HIS CAR. HE SAYS IT GAVE UP A BIT. THEY
WANT TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE RUN.
THE CAR IS PRETTY GOOD. JUST BE AN AIR PRESSURE
ADJUSTMENT FOR TIRES WHEN HE DOES PIT.
>> JAMIE, THANKS. >> TONY STEWART FROM 12th TO
4th. A LOT OF THAT WHEN HE WENT THREE
WIDE TO THE TOP. >> YOU COULD HEAR ABOUT BOTH THE
ENDS OF THE CAR GIVING UP. THAT'S WHY IT'S SUCH A CHALLENGE
TO GET THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENT HERE.
WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU KIND OF USE UP ONE END AND THE OTHER END
STARTS GIVING YOU TROUBLE. IT'S HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO
DISSECT WHERE THE CAR NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED.
THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE THIS CHALLENGE TO TRY TO GET THE
THINGS RIGHT. >> SEEING THAT DEBRIS FLAPPING
AROUND ON JIMMY JOHNSON'S CAR. >> WHATEVER IS STUCK ON MY CAR
APPEARS TO BE HOOKED AROUND THE FRONT, A PIECE OF TIRE
OBVIOUSLY. I THINK IT WILL COME OFF.
>> MAYBE HE'LL GET THE CHANCE TO REMOVE THAT HERE.
THEY ARE WAITING TO SORT OUT WHETHER CASEY MEARS WILL AWAIT.
DAN PA PATRICK WILL BET THE PASS.
HERE THEY COME DOWN TO PIT ROW. >> ALL ABOUT TIRES TONIGHT.
YOU TALKED TO THE CREW CHIEFS. THEY EXPECT TEN PIT STOPS
TONIGHT. THESE HOW LONG AND GRUELING THIS
RACE IS GOING TO BE. SAYING NEEDING HELP TO DRIVE
OFF. AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT.
FOUR TIRES. THEY WORK ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE.
MEANWHILE, AS I MENTIONED AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT FOR STEWART.
>> JEFF GORDON'S CAR, REALLY GOOD BUT A BIT MORE -- LITTLE
LESS LOOSE OFF THE CORNER FOR HIM.
>> OUR TRACK POSITION JUST CHANGED HANDS.
HAMLIN'S TEAMS. WITH EXCELLENT STOPS.
TO PICK THEIR DRIVES UP SIX SPOTS.
>>> STILL UNDER CAUTION IN THE USA 500.
YOU CAN CHECK OUT NASCAR.COM/RACEBUDDY FOR ACTION
TONIGHT. ALL THE ON CAMERAS AND MORE
AVAILABLE FOR YOU THERE. >> IT'S AN EVENTFUL TRIP DOWN
PIT ROAD. CARL EDWARDS IS LEAVING PIT LANE
AFTER BEING CALLED DOWN PIT ROAD BY NASCAR FROM FIFTH POSITION.
THERE'S A SCORING TRANSPONDER MOUNTED ON THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK
IN THE BACK OF EACH CAR. NASCAR ASKED EDWARD'S TEAM TO
REPLACE THE TRANSPONDER. THERE'S THE CREW DOING THAT.
HE'LL BE GIVEN HIS POSITION BACK ON THE RACETRACK AFTER
FULFILLING THAT REQUEST FROM NASCAR.
SOME TRACK POSITION THAT CHANGED HANDS, YOU WOULDN'T THINK PIT
ROW WOULD GET TIGHT BUT IT DOES. >> NOT ONLY IS THE TRACK SLICK,
BUT STALLS ARE SLICK ALSO. TAKE A BIT OF THE CAUTION TO GET
OUT AROUND THE 31. >> LOSING A SPOT IN PART BECAUSE
OF HAVING TO GET AROUND TRAFFIC. JIMMY JOHNSON'S CAR, THE DEBRIS.
>> GAINING A BUNCH OF SPOTS ON THE STOPS.
>> HE SAID HE GAINED THREE SPOTS.
THAT'S KENSETH. >> HE'S GOT THE VERY FIRST PIT
BOX AS YOU COME IN. >> HE DOES THAT A LOT.
THAT'S A PREFERENCE OF MATT'S SOMETHING HE LIKES TO DO.
GET IN AND HE CAN WORK HIS WAY OUT OF THERE.
>> SO MATT UP TO THIRD. GOOD STOPS FOR THE RACING TEAM.
YOU SEE EDWARDS HAS RESUMED IN FIFTH POSITION WITH STEWART
OUTSIDE OF HIM IN SIXTH. ON THE FRONT ROW, HARVICK, AND
GORDON FINDS HIMSELF IN THAT SLIPPERY POSITION OF HAVING TO
GET THAT OUTSIDE LINE GOING ON THE RESTART.
>> I BELIEVE WE'VE SEEN HIM IN THIS POSITION BEFORE AND IT
CREATED A BOTTLED UP SITUATION AND SOME PEOPLE GOT DAMAGE.
>> LAP 30 OF LAST YEAR'S RACE. >> HE'S WELL AWARE OF THE
POSITION HE'S IN AND I'M SURE HE'LL SEARCH AROUND AND TRY TO
FIND IT AND WORK THE THROTTLE AS GINGERLY AS HE CAN WITHOUT
LOSING TOO MUCH. WE'LL SEE.
>> GOT A BIT OF A ROLLING START THERE.
DOWN INTO TURN ONE. JAMIE McMURRAY THE ONE TRYING TO
USE THE RESTART. KEEPING HIM FROM TRYING TO BLAST
AROUND THROUGH THE FIRST COUPLE OF CORNERS.
>> WHAT TONY DID EARLY ON, WHETHER IT WAS THEM SEEING UP
AHEAD OF THEM. >> EDWARDS, FIFTH PLACE.
STEWART AND LOGANO NEXT IN LINE. >> THE DRIVER COULD ADJUST, HOW
MUCH DIFFERENT IS -- >> IT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS THE TIME YOU CAN MAKE SOME TIME.
ONCE AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO REMIND YOURSELF TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
YOU HAVE TO RUN 20 HARD LAPS HERE AND THOSE LAST 25 LAPS I'M
GOING TO RUN I'M GOING TO BE OUT OF CONTROL.
>> WE ALWAYS GET SOME LONG GREEN FLAG RUNS IN THIS RACE.
THE MORE DAMAGE YOU DO IN THE EARLY LAPS JUST HAPPENS TO BE
ONE OF THOSE GREEN FLAG RUNS THE HARDER YOU'RE GOING TO FALL
LATER ON. >> KYLE LARSON WAS ONE THAT
STRUGGLED WITH HIS CAR. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT TAKES OFF
VERY WELL HERE ON FRESH TIRES. JUST THE SETUP.
HE DID RUN STEADY THROUGHOUT THAT FIRST RUN.
>> SEE HIM JERKING THAT BOTTOM LANE.
THROWING SPARKS OFF THE SPLITTER BAR.
>> ANOTHER OF THE DRIVERS JUST TOO FAR BACK ON POINTS.
IN FACT, THERE ARE THREE OF THOSE CARS RIGHT THERE.
55, 42 AND 1. RACING FOR 11th, 12th AND 13th
AS DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11 MOVES UP TO THIRD POSITION.
>> LARSON WAS IN POSITION TO TRY AND GAIN A CHASE PLACE ON POINT.
HAD A TERRIBLE TIME LAST WEEKEND AND DROPPED HIM ENOUGH GROUND
BACK THAT HE KNOWS IT'S PROBABLY WIND TO GET IN.
JIM, RIGHT NOW HE'S IN 12th SPOT.
>> REMEMBER, HE STARTED THIRD. THE PROBLEM WAS EVER SINCE --
AFTER FINAL PRACTICE, THEY MAKE CHANGES TO TRY TO TIGHTEN THE
CAR UP. WAY TOO TIGHT.
COULD BARELY GET AROUND THE RACETRACK.
HE CAN'T RUN THE HIGH RUNS. THEY MADE A BIG WEDGE ADJUSTMENT
ON THE FIRST PIT STOP. WE'LL SEE IF THAT HELPS THE 42.
>> REMEMBER HE STARTED IN THIRD POSITION.
INSIDE LARSON'S CAR. CHECK THAT OUT.
YOU THINK IT'S WARM IN YOUR OFFICE?
>> 153 DEGREES. >> JUST AN IDEA OF WHAT THESE
DRIVERS GO THROUGH. I CAN TELL YOU ON DAYS AND
NIGHTS LIKE THIS, I WOULD GENERALLY LOSE TEN OR 11 POUNDS
IN A RACE. THE ONE AFTER A RACE SIMILAR TO
THIS, I LOST 17 POUNDS. THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT THESE
DRIVERS GO THROUGH. >> WOW.
>> AS YOU WATCH LARSON, SETS THE MILES PER HOUR NUMBER INTO THE
CORNER. 196 MILES AN HOUR.
AT 154 DEGREES. WRAPPED IN LONG JOHNS.
HE'S GOT FIRE PROOF, FIRE RESISTANT LONG UNDERWEAR ON
UNDER THAT SUIT WHICH HAS AT LEAST TWO LAYERS WITH FIRE
RESISTANT MATERIAL PLUS HE'S GOT THE GLOVES, THE HELMET.
THAT'S A LOT TO BE WEARING IN 156 DEGREE TEMPERATURES.
>> YOU JUST ADD THE TEMPERATURE TO THAT BY HAVING ALL THE STUFF
THAT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO WEAR.
LARSON ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE RACETRACK.
MADE THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE CAR. NOT WHERE HE REALLY LIKES TO BE.
HE WOULD RATH BE UP AGAINST THE WALL.
THERE HE GOES TO THE WALL NOW. >> KASEY KAHNE RACING LARSON.
SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS IN ATLANTA, CURT BUSCH
IN THAT 41 CAR. >> HE'S WON HERE THREE TIMES.
HE STARTED 22nd TODAY AND UP 10 SPOTS TO 12th.
I WAS TALKING TO THE CREW CHIEF BEFORE THE RACE TODAY AND HE
SAID HE HAD ALREADY TAKEN FOUR ASPIRIN.
THAT WOULD GIVE AN INDICATION OF HOW DIFFICULT A RACE THIS IS NOT
JUST FOR THE DRIVERS BUT FOR THE CREW CHIEF IN GIVING THE DRIVER,
NAMELY CURT BUSCH, THE KIND OF CAR HE NEEDS, THE FEEL HE NEEDS.
IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THE DRIVE HERE AND A REAL CHALLENGE FOR
THE CREW CHIEFS AS WELL. >> CURT TRYING TO GET A LEFT
POSITION FROM VICKERS. NOT QUITE ABLE TO CLOSE THE DEAL
IN THAT SET OF CORNERS. A LITTLE SHY OF 100 MILES
TONIGHT HERE IN ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
EVERY LAP HAS BEEN LED BY THE CAR THAT STARTED, KEVIN HARVICK.
HE IS BREAKING FAST IN THIS ONE. >>> THE STORY OF THE WEEKEND
HERE AT THE MOTOR WAY SPEEDWAY TONY STEWART RETURNS.
RISING OVATION FROM THE FANS. A ROUSING START TO THE RACE FOR
STEWART. ROARING THREE WIDE IN THE FIRST
TWO LAPS SETS OF CORNERS. MOVING UP FROM HIS 12th STARTING
SPOT INTO THE TOP 5. STEWART FALLING BACK A BIT ON
THE PIT SPOT. HE'S MOVED BACK IN FIFTH
POSITION MATCHING KENSETH AND CARL EDWARDS IN THE LAST SERIES
OF LAPS. STEWART RUNNING 10.6 SECONDS
BLIND HARVICK WHO WAS ONE OF THOSE DRIVERS WHO WE TALKED
ABOUT AT THE TOP OF OUR BROADCAST, PEOPLE COMING IN AND
SAYING THIS WAS THEIR FAVORITE TRACK, KEVIN WAS RIGHT THERE
TALKING ABOUT ATLANTA BEING ONE OF HIS VERY FAVORITE RACETRACKS
AND HOW MUCH HE LOVES RUNNING HERE.
IF PASSION HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, IT'S CERTAINLY SHOWING
UP. >> HE'S JUST FOUND A FEEL FOR
THIS RACETRACK THAT A LOT OF US HAVEN'T -- I THINK THEY TRY A
ROT BUT THEY SEE WHAT KEVIN IS DOING.
BUT DOING THAT AND KNOWING THE FEEL THAT HE HAS FOR HIS RACE
CAR AND BEING ABLE TO WORK THE PEDALS INSIDE HIS RACE CAR, HE'S
JUST INCREDIBLE. >> BURNS IS COVERING THE RACE
LEAD FOR US TONIGHT. >> I TALKED TO KEVIN'S CREW
CHIEF TONIGHT ABOUT LAST NIGHT. HE LAUGHED WHEN I ASKED ABOUT
WHEN KEVIN LED 81% OF THE LAPS. HE SAID HE KNOWS IT'S WHAT HE
WANTS. I SAID AND YOU?
AND KEVIN HERE AND HE SMILED AGAIN AND SAID IF THIS THING
GOES GREEN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME YOU MIGHT SEE WHAT YOU SAW
LAST NIGHT. SO FAR THAT IS TRUE.
>> RODNEY AT THE FAR END HIDDEN BEHIND THE RACE ENGINEERS.
KEVIN HARVICK IS 1,000 LED LAPS THIS SEASON.
FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER THAT HE'S LED 1,000 LAPS IN A YEAR.
HE'S BEEN PHENOMENAL RIGHT FROM THE START OF THE SEASON.
>> PUTTING TOGETHER A GOOD GROUP AROUND HARVICK.
THEY HAVE MESHED EXTREMELY WELL. IT'S PROBABLY SHOWING UP MORE
HOW TALENTED KEVIN IS. >> TALKING ABOUT HOW DRIVERS --
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THEIR FAVORITE ANYMORE.
IT'S GOING TO BE HIS. >> THERE'S AN EVAN FLOW TO A
SEASON. KEVIN AND HIS TEAM STARTED OFF
HOT. GOT THEIR TWO WINS FAIRLY EARLY
ON. LATELY HAVE RUN WELL BUT
FINISHED SECOND A LOT AS WE APPROACH NASCAR'S CHASE.
THIS SPORTS VERSION OF THE PLAYOFFS HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE
EBB AND FLOW OF THINGS GETTING PAST THAT SECOND PLACE THING
HE'S BEEN STUCK ON? >> I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT WILL STEP DOWN RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE IF
THEY CAN GET BACK TO VICTORY LANE IN ONE OF THESE NEXT TWO
WEEKS AND NEXT WEEK IN RICHMOND. I ALSO KNOW THAT TALKING TO
KEVIN, THEY'RE GOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO
DO. TO BE READY WHEN THE CHASE
STARTS. THEY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT'S
GOING TO BE TO BE READY FOR THE CHASE TO START.
YOU ONLY GOT THREE RACES TO HAVE THREE GOOD RACES.
OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT BE ON THE SIDELINES OR OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.
>> THEY STARTED OUT THE SEASON HOT AS A FIRE CRACKER AND
THEY'RE A NEW TEAM SO THEY HAD TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER A BIT.
YEAH THAT COULD HAVE WON MORE RACES IF CIRCUMSTANCES HAD
CHANGED. IF YOU GO AND TALK TO EVERYBODY,
WHAT'S THE FASTER CAR IN HERE RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE 4 CAR.
I THINK THEY'RE IN A GOOD POSITION TO DO THAT.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THAT 4 CAR'S PERFORMANCE TONIGHT AND
SCRATCHING THEIR HEAD. >> AND BRAD IS ONE OF THEM
RUNNING FOURTH RIGHT NOW. THIS IS HIS RADIO COMMUNICATION.
>> THE LEADERS ARE RUNNING 60 TO 70.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THAT CALL.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S AT. >> IT'S OUT THERE, I JUST DON'T
HARVICK IS GETTING BELOW THE YELLOW LINE AND BRAD SAID MY CAR
>> BOWYER IS ANOTHER DRIVER MARVELING WHAT HARVICK IS DOING
RIGHT NOW. WHERE IS KEVIN DRIVING?
HE IS DRIVING SO MUCH DEEPER INTO THE TURNS THAN ANYBODY
ELSE. IT'S NOT FUNNY.
HE SAID THESE LEADERS INCLUDING HARVICK ARE FLYING IN A MUCH
DIFFERENT WORLD HIS REPLY WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING WE CAN'T TELL
YOU ABOUT. HE WAS TOLD WHEN HE HIT THAT
SAME HARVICK LINE HE'S ONE OF THE FASTEST CARS ON THE TRACK.
>> WE APPRECIATE THE LIVE EDITING HERE, JIM.
>> THAT WAS IT RIGHT THERE. THAT CORNER.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HARVICK IS DOING.
IT'S A MATTER OF INCHES WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HE'S GETTING BELOW THAT YELLOW LINE.
>> I'M GOING TO DISPUTE WHAT HIS FATHER WAS RELAYING JUST A BIT.
KEVIN'S GOT TO LOOK LIKE HE DRIVES IT WAY UP IN THERE.
HE USES VERY LITTLE BRAKE HERE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR SAILS OFF
INTO THE CORNER. HE DOESN'T JUMP OUT OF THE GAS.
HE DRIVES IT DOWN AND ROLLING OUT OF THE THROTTLE.
HIS CAR IS STILL PULLING. BUT HE'S GOT A SET AND DRIVES IT
AROUND THE CORNER WITH THE THROTTLE.
YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH HE'S WORKING THE THROTTLE.
>> YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH LONGER HIS TIRE IS BELOW THAT YELLOW
LINE. WE SEE THE OTHER CARS GET TO
THAT LINE BUT HE STAYS ON IT LONGER THAN ANYONE.
LOOK HOW LONG HE STAYS. >> MORE THAN 151 MILES AN HOUR.
KEVIN HARVICK. >> 100 MILES.
HARVICK HAS LED ALL THE LAPS SO FAR.
WE'RE WORKING THE 75th LAP OF THE NIGHT. ***'S SPORTING GOODS
WEEK KICK OFF OFF. TRAVELING TO LOUISVILLE.
MONDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 EASTERN ON ESPN.
>>> CAUTION OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME TONIGHT HERE IN ATLANTA.
JEFF GORDON RUNNING SECOND INTO THE WALL AT TURN NUMBER THREE
AND PRETTY GOOD DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS 24 CAR.
>> SEE RIGHT HERE AS HE GOES DOWN INTO TURN THREE, WILL NOT
TURN. HAS THE MAKINGS AND LOOKS OF A
TIRE GOING DOWN. >> LEFT FRONT TIRE GUYS.
>> LEFT FRONT? >> INTERESTING.
SO HERE COME THE LEADERS. PIT ROAD IS OPEN.
DENNY HAMLIN BEHIND HARVICK. >> FIST PIT BOX IS -- REAR GRIP
MUCH BETTER. THEY'RE GOING TO GO A HALF ROUND
ON THE TRACK BAR FOUR TIMES. JAMIE.
>> IT WAS AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT.
BRAD SAID HE DIDN'T FEEL MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
JIM. >> FOUR TIRES, HAMLIN SAYS HIS
CAR GETS BETTER AS THE TRACK CHANGES.
SEND HIM ON HIS WAY. >> HARVICK, AIR PRESSURE INTO
THE RIGHT FRONT. HAMLIN WENT UP PIT ROW BUT
KEVIN'S CAR WENT LOOSE. >> THE FIRST TIME SOMEBODY OTHER
THAN HARVICK HAS LED ALL NIGHT. DENNY HAMLIN'S PIT CREW GETS IN
THE NUMBER ONE SPOT. JEFF GORDON IN TROUBLE AND THE
CAUTION IS OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THIS RACE.
>>> BACK LIVE UNDER CAUTION AT THE ORAL-B USA 500 REACHING
IT'S 1/4 MARK. JEFF GORDON HIT THE WALL IN TURN
THREE AFTER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ON HIS CAR WENT DOWN.
NEW LEADER IN THE RACE, DENNY HAMLIN AS WE CHECK OUT THE
FASTEST PIT SPOT IN THE RACE BROUGHT TO YOU BY SPRINT.
IT WAS THE ONE JUST DONE BY HAMLIN'S TEAM.
LOOK AT THE NUMBER. 11.2.
>> GUESS WHAT? 11.8.
HE'S YET TO MAKE OVER 12 SECONDS.
>> STAY CONNECTED TO THE SPRINT SERIES WITH THE SPRINT FAMILY
SHARE PACK. 20 GIGABYTES PLUS UNLIMITED TALK
AND TEXT FOR $100 A MONTH. >> STARTED 17th.
PASSED FIVE GUYS JUST ON PIT STOPS.
>> COMPARISON THERE WITH HARVICK'S TEAM.
>> A DRIVER'S BEST FRIEND RIGHT THERE, THE PIT CREW.
>> HARVICK NOT LEADING FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL NIGHT.
>> ALL GOOD. >> NOT REALLY.
BUT OKAY. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE
GOT GOING ON. THEY PICKED UP SIX SPOTS.
>> WELL, THEY BEING HAMLIN'S TEAM ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.
CLINT BOWYER'S CAR, HE WAS JUST GETTING TO PIT ROAD AND NOW WE
FIND OUT WHY. >> MY SHIFT IS BROKE.
SON OF A [BLEEP]. >> IT'S IN MY HAND.
IT'S WOBBLY. >> SO THE SHIFTER LEVEL BROKE.
JIMMY JOHNSON. WAS THAT MICHIGAN?
>> MICHIGAN. >> THIS IS MORE SERIOUS THOUGH
BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED TO GO INTO HIGH GEAR.
HE COULD HAVE KEPT RUNNING. THEY DID NOT NEED THIS.
THEY WERE RIGHT INTO THE CUTOFF. >> BOWYER 15th IN THE CHASE
GRID. JUST 31 POINTS AHEAD OF 17, THE
JOB FOR THEM BASICALLY GET THROUGH TONIGHT WITHOUT HAVING
ANY PROBLEMS AND THEY WERE GOING TO BE OKAY.
WELL, THEY HAVE GOT PROBLEMS NOW.
>> SURE DO. PUTS A WHOLE NEW LIGHT AND FOCUS
FOR CARL LARSON AND HIS RACE TEAM.
>> YES IT DOES. >> ALONG WITH KASEY KAHNE.
>> WHILE BOWYER'S CREW WORKS BACK IN THE GARAGE, WE'RE GOING
RACING AGAIN OUT ON THE TRACK. KEVIN HARVICK HAS BEEN THE
BOTTOM ALL NIGHT. LET'S SEE HOW HE DOES IN THE
OUTSIDE LANE. >> TAKING CARE OF THEM FROM THE
BOTTOM SIDE. DOES GET A NICE RUN TO GET BACK
TO THAT SECOND SPOT. >> MAYBE HAMLIN COULD HOLD HIM
OFF. >> HE'S NOT GOING TO LET HIM
HAVE IT THOUGH, IS HE? >> PRETTY GOOD UP TOP, TOO.
>> BOTTOMED OUT RIGHT THERE GOOD THOUGH.
>> SURE DID. NOW I KNOW WHY HE DOESN'T GO UP
THERE. >> BY ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE HE
BEAT JEFF GORDON WAY BACK HERE IN 2001.
>> THE LAST TIME GUYS THESE WERE RACING IT DID TURN OUT GOOD FOR
DENNY HAMLIN. >> THIS IS NOT GOING TO TURN OUT
GOOD EITHER BUT A LOT BETTER THAN THE RESULTS OF LAST WEEK.
>> HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO STAY THERE.
>> HE'S A REALLY GOOD CAR. HE'S NOT GIVING THIS UP EASY AT
ALL. SOMETIMES THE DRIVER GETS FORCED
INTO SOMETHING THAT THE CAR MAY LIKE AND HAMLIN JUST MAY HAVE
FOUND THAT. >> HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ELSE.
HE MAKES HARVICK AWARE THAT HE HAS A FAST RACE CAR AND THAT ON
RESTARTS OR SOMETHING SHOULD COME ABOUT LATE IN THE RACE THAT
HE'S GOING TO BE THERE TO DEAL WITH.
>> HARVICK, NOW KENSETH AND EDWARDS.
KESELOWSKI. LARSON, BUSCH, TONY STEWART.
>> EIGHTH, NINTH AND TENTH. >> THE PIT CREW HAS WATCHED A
COUPLE OF SPOTS FOR HIM BUT HIS CAR DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S QUITE
AS GOOD NOW. PROBABLY THE RACETRACK STARTING
INTO A CHANGING CYCLE. STARTING TO COOL DOWN SOME AND
GOT MORE RUBBER THAN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS RACE.
>> JAMIE? >> WELL, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE
PIT STOP. TONY CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID
HE WAS FRUSTRATED WITH RYAN NEWMAN.
HE'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM AND STOPPING SHORT AND CAUSING TONY
TO WASTE A COUPLE OF SECONDS ON EXIT.
HIS CAR IS A LITTLE BIT LOOSE TO START.
GETS A LITTLE BIT TIGHT AND MADE AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT ON THE
LAST STOP. >> GOOD POINT.
REMEMBER THAT BACK TO THE FIRST ONE.
DIDN'T SEE THE SECOND ONE THERE. THE CREW WAS GETTING THE JOB
DONE. VERY FRUSTRATING AS A DRIVER TO
GET WITH YOURSELF IN THAT POSITION.
AGAIN, THESE BOXES ARE PRETTY SMALL.
YOU SEE TONY STOPPING AT THE VERY BACK.
RYAN NEWMAN, THE RIGHT REAR OF HIS HUNG OUT.
THAT'S GOING TO MEAN A SHARP TURN SO YOU CAN'T GET THIS THE
GAS THE WAY YOU WANT TO. CARS COMING ON THE OUTSIDE.
LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT HERE.
HAVING TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE OF ALL OF THAT.
>> TONY STEWART BACK TO WHERE HE STARTED RUNNING IN 12th PLACE.
>> CLINT BOWYER'S PROBLEMS EARLIER, PUTTING HIMSELF BACK ON
THE CHASE BUBBLE. THE PROBLEM FOR BOWYER,
OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY FOR LARSON, BUT FOR KASEY KAHNE AS WELL.
LARSON WAS 26 POINTS BEHIND BIFFLE AND KAHNE WAS 33 POINTS
BEHIND BIFFLE. NOW LOOK WHERE THEY STAND.
BIFFLE IS IN 23rd PLACE. SO THAT WHOLE BUBBLE THAT WE
THOUGHT SPREAD OUT SO MUCH LAST WEEK WITH ONE -- ALL OF SUDDEN
COLLAPSES RIGHT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
>> GOING TO BE A NAIL-BITING TIME IF IT CONTINUES LIKE THIS.
KASEY KAHNE STARTED UP TOWARDS THE FRONT.
WENT BACK TO 19th AND NOW MAYBE INSIDE THE TOP 10 AGAIN.
>> NOT A GREAT NIGHT FOR GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16.
STARTED 18th. HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE.
>> NO. THE TIMES THAT YOU HAVE SEEN
THIS CAR STRUGGLE THE MOST THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ARE PLACE
THAT IS DON'T HAVE GRIP. YOU GET TO PLACES LIKE MICHIGAN
AND LIKE KANSAS THAT HAS A LOT OF GRIP, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
HAVE SOME SUCCESS BUT IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THEM AND I THINK
IT'S SHOWING UP AGAIN FOR THEM TONIGHT.
>> THEN IN THE LAST RUN THE CAR VERY, VERY LOOSE AS WELL.
HE WAS IN THE LUCKY DOG POSITION FOR A BIT BUT THEN FELL OUT.
THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS FOR HIM. IT STARTED OUT TOO TIGHT AT THE
BEGINNING WITH NO RIGHT REAR GRIP.
A STRUGGLE ALL NIGHT LONG FOR GREG SO FAR AND IT'S NOT GETTING
A LOT BETTER. >> BIFFLE WILL GET BACK IN 23rd
PLACE. THE FOURTH CAR AT THE MOMENT.
KEVIN HARVICK DOMINATED EARLY. FIGHTING *** THE RESTART.
HAMLIN HAS PREVAILED AND OUT FRONT BY HALF A SECOND NOW.
>>> SKYLINE OF DOWNTOWN ATLANTA. THE ORAL-B USA 500 APPROACHES
IT'S 1/3 MARK. PAST 150 MILES IN THIS ONE.
WE HAVE BASEBALL MATINEE FOR YOU AT TURNER FIELD.
THE PHILLIES TO TAKE ON THE BRAVES.
BRAVES CONTINUING TO STRAP FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT IF THEY CAN.
THEN AFTER THAT MICHAEL BRANTLY IN MOTOR CITY TO FACE THE
TIGERS. WILL HE BE IN THE LINEUP OR NOT?
THAT'S TOMORROW AT 4:00 EASTERN. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LABOR DAY.
LIVE ON ESPN AND ON WATCHESPN. HERE IN ATLANTA.
A QUICK REMINDER ABOUT NASCAR.COM/RACEBUDDY.
WITH ALL THE RACE VIEWS FOR YOU. THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT.
DENNY HAMLIN, SECOND LEADER OF THIS RACE.
KEVIN HARVICK, DOMINANT EARLY. FOR THE FIRST 1/4 OF THE RACE.
HARVICK LED EVERY LAP AND THEN ON A ROUND OF PIT STOPS HAMLIN'S
CREW GOT AHEAD OF HARVICK. HAMLIN PREVAILED AND HAS BEEN
ABLE TO GET A GAP BACK TO HARVICK NOW.
1.3 SECONDS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND PLACE.
>> YOU THINK THAT THEY SWITCHED THE NUMBERS ON THE CARS.
>> I KNOW. WORKING REALLY WELL.
>> OTHER STORIES OF THE NIGHT, BOWYER HAS JUST COME BACK ON THE
RACETRACK. 22 LAPS DOWN IN 42N'T PLACE.
ONLY ONE CAR OUT OF THE RACE TONIGHT.
AFTER THE 23rd LAP. BOWYER IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE A
HERO BECAUSE HE'S OUT THERE ON FRESHER TIRES THAN SOME OF THESE
GUYS. TONY STEWART, EDWARDS, THEY WERE
RACING FOR 4th AND 5th. 5th AND 6th EARLIER.
>> I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT THE TRACK HAD COME TO HIM.
IT LOOKED LIKE MAYBE IT'S A SITUATION THEY TIGHTENED THAT
RACE CAR UP FOR SOMETHING AND THE FRESH TIRES HAD HIM GOING
FORWARD. HE'S NOW PAYING THE PRICE.
>> AND THAT FOUR LETTER WORD THAT EVERYBODY IS IN SEARCH OF
HERE IN ATLANTA TONIGHT AND NOT FINDING, THIS FROM CARL EDWARDS.
FLIP. >> WHEELING IT AROUND HERE NOW.
>> THERE IS A POINT OF GETTING TOO FAR DOWN.
ESPECIALLY YOU GET THAT LEFT FRONT TIRE THERE.
IT CROOKS IT BAD THEN AND DOES EXACTLY WHAT CARL -- HE DID A
NICE JOB OF SAVING THAT. >> IT'S JUST A MATTER OF INCHES
OUT THERE. >> THAT'S AT 150 MILES AN HOUR.
>> HARVICK HAS GOT THE RUN. >> KEVIN HARVICK BACK OUT IN
FRONT AS WE CUT INTO THIS RUN. HAMLIN IS GIVING UP SOME SPEED.
>> THAT HAPPENED IN A HURRY. >> 24 LAPS INTO THIS RUN THAT
HAMLIN -- THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD STRETCH.
PROBABLY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT. >> YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF HE
DOESN'T HAVE A TIRE GOING DOWN NOW.
>> OR THE RIGHT REAR LIKE WE SAW.
>> YES. >> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
BECAUSE WE SAW JUST LIKE THREE LAPS ABOVE THAT, THE SECOND AND
THIRD LEAD AND NOW HE'S IN SECOND PLACE, JIM.
>> YEAH, BUT WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING THAT.
THE ONLY THING WE HEARD WAS THE RADIO SELECTION YOU JUST PLAYED.
HE'S COMMUNICATING WITH CREW CHIEF -- THE INTERIM CREW CHIEF.
THIS IS HIS FIFTH RACE. ONE MORE RACE BEFORE GRUB COMES
BACK. RIGHT NOW THEY ARE STRUGGLING.
>> STRUGGLING WITH THE RACE CAR IS AN ALL-NIGHT LONG THEME HERE
IN ATLANTA. EVERY LAP.
EVERY RACE. >> EVEN WHENEVER THE TIRES ARE
BRAND NEW AND GOOD, IT'S STILL A STRUGGLE TO RUN THE FAST LAPS
THAT YOU NEED TO. AFTER HANDLING 26 LAPS.
HARVICK IS BACK OUT IN FRONT. AS WE CROSS THE 1/3 MARKED OF
THIS RACE. BOWYER WITH A TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM SENDING HIM BACK INTO THE GARAGE.
22 LAPS, HAS PUT HIM BACK ON THE BUBBLE.
JUST OUTSIDE OF A CHASE QUALIFIED POSITION AS THEY RUN
NOW. THE OTHER MAJOR STORY OF THE
NIGHT, TONY STEWART HAS RETURNED TO RACING MISSING THE LAST THREE
WEEKS OF THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT OF TAKING THE LIFE OF KEVIN YOUNG,
JR. RUNNING AS HIGH AS THIRD
POSITION IN THE RACE AND NOW FINDS HIMSELF BACK THIS THE 11
SPOT. TONY MAKING HIS FIRST AND ONLY
PUBLIC COMMENTS FRIDAY HERE EXPRESSING SYMPATHY AND THOUGHTS
TO THE WARD FAMILY AND EXPRESSING THANKS TO THE RACING
FAMILY AND SAYING BEING BACK IN THE RACE WILL HELP HIM GET
THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND THE OFFICIALS IN UPSTATE NEW
YORK SAID THE INVESTIGATION INTO THAT ACCIDENT WILL CONTINUE FOR
A COUPLE MORE WEEKS. DENNY HAMLIN CONTINUING TO SLIP
BACK. INTO THE CLUTCHES OF THIRD PLACE
BRAD KESELOWSKI. >> HE'S JUST WEARING THAT TIRE
OUT. PROBABLY RUNNING AND TRYING TO
STAY ON THE BOTTOM. EASY TO DO.
>> HE TOOK THE LEAD AND FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HOLD
THAT LEAD. LIKE THE TIRES JUST PAY THE
PRICE AND SEE THE MIDDLE PART OF THE RUN.
>> RAN 37 LAPS THEN RAN 34 LAPS WITH THREE CAUTION FLAGS.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 30 LAPS OF GREEN FLAG RACING.
KEVIN HARVICK BACK OUT IN FRONT. >>> LET'S SEE IF HAMLINS GUYS
CAN DO ANOTHER 11 SECONDS US HIS STOP.
>> WE PASSED THAT 30 LAP MARK AGAIN AND ANOTHER CAUTION HAS
COME OUT. THIS TIME TRUEX HAS SPUN.
THE CONE IS FLATTENED. TRUEX HAS CONTINUED AFTER A STOP
FOR FRESH TIRES ON THE FIFTH LANE.
HERE COME THE LEADERS. >> KENSETH NEEDS A LITTLE MORE
LATERAL GRIP. THEY'RE GOING TO GO BACK ON THE
PREVIOUS TRACK ADJUSTMENT. FOUR TIRES.
JAMIE. >> HE'S A LITTLE TIGHT IN
TRAFFIC BUT BETTER THE LONGER THEY RUN.
DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE ANY CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS HERE.
>> LOOSER ON THAT RUN, WILL GIVE HIM TRACK ADJUSTMENTS AND TRY TO
SNUG HIM UP. DAVE.
>> CAR WAS TIGHT TO THE CENTER. WILL GET A WEDGE AND AIR
PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. HERE COMES HAMLIN.
HARVICK. HAMLIN AGAIN.
>> THAT'S INTERESTING. HAMLIN'S CREW CONTINUING TO BE
SPOT ON TONIGHT HERE IN ATLANTA. >> ANOTHER 11.2 SECOND STOP.
>> HERE'S THE REASON FOR THE YELLOW.
>> JUST UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACETRACK, LIKE IT GOT LOOSE.
DID THE RIGHT THING. LOCKED IT DOWN OUT OF HARM'S
WAY. >> NO HARM EXCEPT TO THE CONE.
>> YEAH, THE CONE. >> AND THEN ON PIT ROW.
>> BACK HIM UP, BACK HIM UP. >> GOOD BY THE ROOKIE THERE.
>> KYLE LARSON HAS GOT GROUND TO MAKE UP NOW.
>>> WE HAD A CAT. DON'T THINK IT HAD A FIDDLE.
IF WE HANG ON THIS SHOT AND SEE A COW JUMP OVER THE MOON, I KNOW
WE'RE IN NURSERY RHYME LAND. WE COME BACK TO THE USA 500.
READY TO GO BACK RACING WITH DENNY HAMLIN BACK IN THE LEAD.
LOOK AT THE WORK THE OTHER TEAM IS DOING.
>> THAT IS SOME EFFICIENT PIT WORK ON A TOUGH NIGHT, TOO.
GUYS DOING A GREAT JOB. >> KEVIN HARVICK BACK TO SECOND
AGAIN. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT
THAT THOUGH. >> ALL GOOD.
>> HARVICK'S TEAM IS DOING A GREAT JOB, TOO.
HADN'T COMPLAINED TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT.
>> LITTLE BOTTLENECK IN THAT OUTSIDE LINE.
>> STRUCK BIG TIME ON THAT OUTSIDE LANE.
>> WHOA. INTO THE WALL.
STEWART LOOKED LIKE SOME CONTACT WITH BUSCH.
>> JUST GOT RUN OVER BIG TIME. >> FOR THE LEAD KENSETH.
CURT BUSCH RIGHT THERE IN THE 41.
THERE'S KENSETH. NOW THE NUMBER ONE SPOT.
WATCH HIGH IN TURN TWO, STEWART 14, KYLE.
>> YOU SEE KYLE BUSCH TRYING TO EXIT THE CORNER THERE.
JUST SLIPPED UP. I THINK HE KNEW THE SUPPORT TEAM
WAS THERE BUT COULDN'T HOLD HIS CAR DOWN.
>> COMING STRAIGHT TO YOU. >> MARCOS AMBROSE GOING RIGHT
BEHIND THE WALL. TRAILING A LONG STREAM OF LIQUID
BEHIND THE 9 CAR. >> IF YOU HAVE FIVE LAPS ON YOUR
TIRES AND THE CAUTION COMES OUT ARE YOU GOING TO COME DOWN PIT
ROW AND THEY SAID YES. SAID THEIR CUTOFF WAS LIKE TWO
LAPS. THEY HAVE RUN FIVE LAPS ON THE
GREEN. >> WE KNOW TONY STEWART IS
COMING IN. PROBABLY THE 18, KYLE BUSCH.
>> AMBROSE AFTER DISAPPOINTMENT COMING UP A SPOT SHORT.
AJ ALLMENDINGER KNEW HE HAD TO TRY AND WIN TONIGHT OR RICHMOND
TO MAKE THE CHASE. >> HE PULLED OUT OF LINE.
KNEW HE HAD SOMETHING GOING WRONG.
>> BOWYER. >> YEAH.
>> YOU'RE ALL GOOD. YOUR ALL GOOD.
>> ENGINE FAILURES HERE IN ATLANTA HAVE BEEN A THEME.
A LOT OF THEM AFTER HALFWAY. SOME BY DRIVERS LEADING THE RACE
PARTICULARLY LAST YEAR. BUT WE'RE NOT QUITE TO HALFWAY
IN THIS ONE TONIGHT. AMBROSE HAS HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM
IN THE 9 CAR. >> GOING TO HAVE A BIT OF TIME
PROBABLY UNTIL THEY GET THE ROAD CLEANED UP TO MAKE THAT
DECISION. THEY GOT A BIG MESS DOWN THERE.
>> LAID A BUNCH OF OIL DOWN. >> PIT ROAD IS CLOSED.
WHILE THEY WORK ON THAT. WHILE WE WAIT, WE'LL CHECK WITH
JAMIE. >> MARCOS AMBROSE STOPPED IT
RIGHT HERE. ANY INDICATION THAT LED TO THIS?
>> A LITTLE BIT OFF BEFORE REACHING IN.
LOST A LOT OF OIL. DIDN'T WASN'T TO RUIN ANYONE'S
PIT LINES. IT'S DONE.
>> TOUGH NIGHT. MEANWHILE WE DO HAVE TONY
STEWART ON PIT ROW. >> STEWART AND BUSCH NOW WAITING
TO COME IN AND GET SOME AID TO THE RIGHT SIDES OF THEIR CARS.
>> THE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF BOTH OF THOSE CARS.
YOU SEE THAT. DRIVES TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING
THEY CAN. TONY WIGGLED BACK IN THE CENTER
BUT WAS UP THERE IN THE HIGH LANE.
SEEN KYLE BUSCH PROBABLY ALONG WITH HIS CAR GOING, HE WAS
CHASING IT UP THERE BUT JUST MISJUDGED A BIT THINKING HE WAS
IN FRONT OF THE 14. SO HARD TO JUDGE THAT.
YOU GO STRICTLY BY YOUR SPEED THAT YOU'RE DOING.
NOW YOU CAN -- >> YEAH.
I HAD NOT SEEN THAT BEFORE. >> YOU HIT THOSE SEAMS AND
THAT'S WHAT KYLE BUSCH WAS ON WITH HIS LEFT REAR TIRE.
YOU LOSE CONTROL AND THE BACK END SLIDES OUT FROM UNDER YOU.
>> TONY STEWART IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.
>> WORKING ON GETTING THAT 14 SQUARED AWAY.
>> CHAD JOHNSON AND CREW CHIEF SAID IT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW
PIT STOPS TO FIX. THEY WERE CHECKING UNDERNEATH
AND CHECKING THE COMPONENTS, MAKING SURE SUSPENSION IS OKAY.
THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO PULL THAT FENDER OUT MORE AND WORK ON
THE DAMAGE. HE HAD TO PULL OUT WITH THAT OIL
RIGHT OUTSIDE OF HIS BOX. >> THEY WORKED ON THE CAR, THE
DAMAGE. THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THE TIRES.
THEY'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THEY GET THE CAR FIXED.
THEY DO HAVE TEN SETS IN THE PITS WHEN THIS RACE STARTS.
MOST TEAMS THINK THEY MIGHT BE AT THE LIMIT OF WHAT THEY MIGHT
USE. THEY DON'T WANT TO WASTE A SET
NOW. >> THEY GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER
OF CAUTION LAPS TO GET READY FOR THE FULL SET OF PIT STOPS.
IT IS A MESS ON THE PIT LANE AFTER MARCOS AMBROSE HAD THOSE
PROBLEMS. BACK TO THE STUDIO.
>> WELCOME TO THE QUICKEN LOANS STUDIO.
SO MUCH TO DISCUSS AS WE APPROACH HALFWAY.
HARVICK APPEARS TO HAVE THE STRONGEST CAR.
DO YOU SEE ANYBODY WHO CAN RUN WITH HIM?
>> WE KEEP LOOKING AT HAMLIN. HE HAS GOOD SHOTS OF EXCELLENCE
OUT THERE I CALL IT. AS LONG AS KEVIN CAN HOLD THE
BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK, EVERY TIME HE GETS UP HIGH, THE NUMBER
4 SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM. WHEN DENNY GETS TO THE BOTTOM,
DENNY GETS GOING BUT SEEMS LIKE HIS PERIOD THAT HE COULD RUN
FAST IS DEFINITELY SHORTER THAN KEVIN'S.
HAMLIN SHOOTS OUT, LEADS AND THEN HARVICK SEEMS TO RUN HIM
DOWN AS THE RUN GOES ON. >> CAN I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
NO. I'M JUST KIDDING.
WE SAW HAMLIN. AS TIME WENT ON AIR PRESSURE
BUILT UP. HARVICK SEEMED TO GET AWAY FROM
HIM. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HAMLIN.
HE SHOWED A LOT OF SPEED. AFTER WE GET THIS PITCH SPOT
IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO COULD MAKE THE
ADJUSTMENT. >> AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE
ADJUSTMENTS, LOTS OF WORK GOING ON ON PIT ROAD.
RIGHT NOW TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THAT 4 CAR WHICH IS AWFULLY
DOMINANT. MORE TO COME FROM THE ATLANTA
SPEEDWAY. >>> PIT ROAD STILL CLOSED.
TOMORROW YOU COULD SEE THE BIG FINAL ELIMINATIONS OF THE CHEVY
PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS BIGGEST DRAG RACE OF THE YEAR ON
ESPN2. THE ACTION MOVES ON TO
VIRGINIA'S CAPITOL. THE NATIONWIDE SERIES FRIDAY
NIGHT AND THE CHASE DECIDING RACE, A TELECAST PRESENTED BY
AUTO ZONE ON ABC AT 7:00 EASTERN TIME WITH CLINT BOWYER'S
PROBLEMS EARLIER TONIGHT. MAKING THE POSITIONS ON POINTS
PICTURE A WHOLE LOT INTERESTS GOING INTO THAT RACE.
IF SOMEBODY CAN WIN THAT HASN'T WON YET THIS SEASON, THEY'RE IN.
BEGINNING THE FOLLOWING WEEK AT CHICAGO SPEEDWAY.
STILL WAITING FOR PIT ROW TO BE OPEN.
DENNY HAMLIN'S TEAM HAVE GOTTEN THEIR DRIVER THE LEAD OVER KEVIN
HARVICK ON PIT LANE. WE GET MORE FROM DAVE BURNS.
>> HARVICK HAS A GOOD PIT CREW BUT NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE
SITUATION. CREW CHIEF GIVES HIM AN IDEA OF
WHY THIS MIGHT BE HAPPENING. >> KEEP COMPOUNDING PROBLEMS.
CAN'T START ON THE OUTSIDE HERE. TWO OR THREE SPOTS, I KNOW YOU
DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT BUT ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
11.8 IS GOOD FOR US. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BEAT THESE
GUYS ON THEIR GUNS. >> OUR GUNS AND THEIR GUNS.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST GUYS ON PIT ROAD OR THE BEST
GALS ON PIT ROAD BUT TECHNOLOGY CAN GET AHEAD OF THIS GAME AND
IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE 11 IS AHEAD.
>> I HEARD THEY HAD SOME SPECIAL PIT GUNS.
THEY KNOW HOW TO USE THEM, TOO. >> YEAH.
YOU CAN HAVE GOOD ONES BUT YOU GOT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING
WITH THEM. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> UP TWO SPOTS WITH KENSETH LEADING HAMLIN.
AND NOT CONTROLLING THE RESTART. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED ON THIS
LAST RESTART. AFTER A LOSS OF TRACK POSITION.
>> IT'S FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FAST RACE CAR THAT HE MINIMIZES THAT
DAMAGE WITH THAT AS HE'S ABLE TO COME BACK.
BACK THERE ONCE AGAIN BETWEEN THE 18 AND 14.
>> THEY HAVE GOT THE OIL DRY AND SWEPT UP AS BEST CAN BE AT THIS
POINT. PIT ROW IS GOING TO BE OPEN
HERE. >> STILL HAVE LAPS LEFT ON THESE
TIRES. >> WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?
>> I ACTUALLY AM SURPRISED THE LEADER STAYED OUT.
>> JIMMY JOHNSON IN FROM 6th PLACE, THE FIRST ONE.
>> JAMIE? >> AND JIMMY JOHNSON, BALANCE
JUST HASN'T BEEN QUITE RIGHT ALL WEEKEND.
HE SAID WE'RE TRYING TO WORK IN DIFFERENT AREAS BUT OUR SEED
ISN'T GREAT EITHER. SO THEY'RE PUTTING TIRES ON
HERE. TRYING TO ADJUST FOR TIGHT
CONDITIONS ON 48. JEFF.
>> KYLE LARSON HAS BEEN TIGHT ON THE LAST RUN.
THEY GOING TO GIVE HIM FOUR TIRES, MAKE A CHASSIS
ADJUSTMENT. KYLE LARSON IS AWAY.
>> I THINK WE'RE GETTING SET UP HERE FOR A LONG RUN SITUATION.
>> TRUEX GOING TO BE FIRST OUT. WE'LL SEE WHERE HE IS GOING TO
START OUT. KYLE BUSCH CONTINUE TO CLIMB.
AFTER THEIR CONTACT JUST A BIT EARLIER.
>>> SKYLINE OF DOWNTOWN ATLANTA. HOT TRULY TODAY.
TEMPERATURE ABOUT 90 DEGREES. AT THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
WHERE WE'RE GETTING READY TO RETURN TO RACING.
TONY STEWART'S RETURN INVOLVED AN INCIDENT WITH KYLE BUSCH.
CLINT BOWYER, ONE OF THE DRIVERS ON THE BUBBLING POINT IN THE
GARAGE WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND JEFF GORDON HIT THE
WALL. FIRST OFF PIT ROW WITH FRESH
TRIES, TRUEX. THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
>> IT IS. THEY HAVE GOT THE FIRST -- ON
SOMEWHAT USED TIRES BUT NOT AS FRESH.
>> McMURRAY MAKING A BIG MOVE TO THAT ONE CAR.
>> HE'S ONE OF THE ONES ON FRESH TIRES.
>> CURT BUSCH CHALLENGING KENSETH WITH RACE SPEED.
>> BUSCH DIDN'T HAVE A VERY GOOD QUALIFYING EFFORT.
ALWAYS SO GOOD AT THIS RACETRACK.
HE TAKES THE LEAD AWAY. DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HE'S BEEN
ABLE TO DRIVE HERE. HE'S WON IN RACES.
HE'S WON UP FRONT IN CAR THAT IS A LOT OF TIMES WEREN'T THAT GOOD
TO BE UP FRONT. HE PUT THEM THERE.
>> CURT TALKED ABOUT WHEN THEY WENT TO THE NIGHT RACING GEAR IT
CHANGED THINGS FOR HIM. >> HE SEEMS TO BE DOING PRETTY
WELL TONIGHT AND CURT BUSCH OUT TO LEAD THIS RACE.
THAT SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE INFIELD SOMEWHERE.
BUT IT'S NOT ON THE RACETRACK. SO WE STAY OUT OF THE GREEN
FLAG. IT'S NOT A RACING SOURCE THAT
THAT MIGHT BE COMING FROM. >> YOU GET THE DRIVERS
ATTENTION, THEY'RE BEING REASSURED THERE'S NOTHING GOING
ON. YOU STILL SEE IT.
>> SECOND PLACE, KEVIN HARVICK WORKING ON KENSETH.
JAMIE McMURRAY IS IN 7th PLACE RIGHT NOW.
>> TRYING TO TAKE A SPOT AWAY FROM HAMLIN.
THAT FIFTH SPOT. GOOD RUN FOR VICKERS TONIGHT.
HE'S ONE OF THOSE DRIVERS THAT NEEDS TO WIN.
>> THREE DRIVERS THERE THAT PITTED AND TOOK FRESH TIRES.
TRUEX WAS THE FIRST OF THE CARS OFF THE PIT LANE.
LOSING SOME SPOTS. CASE KAHNE, FIVE.
>> KASEY KAHNE DID NOT GET TIRES.
HE'S ONE OF THE LAST CARS IN THE RUNNING ORDER THAT DID NOT
CHANGE TIRES. HE'S THE ONE THAT GETS TO RACE
WITH THE GUYS ON TWO TIRES FIRST.
THAT'S NEVER FUN. >> NO.
>> DANICA PATRICK BACK ON THE LEAD.
GOT A FREE PASS TWO CAUTIONS AGO.
BACK AT LAP 116. >> KYLE LARSON.
42 CAR HANGING ON THERE. >> LARSON BACK IN 16th PLACE
TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BOWYER IN THIS ONE.
PERHAPS QUALIFY FOR THE CHASE. >> THEY DID COME DOWN PIT ROW.
>> MAY HAVE A FLAT TIRE. >> MAY HAVE JUST ANGERED PAUL
MENARD. >> MAY HAVE JUST OVERHEATED THE
REAR TIRE. >> LARSON IN 18th PLACE.
BOWYER IN 31st. LARSON ENTERING THE NIGHT, 26
POINTS BEHIND THE BUBBLE SPOT THEN OCCUPIED BY BIFFLE.
>> LARSON AND HIS TEAM AND CREW CHIEF IN PARTICULAR, THIS IS A
ROOKIE TRYING TO GET HIMSELF IN POSITION TO MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND
WHAT THIS NIGHT IS ABOUT NOW. 15 HAS HAD THAT TROUBLE.
16 STRUGGLING EVEN THOUGH BIFFLE IS BACK ON THE LEAD LAP.
THIS COULD BE A HUGE NIGHT FOR HIM TO FIND HIMSELF IN THE
CHASE. >> NEW TIRES, OLDER TIRES,
EDWARDS PASSING RYAN NEWMAN. EDWARDS IN THE GROUP.
PITTED AT 131. NEWMAN DID NOT.
>> THE 31 CREW CHIEF, I ASKED THE QUESTION, WOULD YOU COME
BACK DOWN PIT ROW AND GET TIRES. HE SAID YES BUT HE DIDN'T ABOUT
NOW HE'S PAYING THE PRICE. THAT WAS PROBABLY A LOT BASED ON
WHAT HE SAW IN FRONT OF HIM HAPPENING THINKING THAT MAYBE
EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH WAS GOING TO STAY OUT THERE.
>> THREE WIDE HERE. TRUEX, 78 SLIDING AROUND.
>> KASEY KAHNE HAD DRIVEN INTO ABOUT THE SIXTH SPOT.
LOOKED LIKE A RUN OR TWO THERE THAT HE'S -- HIS CAR -- STAYING
OUT THERE ON THESE TIRING IS NOT TO HIS LIKE.
>> HE JUST RATED OWED IN DON'T DO THIS TO ME AGAIN.
THEY WERE ON THE BUBBLE SPOT IN THE LINEUP IN THE 8th POSITION
WHERE SOME GUYS WERE GOING TO COME BEHIND HIM AND THE ONES
THAT DID GOT AROUND HIM AND HE WOULD RATH HAVE FRESH TIRES BUT
YOU GOT TO MANAGE THE SET WELL THROUGH THE EVENING AND THIS IS
A LONG NIGHT. >> ABSOLUTELY IT IS.
SOME TEAMS FREE, OTHER TEAMS FORCED.
>> JIMMY JOHNSON TOOK TIRES ON THE YELLOW.
MAKING HIS WAY INTO THE TOP TEN. JOHNSON PICKED UP A PIECE OF
TIRE CASING OFF ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS ON THE WINDSHIELD OF HIS 48.
>> STILL JUST NOT WHERE WE EXPECT JIMMY JOHNSON AND THIS 48
CAR TO BE RUNNING. HE HAS TIRES, FRESHER TIRES ON
AND THAT SHOULD BE A HUGE ADVANTAGE HERE.
FOR HIM NOT TO BE ABLE TO RUN BACK UP, I BELIEVE HE MIGHT HAVE
RESTARTED 11th HERE. >> SO BACK TO THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT MOMENTUM AND HOW MUCH YOU FEEL IT'S WORTH IT GOING INTO
THE CHASE AND THE EBB AND FLOW OF A LONG SEASON.
HAD THIS DISCUSSION AND THEY CAME ON THE CHASE AND WERE GANG
BUSTERS. JIMMY SAID, NINE OF THEM ARE
PROBABLY NINE OF HIS BEST TRACKS WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE THIS 48
IS NOW. YOU EXPECTING HIM TO TURN IT ON
OR DO YOU HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY MIGHT BE?
>> HE SHOULD BE READY IS WHAT I THINK.
>> I THINK IF WHAT I'M SEEING BECAUSE THE CARS ARE DIFFERENT,
THE SETUPS ARE DIFFERENT, THE COMPETITION IS DIFFERENT, I
THINK THIS TEAM HAD A BIT OF A STRUGGLE EVEN THOUGH THOSE ARE
SOME VERY GOOD TRACKS AT THE BEGINNING.
HE'LL PROBABLY FIGURE OUT ENOUGH TO GET HIMSELF THROUGH THERE.
>> DON'T COUNT HIM OUT. >> I'M NOT COUNTING HIM OUT.
I THINK THERE'S MORE TROUBLE THIS YEAR THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
IN THE PAST. >> NEW CHASE FORMAT.
DON'T FORGET. >> I KNOW.
>> IT'S STILL JIMMY JOHNSON. >> GOING FOR 7th CHAMPIONSHIP IN
NINE YEARS. WILL IT BE A
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER/NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER FOR JIMMY JOHNSON OR
WILL THE CHAMPIONSHIP WIND UP IN OTHER HANDS THIS FALL?
>>> JUST SHY OF HALFWAY IN THE USA 500 FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT
CUP SERIES. SUNDAY NIGHT LABOR DAY RACING AT
THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY. 77 DEGREES.
THE AIR TEMPERATURE. THE RACE FOR THE LEAD IS HOT AS
COULD BE. MATT HENRIK TRYING TO TAKE IT.
>> MATT'S ONE OF THOSE DRIVES WHO DOES A GREAT JOB OF TAKING
CARE OF HIS TIRES. DOESN'T ABUSE THE CAR.
YOU CAN SEE THAT PAYING OFF FOR HIM HERE.
>> THAT RACE HEATED UP QUICKLY AND COOLED OFF JUST AS QUICKLY.
LET'S CHECK ON JOEY AND BRIAN VICKERS RACING FOR 6th AND 7th.
A CHALLENGE FOR A SPOT AT THE VERY FRONT OF THE PACK.
HERE'S A TEAM THAT GOT A BIG WIN LAST WEEK AND HAD BEEN
CONTENDING FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS. HERE GOES THE RACE FOR
FINISH. MATT KENSETH BACK FOR THE SECOND
TIME IN THIS RACE. HERE COMES KEVIN HARVICK AND
TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE FRONT. >> IT'S REALLY CRAZY TO THINK
THE AIR COULD BE AS DISTURBING TO THESE CARS WHEN YOU SEE A CAR
LIKE HARVICK BE DOMINANT OUT FRONT AND RUNNING AWAY FROM
EVERYBODY AND HE GETS BACK IN. HAMLIN, HOW LONG IT TOOK HIM TO
GET THERE AND HERE HE IS BACK TO 4th.
>> THESE CARS MAKE A TREMENDOUS -- THEY GOT BIG --
VERY LOW TO THE GROUND, THEY RELY ON WHERE YOU ARE LOSING SO
MUCH GRIP MECHANICALLY. MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW
MUCH THE CAR CAN HOLD THE LINE. >> WORKING ON SEEING IF THERE'S
A CHASE TO THE FORM. NEXT SEASON MIGHT MAKE IT A
LITTLE LESS EMPHATIC. BUT IN ANY FORM OF RACING NOW
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO OVERCOME IN ANY FORM OF RACING.
STEWART A LAP DOWN AS HE STRUGGLES WITH THAT BEATEN UP
RACE CAR FROM THE INCIDENT EARLIER.
CHECK IN ON SECOND PLACE HARVICK WHO HAS STILL TO THIS POINT LED
THE MOST LAPS TONIGHT. >> WHEN HE UPDATED HIS CREW FIVE
LAPS AGO HE TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS TOO LOOSE ON THE EXIT, TOO
TIGHT TO THE CENTER AND HE ADDED TRACK POSITION IS EVERYTHING.
SO BACK TO EVERYTHING YOU TALKED ABOUT.
>> THE CAR WAS LOOSE ON THE EXIT.
I ALWAYS SAID THESE TRACKS LIKE THIS REALLY GIVE UP GRIP.
I WANT TO FIX THE FIRST THING THE CAR IS DOING.
IF IT'S TIGHT, I WANT TO FIX THAT.
IT USUALLY WILL MAKE THE CAR TIGHTER ON EXIT.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. >> IT IS.
>> A LOT OF TIMES AS A DRIVER BECAUSE YOU THINK ABOUT MAKING
THAT SEAM YOUR FIRST INCLINATION IS TO SAY YOU GOT TO HELP ME ON
THIS EXIT, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MORE GAS.
YOU MIGHT REALIZE THAT'S CREATING THE SECOND ISSUE.
>> THEN IT WILL AFFECT THE SECOND ONE.
SOMETIMES FIX IT. >> JIMMY JOHNSON PASSING
McMURRAY. >> NOT AS BIG OF A DEMAND AS I
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE IN MORE
TROUBLE AND THESE CARS WOULD HAVE MORE ADVANTAGE BUT IT
HASN'T PROVEN OUT. >> THE RACE HERE A YEAR AGO, THE
SAME SITUATION HAPPENED WITH THE OPPOSITE RESULTS.
CARL EDWARDS AND A COUPLE OTHERS CHOSE NOT TO PIT WITH FIVE LAPS
OF RACING ON TIRES. AS HARVICK APPROACHES KENSETH
FOR THE RACE LEAD. THE NEXT SET OF PIT STOPS CAME
OUT EDWARDS WAS RUNNING 18th. >> I REMEMBER THAT.
THIS RUN IS STILL NOT OVER YET. WE MIGHT SEE IT AT THE END OF
THE RUN WE MIGHT SEE THE ADVANTAGE COME BACK INTO PLAY.
>> YOU CAN SEE WHAT A GOOD POINT OF WHAT ANDY WAS TALKING ABOUT
WITH THE FORCES YOU RELY ON, AS SOON AS YOU CAN GET TO THE
BUMPER AND TAKE THE DOWN FORCE AWAY.
>> AS WE CROSS THE HALFWAY MARK OF THIS RACE, BACK IN COMMAND
IT'S KEVIN HARVICK. DOMINATING EARLY AND BACK IN
COMMAND AT THE USA 500 IN ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
>>> THE ORAL-B USA 500 IN ATLANTA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
COCA-COLA. THE OFFICIAL SOFT DRINK OF
NASCAR. OPEN HAPPINESS.
>> CENTENNIAL PARK DOWNTOWN ATLANTA AROUND WHICH MUCH OF THE
1996 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES UNWRAPPED.
SOUTH OF TOWN, THE USA 500 LED BY KEVIN HARVICK OVER KENSETH
AND KESELOWSKI. HERE'S HARVICK UNDER THE GREEN
FLAG FOLLOWED BY CURT BUSCH WHO HAS GOT A BIG PROBLEM ON THE
RIGHT REAR. >> YOU SEE THE DAMAGE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT KENSETH. BUSCH, YOU SAW THE DAMAGE ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. FOUR TIRE CHANGE.
DAVE. >> KEVIN HARVICK REVVING THE
ENGINE THE LAST TIME HE WAS DOWN PIT ROW.
HE'S GOT THE ENGINE FIRED. A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.
>> THE DAMAGED CAR OF TONY STEWART NOW MORE DAMAGED.
INTO THE WALL. CAUTION FLAG IS OUT.
>> SO TONY STEWART'S NIGHT DIDN'T START OUT SO WELL.
SIDE TRACKED. KYLE BUSCH MADE CONTACT WITH HIM
AND NOW COMPLETELY DERAILED WITH THIS RIGHT FRONT TROUBLE AND
INTO THE WALL IN TURN NUMBER TWO.
>> SORRY GUYS, YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT.
>> STEWART'S IN THE GARAGE. >> THAT WAS A LONG RUN.
WE SAW CURT BUSCH HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HIS AND THIS CAR BEING
DAMAGED. PROBABLY ABUSIVE ON THE TIRES AS
WELL. TOUGH BREAK FOR TONY.
>> I WAS WATCHING CURT BUSCH. I COULDN'T TELL WHAT HAPPENED.
I SAW THE CAR GO TOWARDS THE WALL.
BUT YOU COULD SEE AS IT TURNED OUT IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE
THAT WENT DOWN ON HIS. >> YOU SAID LONG RUN.
THAT PARTICULAR RUN WAS ONLY 38 LAPS.
BUT FOR SOME OF THESE GUYS WHO DIDN'T PIT BEFORE IT WAS A BIT
LONGER ON THE SET OF TIRES. >> YEAH.
THEY HAD A FIVE LAP RUN ON THEIR TIRES BEFORE THAT LAST RUN
STARTED. THIS WAS THE LONGEST STRETCH
ANYBODY HAD RUN ON TIRES. >> STEWART'S CAR HAD DAMAGE FROM
THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT. EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK YOU GET
THE -- A LOT OF TIMES IT CREATES ISSUES FOR YOU.
>> STEWART BACK IN THE GARAGE. AND PIT ROW AT ABOUT TO BE
OPENED HERE FOR THE ELITE LAP CARS.
THIS YELLOW IS GOING TO SHUFFLE UP THE ORDER.
PEOPLE LIKE HARVICK AND KENSETH HAD BEEN ON THE PIT ROW BEFORE
THE YELLOW FLAG CAME OUT. >> MATT AND HARVICK WILL BE ABLE
TO STAY OUT. >> BRAD KESELOWSKI, THE RACE
LEADER FOR THE MOMENT, HE'LL BE COMING TO PIT ROAD HERE.
AS WILL MOST EVERYBODY ELSE JAMIE?
>> BRAD KESELOWSKI HAD SCUFF TIRES THAT LAST RUN HE SAID HE
LOST THE DRIVE OFF. THEY'RE GOING TO PUT FOUR TIRES
ON HERE. NO ADJUSTMENTS.
>> DENNY HAMLIN, WINDSHIELD TEAR-OFF AND FOUR TIRES.
>> LOGANO GAVE UP FOR FOUR TIRES AND WEDGE ADJUSTMENT AND AIR
PRESSURE. >> DENNY HAMLIN FIRST OFF THE
PIT LANE, NO SURPRISE, HIS TEAM HAS BEEN SUPERB ALL NIGHT.
KENSETH AND HARVICK WILL GO TO THE LINE HERE.
TONY STEWART BACK IN THE GARAGE. >>> AT THE ATLANTA MOTOR
SPEEDWAY. SUNDAY NIGHT, LABOR DAY RACING.
TONY STEWART BACK. AN EVENTFUL NIGHT IN THE EARLY
GOING. SOME CONTENDERS RESPOND TO THE
CHASE NASCAR AND STEWART AFTER HAVING A SOLID RUN IN THE EARLY
GOING GETTING TANGLED UP WITH KYLE BUSCH AND HAVING THE RIGHT
FRONT GO DOWN ON HIS CAR AND HITTING THE WALL AND PUTTING
SEVERE DAMAGE ON THAT NUMBER 14 MACHINE.
YOU SEE TONY TALKING TO DREW. WHILE THE CREW HAS A LOOK AT THE
CAR AND MAKES A DECISION ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING NEXT AND
WHETHER IT'S GOING TO GET PREPARED AND PUT BACK IN THE
RACE OR RETIRED FOR THE NIGHT. >> OTHER STRINGS OF EVENTS IN
WHAT HAS BEEN A LONG NIGHT FULL OF THEM.
DALE, JR. GETTING GRILL REPAIRS ON HIS 88 CAR.
WATCH THIS. >> YOU SEE A LOT OF DEBRIS
FLYING AROUND. SOMEONE TOOK THE GRILLE OUT.
>> JUNIOR NOT HAVING A STELLAR NIGHT HERE.
BUT NOW HAS -- >> WE NEED TO ROLL.
EVERYBODY OUT OF THE WAY. YOU'RE FINE, DON'T SPEED, YOU'LL
BE JUST FINE. >> DAMAGE TO THAT 88 CAR.
CURT BUSCH LEAVING THE PIT ROAD AFTER GETTING THAT 41 MACHINE
BACK INTO SHAPE. WHERE DO WE BEGIN.
SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED. LET'S SET THE SITUATION WHERE IT
STANDS RIGHT NOW. LEADERS ALL CAME RUNNING DOWN
PIT ROAD, A NUMBER OF THEM JUST AS CURT BUSCH HAD HIS PROBLEM
BUT BEFORE TONY STEWART DID. THEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT FOR
STEWART AND IT KIND OF SPLIT THE FIELD.
ALL COMING BACK TOGETHER AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE TIMING AND THE
WAY THE CAUTION CAME OUT. BUT KENSETH AND HARVICK ARE
CYCLING BACK TO FIRST AND SECOND.
THEY WERE ON PIT ROW LEGALLY WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT.
THEY DIDN'T PIT. CYCLED BACK TO THE FRONT SPOT.
THEN THE GUYS WHO MADE THE STOPS UNDER THE YELLOW FLAG,
KESELOWSKI, HAMLIN, LINED UP BEHIND KENSETH AND HARVICK.
SOME WHO PITTED UNDER THE GREEN BUT DIDN'T STAY UNDER THE LEAD
LAP. STAYED ON THE TRACK AND BE
ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE WAVE AROUND HERE AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE
KASEY KAHNE, ALLMENDINGER AND TRUEX, JR.
>> GOOD JOB. THAT WAS A LOT TO EXPLAIN.
GOOD JOB. >> TAKE IT FOR A MINUTE.
I'VE GOT TO CATCH MY BREATH. >> IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
KENSETH HAD FALLEN BEHIND HARVICK BEFORE THEY MADE THE PIT
STOPS WILL BE IN FRONT OF HIM HERE.
>> LET'S CHECK BACK IN THE GARAGE.
>> WE REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW AND TONY RESPECTFULLY DECLINED BUT
WE DO HAVE HIS CREW CHIEF. CHAD, WHAT A WEEKEND IT'S BEEN
FOR YOU EYES. WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU
JUST BEING BACK WITH TONY AND HAVING HIM BACK IN THE CAR?
>> IT'S BEEN GOOD. WE QUALIFIED WELL.
WENT IN TODAY WITH SOME PRETTY GOOD HOPES THAT FINISHING WELL
AND POSSIBLY COMING OUT OF HERE WITH A WIN.
JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT IN OUR FAVOR.
GOT A LITTLE TROUBLE AND GOT INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL, KNOCKED
THE TOE OUT OF IT. RIGHT SIDE DAMAGE AND WE WERE
JUST TRYING TO FIX THAT AND SALVAGE WHAT WE COULD OUT OF THE
DAY. AND RIGHT BEFORE THAT CAUTION
CAME OUT. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE HIM BACK.
WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE JOHNNY MORRIS HERE AND RUSTY RUSH AND
THE GUYS FROM CODE 3 TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT HIM ON KIND OF HIS
HOME COMING BACK. WISH WE HAD A BETTER EFFORT FOR
HIM. >> THEY HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS
COMING IN BUT THEY WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT RICHMOND.
>> JAMIE, THANKS. HERE WE ARE DOUBLED UP FOR THE
RESTART. A LOOK AT THE RESTART ORDER FOR
YOU. WITH MATT KENSETH AND KEVIN
HARVICK SHARING THE FRONT ROW. DENNY HAMLIN IN TWO AND LOGANO
IN ROW 3. 19 CARS ON THE RELAP.
>> HARVICK WILL JUST NOT GET UP TO SPEED BUT ONCE HE GETS IT
GOING, THINGS ARE ROCKING. KESELOWSKI GETS BACK AROUND
HAMLIN TO SECOND PLACE. KESELOWSKI SQUEEZING BY HAMLIN
FOR THIRD. >> I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GO
BACK THIRD OR FIFTH. BOY, DID HE HAVE A RUN GOING.
>> ONCE HE GETS DOWN TWO AND STAYS WIDE OPEN, HE MAKES UP A
LOT OF GROUND. IT'S JUST THAT INITIAL RESTART.
>> THERE'S SOMETHING YOU HADN'T SEEN ALL NIGHT.
>> HARVICK TOOK THE WIDE LINE AND HAMLIN -- NOT HAMLIN,
KENSETH WENT UP IN FRONT OF HIM. 99 LOOKING TO GET AROUND HAM ILL
nd -- HAMLIN AND PICK UP FOURTH PLACE IF HE DOES.
HARVICK LOOKING TO FIND AN OPEN LANE.
>> TAKING THAT BOTTOM LEAD AWAY FROM HIM HERE.
>> HARVICK WENT UP TO THE MIDDLE TRYING TO GET SOME CLEAN AIR TO
HIS NOSE. IT'S THE BIGGEST THING HE WAS
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THERE. >> LOGANO WORKING ON HAMLIN.
HE WAS FIRST OFF THE PIT LABOR. RESTARTED THIRD.
HE MIGHT GIVE UP FIFTH HERE AS HARVICK GETS THAT RUN ON KENSETH
ON ONE AND TWO. >> UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING
THAT HARVICK IS FASTER AND KENSETH BEING SMART AND LOGANO
TRYING TO TAKE THE SPOT AWAY. KENSETH KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT THIS
IS. IF HE PUTS HIMSELF INTO A
POSITION TO WIN OR LOCK HIMSELF IN THE CHASE POINTS WISE.
>> WHICH CAN BE DONE TONIGHT BY THE DRIVER OF THAT 20 CAR.
SO LOGANO CLEARS HIM. JIMMY JOHNSON, 48.
SEVENTH PLACE NOW, LOOKING FOR SIXTH.
RUSTY TALKED ABOUT ON COUNTDOWN EARLIER THAT OUTSIDE PASS.
JIMMY DIDN'T MAKE THE PASS ON THE OUTSIDE BUT USED THE OUTSIDE
TURN TO GET THE PASS ON HAMLIN. >> MOVING FORWARD HERE.
>> EDWARDS AND LOGANO. >> WE SEE UP THERE IN THIRD
FOURTH AND FIFTH ARE THE ONES HAVE WON THIS YEAR ALL MULTIPLE
TIMES. >> LOGANO AND KESELOWSKI,
MULTIPLE WINNERS. EDWARDS AS WELL FOR THE TEAM.
FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD. GETTING BACK TO FOURTH, FIFTH
AND SIXTH. >> YOU SEE HOW EDWARDS IS
REALLY -- KIND OF LIKE HOW WE SAW HARVICK DOING.
DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACETRACK.
>> SAW HIM DOING IT THREE, FOUR NOW AND SEEING HIM DO IT ON BOTH
ENDS. >> EDWARDS AT A TRACK WHERE HE'S
HAD A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS EARLIER IN HIS CAREER.
EDWARDS GETTING BOTH HIS FIRST NATIONWIDE WIN.
TALKING WITH HIS CREW CHIEF MAKING SPECULATION ABOUT JIMMY
AND WHAT HIS PLANS ARE BEYOND THIS YEAR.
JIMMY CONFIRMING TO ME THAT HE WILL BE DONE AS A NASCAR SPRINT
CUP CREW CHIEF AT THE END OF THIS SEASON.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER ROLE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
BUT WISHING SO MUCH SUCCESS. THINKING BACK TO THE DAYS WITH
BOBBY ALLISON. AND ON THROUGH THE YEARS.
BUT JIMMY WITH 40 WINS AS A NASCAR PRINT CUP CREW CHIEF
GOING TO CALL IT A CAREER AT THE END OF THIS SEASON.
>> I HAVE KNOWN HIM MY WHOLE CAREER.
LOOKED UP TO HIM. HE'S HUNG IN THERE A LONG TIME,
TOO. 40 WINS.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE IN THE GARAGE AREA
TODAY THAT HAS SEEN AS MANY CHANGES THROUGH THE CARS AND
EVERYTHING AS WHAT JIMMY HAS AND WON ALL OF THOSE CHANGES WITH SO
MANY DIFFERENT DRIVERS. >> EDWARDS GIVING UP GROUND
THERE AS JOHNSON LED BY HIM. AND NOW GORDON TRYING TO MAKE UP
SOME GROUND. 24 IS A COUPLE OF LAPS DOWN
AFTER GETTING INTO THE WALL EARLIER.
ON HIS WAY BACK IN THE 23rd POSITION.
WE HAVE SEEN EDWARDS AND JOHNSON PUT ON SOME PRETTY GREAT RACES
BEFORE. IT WAS FOR THE WIN.
IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO. BUT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
FANTASTIC FINISHES THAT MIGHT HAVE CAME TO BE LABELED.
EDWARDS OUTSIDE. JOHNSON INSIDE.
AND BY THAT MUCH. EDWARDS GOT THE CHECKERED FLAG
HOLDING IT THERE. >>> AT THE ATLANTA MOTOR
SPEEDWAY, 200 MILES TO GO IN THE USA 500.
THE RACE LEADER IS KEVIN HARVICK AS IT HAS BEEN MUCH OF THE
WEEKEND HERE AT THIS TRACK. HARVICK DOMINATING THE RACE CAR
SERIES LAST NIGHT. HARVICK SET A PRETTY HEALTHY
ADVANTAGE IN THAT CATEGORY AS WELL.
STAY CONNECTED TO THE SPRINT CAR CUP SERIES WITH THE SPRINT
FAMILY SHARE PACK. PLUS UNLIMITED TALK AND TEXT.
100 BUCKS A MONTH. LEARN MORE AT
SPRINT.COM/DATASHARE. HAMLIN AHEAD OF HARVICK TWICE
TONIGHT. HE'S GOT SHUFFLED BACK AT
RESTART BUT NEVER FAR. CHECK OUT THE PROGRESS OF THE
RACE AT 300 MILES. WE BEGIN WITH DAVE.
>> KEVIN HARVICK LOOKING FOR HIS THIRD WIN OF THE SEASON.
HE'S ALREADY IN THE CHASE. SO IT IS SIGNIFICANT?
THE CREW CHIEF BELIEVES VERY MUCH SO.
WE NEED MOMENTUM GOING INTO THE CHASE.
THEY HAVEN'T WON SINCE APRIL AND THEY WANT TO WIN BEFORE THEY
START THIS LAST RACE RUN. >> AND MOVING INTO THE SECOND
POSITION. THEY HAD A GOOD HANDLING RACE
CAR, KESELOWSKI, TONIGHT THE CAR HAS BEEN BALANCED REALLY WELL.
LAST TWO STOPS NO ADJUSTMENTS AND GETTING FASTER AS WE GO,
VINCE. >> RUNNING BEHIND KESELOWSKI IS
THE CHASE. THE GOAL, FINISH TOP FIVE THIS
WEEK AND NEXT TO HAVE MOMENTUM GOING TO CHICAGO.
DAVE. >> HAVING FOLLOWED KEVIN HARVICK
ALL NIGHT, LOGANO, HE FEELS HE'S A YEAR BEHIND.
HARVICK HAS IT SO GOOD. BUT HE FEELS LIKE HE'S JUST A
LITTLE BEHIND TONIGHT SO FAR. JAMIE.
>> AND THE 48 IS A LITTLE BEHIND TOO.
I TALKED TO JIMMY JOHNSON. HE SAID WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO FOR
THE PURE RAW KEYS. WE HAD TO GO THE THE CADILLAC
FEEL. THE CAR HAS BEEN PRETTY DECENT
TONIGHT. BEHIND HIM, CARL EDWARDS, ALAN,
YOU TALKED ABOUT HIM MOVING ON NEXT YEAR TO ANOTHER ROLE.
HE TOLD ME IT'S BEEN A GREAT RIDE.
I ASKED HIM ARE YOU STILL HAVING FUN, RYAN NEWMAN MAKING THE PASS
ON THE OUTSIDE. JIMMY SAYING HE'S HAVING A GREAT
TIME WITH CARL. LOOKING FORWARD.
AND RYAN NEWMAN WHAT A WEEKEND. YOU SEE A WIGGLE THERE.
SAYING THEY'RE FOCUSED ON MAKING THAT SAVE.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DESERVE TO BE IN IT.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HIS CAR AND IT'S SHOWING.
TIM. >> HAMLIN IS THE PAST WINNER AT
THIS RACETRACK BACK IN 2012. BUT HE'S GOING TO NEED ANOTHER
ONE OF THOSE SUB-12 SECOND PUT STOPS.
HE IS FOLLOWED BACK ON THE RUN. LOOSE HAS BEEN THE CONDITION.
THAT'S A TOUGH THING FOR A CREW CHIEF TO FIX.
LARSON WAS MUCH BETTER. HIS FRONT END WAS STARTING TO
TURN. HE HAS GIVEN UP HOPE.
WILL IT BE ENOUGH. WILL THIS BE ENOUGH TO KEEP HIM
IN THE CONVERSATION? AND THAT 140 LAPS OR SO WILL
TELL THAT TAIL. DAVE.
>> DANICA PATRICK, NOT BAD. THEY WERE ONE OF THE ONE THAT IS
CAME DOWN PIT ROW. AND TONY BACK AT THE TRACK AND
FOR THE FIRST TIME BACK IN THE DEBRIEF MEETING.
SAYING THEY WERE GREAT. TONY WAS SPOT ON WITH ADVICE.
DANICA ASKED LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT TONY ANSWERED AND ONE OF
THE REASONS WHY SHE FEELS SHE HAD A GOOD CHANCE TONIGHT.
BEHIND HER, KASEY KAHNE. THEY STRUGGLED FOR GRIP.
BUT CASEY TRYING TO GET THE WIN TO GET IN TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
TONIGHT IN ATLANTA. >> 27, PAUL MENARD HAVING
ANOTHER GOOD RUN. FOURTH IN MICHIGAN AND SOLID
AGAIN TONIGHT. ESPECIALLY THE CAR HAS GOTTEN
THE DRIVE OFF HE HAS BEEN SEEKING EARLIER IN THE RACE.
CREW CHIEF TELLING HIM HE HAS TIME WITH THE LEADERS.
GOT TIME TO MAKE UP. >> A SURVIVAL RACE.
STILL RUNNING OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN.
TO WORK THEIR WAY IN BY WAY OF A WIN.
THEY WERE ON THE EDGE COMING IN. NOT SURE WHERE IF POINTS FALL
RIGHT NOW. BUT TRYING TO HANG ON TO THE
POINTS POSITION FOR THE CHASE. >> GETTING A FREE PASS TO GET
BACK ON. THERE YOU LOOK AT THE BUBBLE
PICTURE. CLINT BOWYER WILL TRANSMISSION
PROBLEMS EARLIER IN THE RACE THAT SENT HIM BACK INTO THE
GARAGE FOR 22 LAPS. BRINGING EVERYBODY ELSE BACK
INTO THE POINT PICTURE. WE KNOW THERE'LL BE AT LEAST
THREE PLACES ON POINTS NEXT WEEK.
PENDING THE OUTCOME OF TONIGHT. AS THEY RUN, KENSETH AND NEWMAN
WOULD WALK IN TO TWO OF THOSE PLACES IN POINTS.
AS THEY RUN NOW. LONG WAY TO GO BUT WE COULD HAVE
THAT ONE SPOT AND THAT VERY CLOSE GAP AT RICHMOND NEXT
SATURDAY NIGHT UP FOR GRABS PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE FINAL
COUPLE 100 MILES OF THIS ONE. >> KASEY KAHNE TRYING TO GET
AROUND DANICA PATRICK AND GET BACK INTO THE TOP TEN.
ONE OF THOSE DRIVES WHO IS POINTS PICTURE CHANGE
DRAMATICALLY EARLIER IN THE RACE WHEN BOWYER HAD THE PROBLEM WITH
THE SHIFTER AT LAP 80. EVERYBODY STILL CHASING KEVIN
HARVICK. IN DEMAND TONIGHT IN ATLANTA.
>>> PIT STOPS UNDERWAY AT ATLANTA SPEEDWAY.
MATT KENSETH A LITTLE FREE ON ENTRY.
SLUGGISH ACROSS THE CENTER. JAMIE.
>> BRAD KESELOWSKI, THEY HAD TO PUSH HIM BACK.
HE WANTS A PROTEIN DRINK. THERE IT IS A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.
FOUR TIRES. >> DAVE LOGANO NEEDS TO TURN
BETTER. HARVICK CAN STAND A LITTLE
FACE-OFF FROM THE LEAD. HE WILL RETAIN THE LEAD.
UNLESS KENSETH GETS HIM. I THINK HE DID.
>> SURE DID. RACING TEAMS AS WE DISCUSSED
EARLIER. KEVIN DOWN ON PIT ROAD.
>> A LOT OF GRIP TRYING TO GET OUT OF THERE.
>> AND BRAD KESELOWSKI WITH A DISASTROUS 19 SECOND PIT STOP
COST HIM GROUND. WATCH THE CAUTION FLAG.
>> PRETTY HEAVY. >> SO DEBRIS FROM THE 5 CAR.
HE JUST MISSED IT. >> YEAH.
>> SLIDES THROUGH. >>> BEAUTIFUL LABOR DAY SUNDAY
NIGHT AS WE GET READY TO START THE ORAL-B USA 500 AND COME DOWN
TO THE FINAL 150 MILES OR SO OF THIS RACE.
MATT KENSETH IS THE RACE LEADER OVER HARVICK, JOEY LOGANO, DENNY
HAMLIN AND JOHNSON. OUR MIDAS GOLDEN TOUCH GOES TO
HAMLIN PIT CREW. >> INCREDIBLE STUFF.
>> EVERYTHING STOPPING. THAT'S JUST IMPRESSIVE OR WHAT.
>> IN A SECOND WITH THE SATELLITE DELAY, THEY'LL SEE
THEIR WORK FOR THEMSELVES. THERE IT IS.
>> THAT'S THEIR JOB. >> YEAH.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S WHAT WE DO.
>> SO DENNY HAMLIN GOING TO RESTART HERE FROM 4th POSITION
AND MATT KENSETH GOING TO RESTART AS THE LEADER FROM THIRD
PLACE. HARVICK COMES IN AS THE LEADER
AND FINDS HIMSELF RESTARTING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT ROW FOR
THE FIFTH TIME TONIGHT. HE'S LOST THE LEAD IN THE FIST.
>> MATT KENSETH IS ALWAYS GOOD. MATT IS ALWAYS GOOD GETTING
TO -- I BELIEVE HARVICK IS HAVING A HARD TIME LEAVING HIS
PIT. THOSE FIRST TWO PIT BOXES ARE
ASPHALT. HE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO
GET ANY GRIP WHATSOEVER. >> JOEY LOGANO UP TO SECOND
PLACE. AND GOING FOR MORE.
>> THE STRONGEST WE HAVE SEEN HIM TONIGHT.
>> KIND OF GETTING THINGS PUT TOGETHER AT THE RIGHT TIME.
JOEY IS DOING A NICE JOB OF WORKING HIS WAY FORWARD AND
BEING VERY PATIENT KNOWING IT'S A LONG RACE.
>> KYLE LARSON DRIVING FOR FIFTH PLACE.
>> SUDDENLY THE HIGHEST HE'S BEEN IN QUITE A WHILE, KYLE
LARSON. >> A POTENTIAL FOR A BIG NIGHT.
REVITALIZING HIS HOPES OF MAKING THE CHASE HERE.
BRAD KESELOWSKI TRYING TO MAKE UP LOST GROUND.
WE SHOWED YOU THE REPLAY OF HIM MISSING HIS PIT BOX.
WENT FROM 2nd TO 16 AND THAT'S A LOT OF TRACK POSITION TO GIVE
UP. WITH ONLY 150 MILES OR SO TO GO.
>> THAT'S THE KIND OF MISTAKE YOU CAN'T MAKE.
YOU CAN MAKE THEM RIGHT NOW BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
MAKE MISTAKES LIKE THAT WITH THE ELIMINATION PROCESS WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE IN THE CHASE. >> SETTING OFF IN PURSUIT OF
KENSETH. 20 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP.
KYLE BUSCH IS BACK ON THE LEAD LAP.
JEFF GORDON IN THAT 24 RIDING THE HIGH LINE THERE.
GORDON RUNNING SECOND IN THIS RACE EARLIER ON AND ONE OF THE
FEW THAT COULD STAY WITH HARVICK WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT
DOWN AND THREW HIM INTO THE WALL IN TURN THREE.
PUTTING THE 24 CAR TWO LAPS DOWN.
HE'S BEEN TWO LAPS DOWN THE ENTIRE DISTANCE SINCE BUT
RUNNING COMPETITIVE LAP TIMES AS YOU SEE RACING HERE WITH A
DAMAGED CAR WITH ALL THESE CARS THAT ARE UP TOWARD THE FRONT OF
THE PACK. >> HE'S HAD LAP TIMES COMPARABLE
TO THE LEADERS. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET
THAT BACK HERE WITH THE WAY THIS TIRE FALLS OFF.
NOT ABLE TO TAKE A WAVE AROUND TO GET THE LAPS BACK.
>> WHERE THEY CAN TRY TO STAY OUT A BIT LONGER AND GET BACK TO
ONE LAP DOWN, HE FACTORED IN THE TWO CARS, BUT HE CAN'T GET
HIMSELF IN THAT SITUATION. >> DILLON, ONE LAP DOWN.
RACING CARL EDWARDS HERE AND TAKING SIXTH POSITION FROM HIM.
>> HE'S DOING THAT AND ANOTHER DRIVER FINDING HIMSELF MOVING A
BIT CLOSER. STILL SITTING RIGHT NOW ABOUT 20
POINTS OUTSIDE OF THAT 16th SPOT BUT WOULD GIVE THEM HOPE GOING
TO RICHMOND OTHER THAN WINNING HERE TONIGHT.
>> SEE THE SCORING PROGRESS FOR MENARD THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
>> I WAS REALLY SURPRISED HE STRUGGLED ALL WEEKEND.
LOOKED LIKE HE GOT A HANDLE ON IT AT THE RIGHT TIME HERE AS THE
RACE CLOSES DOWN. >> DENNY HAMLIN THERE AROUND
EDWARDS. HAMLIN RUNNING AS HIGH AS THE
LEAD EARLIER IN THE RACE. HAD IT WHERE THE HANDLE GOT OFF.
HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO HOLD A LOT OF THAT TRACK POSITION SINCE
ABOUT LAP 150 OR SO. >> YEAH.
MADE AN ADJUSTMENT EARLY IN THE RACE.
I THINK AFTER THAT IT HURT THIS CAR.
I DON'T THINK -- >> HAMLIN THE WINNER EARLIER
THIS YEAR. HAS A PLACE IN THE CHASE SECURED
FOR HIMSELF ALREADY. ON SUSPENSION AFTER SOME
TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS EARLIER IN THE SUMMER.
>> RUNNING THAT MIDDLE GROUP. NOT EVEN UP THE HIGHER.
JUST RUNNING THE MIDDLE MAYBE TO MAKE A BIG RUN AND TAKE THE
FIFTH SPOT AWAY FROM LARSON. >> LOVE THE DRIVERS THAT WEAR
THE LIGHT COLOR GLOVES. YOU CAN SEE MENARD'S HANDS
WORKING THAT WHEEL. THERE'S THE RACER LEAD.
AT THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY. ONE THAT EATS UP TIRES.
THEY SLIP AND SLIDE AROUND A LOT.
BUT BECAUSE OF THAT OFFERS MULTIPLE RACING GROOVES FOR THE
DRIVERS, GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HUNT FOR GRIP.
RIGHT NOW HARVICK IN THE FOUR TRYING TO HUNT FOR SOME GRIP AND
KENSETH IN THE LEAD. THE STORY HAS BEEN PIT STOPS AND
RACING TEAMS HAVING TO COME UP WITH A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE.
SENDING HARVICK TO A DISADVANTAGE ON THE PIT LANE.
RIGHT NOW IT IS HARVICK CHASING AND TRYING TO RECLAIM THE LEAD.
>> HARVICK TRYING TO MOVE AROUND ON THE TRACK.
HE LOVED TO FIND GRIP BUT LOOKING FOR SOME AIR TO GET TO
THE NOSE OF THAT CAR. TO THE ENTIRE CAR REALLY.
SO HE CAN MAKE A BIG RUN. I THINK HE'S GOT THAT RUN GOING
RIGHT NOW ON TURN FOUR. >> SO KEVIN HARVICK BACK OUT IN
FRONT HERE IN ATLANTA. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF RACING
LEFT TO GO ON A STEAMY NIGHT IN GEORGIA.
>>> WELCOME BACK TO THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY WHERE IT HAS BEEN
AN EVENTFUL EVENING SO FAR. 93 LAPS REMAINING.
TONY STEWART HAS MADE HIS RETURN AND LOOKED STRONG EARLY ON.
HE HAD A STRONG RACE CAR BUT ENCOUNTERED SOME PROBLEMS HERE.
>> YES KYLE GOT LOOSE AND SWUNG UP AND GOT STEWART.
GOT HIM IN THE WALL. HE BLEW A RIGHT FRONT TIRE, HIT
THE WALL. NOW TONY STEWART IS OUT OF THE
RACE. >> NOT THE ENDING HE WAS HOPING
FOR. IT WILL NOT END IN A STORY BOOK
FASHION FOR HIM. NOR WILL IT FOR CLINT BOWYER.
BOWYER CAME INTO THIS RACE NEAR THE BUBBLE, NEAR THE CHASE
CUTOFF. WELL THE NIGHT HAS NOT GONE
SMOOTHLY FOR HIM. >> NO IT'S NOT.
22 LAPS DOWN. HAD A SHIFTER PROBLEM.
BOWYER SAT IN THE GARAGE AREA QUITE SOME TIME.
>> LOTS OF DRIVERS HOPING TO SCORE THE HAIL MARY WIN TONIGHT
PERHAPS TO GET THEMSELVES INTO CHASE.
MARCOS AMBROSE WAS ONE OF THEM. >> HE BLEW AN ENGINE.
HE RAN SO WELL, WAS DOING A HAIL MARY TRYING TO WIN THAT RACE AND
GET THIS THE CHASE. THIS IS ANOTHER TRACK HE RUNS
GOOD AT. BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THIS RIGHT
HERE. THIS IS A BIG STORY.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ALL DAY ABOUT THE FRONT OF THE PACK, HOW
STRONG THEY ARE. LOOK AT THE 16th AND 17th PLACE
RUNNERS. LARSON AND BOWYER ARE TIED FOR
THE POINTS. THIS IS A BIG, BIG RACE.
THESE GUYS ARE DRIVING HARD TO GET IN THE TOP 16 IN POINTS.
>> I THINK THE PRESSURE IS ON LARSON.
HE NEEDS A GREAT FINISH BECAUSE NEXT WEEK WE GO TO RICHMOND
WHERE BOWYER HAS TWO WINS AND HE'S GOING TO THROW A HAIL MARY
THERE AND GIVE IT UP TONIGHT. >> KYLE LARSON IS WORKING
TRAFFIC TRYING TO PULL HIMSELF UP AS HIGH AS HE CAN.
HE'S CURRENTLY INSIDE THE TOP TEN LOOKING FOR MORE.
>> LARSON. DROPPING A SPOT IN THE LAST LAP
OR TWO. RUNNING IN 9th SPOT.
BIFFLE RIGHT BEHIND HIM IN TENTH PLACE.
ANOTHER DRIVER IN 23rd POSITION. BIFFLE WILL PICK IT UP NOW.
>> THAT'S A HUGE COMEBACK FOR BIFFLE AND HIS TEAM.
THEY WERE SITTING BACK IN THIS 23rd SPOT.
MADE GOOD ADJUSTMENTS. I'M SURE GRIP HELPED THEM OUT.
>> ALL OF THIS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SHIFTER PROBLEM THAT BOWYER
HAD EARLIER SETTING HIM BACK TO 39th IN THE RUNNING ORDER RIGHT
NOW. >> ALL THESE DRIVERS AROUND THAT
AREA THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, THEY'RE PULLING FOR KEVIN
HARVICK TO WIN THIS RACE OR SOMEBODY THAT HAS WON.
THEY WOULD LIKE FOR THOSE FOUR SPOTS TO STILL BE THE SPOTS
AVAILABLE EVEN THOUGH MATT KENSETH COULD WIN WILL NOT
AFFECT THAT EITHER. >> KEVIN HARVICK DOMINATING
TONIGHT. AS MUCH AS HE DID LAST NIGHT BUT
NOT NEARLY HAVING AN EASY TIME OF IT WHEN IT COPS TO PIT STOPS.
IT'S BEEN THE STORY OF THE NIGHT.
ADVANCING THE DRIVERS TO THE HEAD OF THE PACK.
>> THINK ABOUT THAT IF WE HAVE A LATE RESTART, THESE CARS COME
DOWN PIT ROW, MATT KENSETH ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH
HARVICK. >> WE TALK ABOUT JUST HOW CALM,
COMPETITIVE THINGS ARE ON THE RACETRACK.
IT'S MORE SO PROBABLY ON THAT PIT ROAD.
YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT MORE TIME MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN
WHAT YOUR DAY OR NIGHT COULD BE. DAVE.
>> KEVIN AND CREW CHIEF WERE DISCUSSING THAT VERY THING UNDER
CAUTION LAST TIME. >> I WOULD TAKE THAT FIRST PIT
STOP BECAUSE OF THE CAMERA BEING SO FAR AWAY.
>> EXACTLY WHAT I WAS JUST THINKING.
>> ASPHALT IS TERRIBLE. IT SPINS.
THAT DOWN THERE IS WHERE THE DRAG STUFF IS.
THEY GOT THE TIRE GRIP THEY PUT OUT.
>> WHETHER IT'S A NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE GUYS CHANGING TIRES OR
THE PIT STALLS, AGAIN A SITUATION WHERE THE LAST PIT
STOP MAY BE THEIR ACHILLES HEEL TONIGHT.
WE'LL SEE. >> BOTH TIMES THERE WAS A RACING
TEAM THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE AND WON.
OUR PLAY TONIGHT, WE STILL HAVE 84 LAPS FROM FINDING OUT.
>>> USA 500 NOW 3/4 OF THE WAY DONE AND KEVIN HARVICK THE RACE
LEADER. KEVIN OUT IN FRONT OF KENSETH BY
4.7 SECONDS WITH LOGANO AND JOHNSON AND HAMLIN MAKING UP THE
REST OF THE TOP FIVE. 20 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP.
WE HAVE HAD FIVE LEADERS OF THE NIGHT.
BUT THE DOMINANT LEADER ON THIS ONE HAS BEEN HARVICK WITH
KENSETH PICTURED THERE LEADING THE SECOND MOST LAPS.
SIX CAUTION FLAGS FOR 38 LAPS. ONLY THREE CARS OUT OF THE RACE.
TONY STEWART WHO IS DONE FOR THE NIGHT AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A
CRASH EARLIER. ONBOARD WITH HARVICK.
AS WE REMIND YOU TO GO TO NASCAR.COM FOR ALL YOUR LATEST
NASCAR INFORMATION. GETTING SOME OF THE FIGURES FROM
TONIGHT'S ORAL-B 500. THERE'S FIRST.
THERE'S SECOND. >> AND THIRD.
>> LOGANO CLOSING IN ON KENSETH FOR A SPOT.
JIMMY JOHNSON NOT FAR BEHIND. >> JUST HIT 32 LAPS OF GREEN
FLAG RACING. LONGEST STRETCH WAS 38 LAPS, THE
OPENING LAPS OF THE RACE. SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED ABOUT
EVERY FIVE, DEBRIS ON THE RACETRACK FROM PEOPLE HAVING
PROBLEMS. >> I EXPECT TO SEE GREEN FLAG
POPPING ANY TIME NOW. JIMMY JOHNSON GOING BY.
>> FEW LAPS NOW. >> ONE OF THE CONTENDERS FOR THE
NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP AND MAKES HIS NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
DEBUT HERE. ALWAYS GOT TO BE AN EYE OPENER
NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW.
>> YEAH. >> PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT NOW HE'S
TRYING TO GRAB A LOOK AT THE SCORE BOARD AND SAYING IS THIS
THING DONE YET. >> MAN, IT'S LONG.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S THINKING. >> CURT RUNNING UP IN THE TOP
FIVE EARLIER WHEN THE RIGHT REAR WENT DOWN ON HIS CAR BACK AT LAP
171. THEY MANAGED TO STAY ON THE LAP.
YOU SEE ALL THE BANDAGES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR.
HERE COMES CURT TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY BACK THROUGH.
13th PLACE AND IS TRYING TO GET 12th AWAY FROM LARSON IN THE 42.
>> LARSON HAD GOTTEN HIMSELF UP THERE IN A GOOD SPOT AROUND THE
5th AND 6th SPOT WHICH WAS NICE FOR HER POINTS-WISE.
NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE HANDLE IN THIS 42 CAR.
>> THIS LONG GREEN FLAG RUN HAS GONE ON.
>> WE'RE APPROACHING THE LONGEST GREEN FLAG WE HAVE HAD TONIGHT.
>> REALLY SLIDING BACK OFF OF HARVICK NOW, KENSETH.
>> A RACETRACK A MILE AND HALF AROUND.
>> SO FAR THIS YEAR IN THE FIRST FIVE RACES ARE MILE AND HALVES.
PENSKE RACING AND HENRIK MOTOR SPORTS HAVE WON ALL FIVE.
>> LOGANO DRIVING THE FORD POWERED BY ENGINES BUILT BY DOUG
YATES. ROBERT YATES WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
AGAIN THIS WEEK HAVING SOME FLUID DRAINS AND I UNDERSTAND
FROM DOUG THAT SEEMS TO BE DOING OKAY.
BUT JUST GIVE ROBERT YATES OUR BEST WISHES.
>> ONE OF THE SMARTEST MEN I HAVE EVER BEEN AROUND.
>> AND ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING GUYS.
>> HE WORKED AT IT HARD. HE DIDN'T LET ANYBODY GET AN
ADVANTAGE ON HIM. >> NOT AT ALL.
>> SO WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT NOW THAT WE HAVE HIT OFFICIALLY
THE LONGEST GREEN FLAG OF THE RACE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S
LOTS OF REPORTS COMING IN FOR DEBRIS.
>> PROBABLY SEE -- THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE MAYBE COMING APART.
HARD TO TELL RIGHT THERE. YEAH, MAYBE.
>> YES, ON THE LEFT. JUST AS HE TURNED THAT CORNER.
>> CURT BUSCH ON PIT ROW ON THE GREEN FLAG.
CURT BUSCH, AT ONE TIME HE CAME IN FIVE TIMES TO REPAIR DAMAGE
ON THE RIGHT REAR. THEY HAVE GOTTEN THAT TAKEN CARE
OF. HE'S BRIEFING UP BACK TOWARDS
THE TOP TEN. NO ADJUSTMENTS HERE.
LITTLE FREE IN AND OFF. >> THAT LAST MILE RUN BLEW A
RIGHT REAR TIRE. I'M SURE THAT'S WHY THEY WANTED
TO GET ON PIT ROAD BEFORE THEY HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM.
>> DISCRETION. AUSTIN DILLON HOPING HE MIGHT
HAVE TRAILED CAUTION. NOW CURT BUSCH HAS BEEN
OVERTAKEN BY THE RACE LEADER. THAT BECOME AS RACE FOR POSITION
THERE FOR DILLON TO TRY AND STAY IN FRONT OF CURT.
>> THAT ONE WON'T LAST LONG. >> KYLE BUSCH, LAST CAR ON THE
LEAD LAP. >> LOOK AT CURT BUSCH.
>> YOU CAN JUST SEE HOW MUCH THESE THINGS SLOW DOWN.
THEY GET A LOT OF LAPS ON THEN. >> WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT MANAGING
TIRES, IT'S WHAT THE GUY BEHIND THE WHEEL DOES WITH HIS FEET AND
HANDS. >> YOU CAN MAKE THE TIRES MAD
EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE A GOOD SETUP UNDER YOUR CAR.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS YOU DO. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE -- EVEN
THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES YOU LIKE TO HOP THE CAR INTO THE
CORNER BUT THAT'S GOING TO EAT UP YOUR TIRES.
BUT THEN YOU CAN HEAT UP THE FRONT TIRES.
KEVIN HAS FOUND A WAY TO GET AROUND HERE.
>> A WAVE OF PIT STOPS HERE. KEVIN HARVICK TRYING TO GET A
LOAD UP. >> BARELY.
LARSON, NEW MAN, AUSTIN DILLON, ALL ON THE PIT LANE.
JIM. >> FOR KYLE LARSON THE PROBLEM
WAS THEY TRIED TO MAKE THE PIT SHORT RUNS.
HE GOT WORSE AND WORSE AND SAID GUYS, I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT OUT
ANY LONGER THAN I HAVE TO. >> DEBRIS ON THE BACK STRAIGHT
AWAY. THE RACE CONTROLS.
>> WELL, THAT'S AN INTERESTING TURN OF EVENTS.
PEOPLE SCRAMBLING UNDER THE GREEN FLAG.
>> GETTING OVER TO HIS PIT BOX. >> PUT HIM IN A BAD SPOT.
BUT KENSETH SHOWED WHO WAS BOSS BEFORE THAT WAS ALL OVER.
>> SO WAITING FOR THE PACE CAR TO PICK OFF THE RACE LEADERS.
DENNY HAMLIN IS THE LEADER. AND I'M ALSO WATCHING THE
SCORING MONITOR HERE WHILE YOU WATCH THE PACE CAR PICK UP THE
FIELD TO SEE WHO MADE THE YELLOW FLAG ON THE LEAD LAP AND WHO DID
NOT. LOOKS TO ME LIKE HARVICK,
KENSETH, LOGANO AND JOHNSON STAYED ON THE LEAD LAP.
BUT CURT BUSCH, KYLE LARSON, McMURRAY WERE ALL PINNED AND
HAVE TO TAKE A WAIVE OUT AND COME BACK BEHIND THOSE GUYS.
>> IT WILL ALL WORK OUT AFTER THEY MAKE A PIT STOP.
>> HERE COME THE LEADERS TO THE ENTRANCE TO PIT ROW.
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT STOPPED YET ARE COMING IN HERE.
>> WHAT A NIGHT IT'S BEEN FOR PAUL MENARD.
HE STARTED 33rd AND WORKED HIS WAY UP.
HE JUST NEEDS MORE GRIP. THESE THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN.
MORE TIRES AND AIR PRESSURE. >> AND THE 99, EDWARDS SAYING
TOO TIGHT CENTER ON THE RUN. THAT'S WHAT WAS HURTING HIM.
AND BRAD KESELOWSKI, PRETTY DECENT THIS RUN.
TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR THE BAD PIT STOP LAST TIME.
>> FOUR TIRES FOR HAMLIN WHO GOT LOOSE THE LAST TEN LAPS OF THE
RUN. IT'S NOT A SUB-12 SECOND STOP
FOR HIM BUT HE'S DOWN AND AWAY. >> HAD A LITTLE RESET ON A
RUNNING ORDER AND RESTART COMING UP.
HARVICK IS GOING TO BE IN CONTROL OF THIS UPCOMING ONE.
>>> ***'S SPORTING GOODS KICKOFF WEEK CONTINUES TOMORROW
AT 8:00 EASTERN. TRAVELING TO LOUISVILLE
PRESENTED BY CAPITOL ONE. PART OF THE EVER SHIFTING LANES
IN COLLEGE THESE DAYS. EVER SHIFTING LANES HERE IN
ATLANTA. HARVICK HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A
CONSTANT BUT THE RUNNING ORDER GOING TO SHUFFLE UP BY A CAUTION
IN THE MIDDLE OF A SERIES OF GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS.
18 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP TAKING WAIVER ROUNDS TO GET BACK ON THE
LAP ARE CURT BUSCH, KYLE LARSON, JAMIE MICK MURRAY, NEWMAN AND
ALMIROLA. >> WITH THE AMOUNT OF LAPS,
STILL GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A PIT STOP.
WHEN THEY MAKE IT, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
>> YES. >> GOT 63 LAPS TO GO.
SOMEBODY MAKES THE SHORTSTOP IN THIS RUN.
>> KENSETH REALLY SPINNING HIS TIRES.
>> LOOK AT THE JAMUP IN THAT OUTSIDE LANE.
>> EDWARDS HAS A HUGE RUN OFF OF TURN FOUR TO PASS KENSETH.
>> HE'LL MAKE THAT THING GO AND PRESS TIRES.
I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S USING THEM UP OR THAT'S THE WAY THE CAR WAS
SET UP. HE'S GOT A LOT OF FEED EARLY ON.
>> LOOK AT THAT THING GO. >> ALL RACETRACK AND MOST OF HIS
TIRES, THE PROBLEM WOULD BE, REALLY PAID A PRICE.
>> HE GAVE THAT CAR THE
OPPORTUNITY AND JUST DIDN'T TAKE IT.
>> KESELOWSKI TRYING TO DIG OUT OF THE HOLE FROM THE PIT STOP
EARLIER. PICKING UP A SPOT.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR. SLIDING BACK.
HERE COMES KASEY KAHNE. HEADING INTO ONE.
>> HAS BEEN A KIND OF HOT AND COLD ALL NIGHT LONG.
SEEMS LIKE THEY GET SOMETHING AND THEN THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.
>> GOT REALLY LOOSE. BOUNCED OFF OF JUNIOR I BELIEVE.
>> HE TURNED OFF. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS EVER
ANY CONTACT. JUST THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS
GOING TO BE. >> ALL THE WAY.
>> YEAH, THERE WAS. >> INSIDE DRIVER, GET THAT RIGHT
FRONT TIRE HIT. JUST A BIT OF CONTACT AS YOU'RE
TURNING. >> AT THE SPEEDS THEY'RE DOING
HERE. >> THAT'S THE STRAIGHT AWAY.
NOT LIKE HE HAD THE BANKING TO SAVE OR ANYTHING.
>> THE QUESTION BECOMES THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT TIRE.
THE FENDER AND BIFFLE WHO HAS WORKED SO HARD NOW FINDS HIMSELF
IN 12th PLACE AND WITH A QUESTION MARK.
>> RIGHT BEHIND BIFFLE DANICA PATRICK HAVING A SOLID NIGHT.
WHAT A GOOD JOB. >> SHE HAS BEEN VERY SOLID HERE
TONIGHT. >> FIGHTING TO GET BACK TO THE
TOP TEN NOW. AT 13th PLACE.
TRYING TO MAKE UP SOME LOST ROUND.
ON THE WRONG END OF THAT PIT STOP.
NEWMAN HAD PITTED UNDER THE GREEN FLAG BUT LOST A LAP FOR
THE RACE LEADERS THEN A CAUTION CAME OUT.
AND CAME AROUND AND RESTARTED THE BACK END OF THE LINE.
NEWMAN IN DECENT SHAPE, NOT QUITE THERE TO ROCK HIS PLACE IN
THE CHASE END TONIGHT ON POINTS. BUT HE'S CLOSE TO IT.
>> WE WERE HOPING THEY COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN WITH JUST A
GOOD SOLID RUN. >> HE'S NOW STILL A LAP DOWN.
IN THE FREE PASS POSITION. HE'S ONLY ONE LAP DOWN.
>> HARVICK LEADING. 54 TO GO.
HAS TAKEN A WAIVER. >> I DON'T THINK HE DID.
>> I FEEL A GREAT CHANGE. >>> 75 MILES TO GO IN THE ORAL-B
USA 500. TWO RACES TO GO UNTIL THE CHASE
GRID IS LOCKED IN. TONIGHT'S RACE IS HAVING AN
IMPACT ON THAT GRID. BOWYER ONE OF THE DRIVES LOOKING
FOR A FINAL PLACE IN THE CHASE HAD PROBLEMS EARLIER ON THAT HAS
TIGHTENED UP THE RACE FOR 16th PLACE WHICH IS THE FINAL ONE TO
GET IN. BROUGHT KASEY KAHNE, LARSON AND
THE OTHERS MUCH CLOSER TO HIM AS THINGS FINISH AND RICHMOND RACE
SHOULD BE INTERESTING. KEVIN HARVICK HAS DOMINATED.
JEFF GORDON HIT THE WALL. JEFF RUNNING SECOND EARLIER.
TWO LAPS DOWN. ABLE TO RUN WITH THESE TOP FIVE
CARS. JOHNSON RACING FOR FIFTH
POSITION. JEFF IS TWO LAPS DOWN.
THE OTHER MAIN STORY ON THE NIGHT, TONY STEWART HAD A SOLID
RACE BUT GOT RUN OFF INTO THE WALL BY KYLE BUSCH WITH
CONTACTS. BUSCH'S CAR SLIPPED AFTER A
RESTART AND PUT STEWART INTO THE WALL AND TONY IS DONE FOR THE
NIGHT AND HE'S GOING TO FINISH 21st RACE.
KEVIN HARVICK HAS LED 176 OF THE 279 LAPS THAT HAVE BEEN RUN SO
FAR. STILL ONE MORE PIT STOP TO GO.
THE QUESTION IS WHEN WE RESTARTED WITH 60 LAPS TO GO OR
SO. WHEN DO YOU MAKE THAT FINAL
STOP? >> PROBABLY TRY TO SPLIT THIS
THING IN HALF. >> 20 OR 30 LAPS REMAIN, YOU'LL
SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT. AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO PUT THIS
THING UP AND TAKE A CHANCE. WE'RE TALK ABOUT GAMBLING HERE.
YOU CAN GAMBLE ON MAKING A SHORTSTOP UNDER GREEN AND HOPING
IT WORKS OUT ON YOUR FAVOR CAUTION-WISE.
YOU CAN SEE TO MAKE THAT EARLY STOP, YOU CAN GAIN A LOT OF TIME
FOR QUITE A FEW LAPS AND LEAP FROGS YOURSELF INTO A POSITION
THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET INTO.
>> THE RISK OF STOPPING SHORT IS IF YOU STOP AND GO A LAP DOWN
MAKING THAT STOP AND THEN THE CAUTION COMES OUT, YOU'RE DONE.
>> YEAH. >> LAST NIGHT WE SAW IN THE
NATIONWIDE RACE THESE TWO DRIVERS HAD A SITUATION WHERE
LOGANO WAS FIVE BACK AND PITTED AND CAME BACK OUT ONE SECOND
BEHIND. THAT'S WHERE HARVICK AND HIS
TEAM WILL HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THE GAME AS THESE OTHERS START
MAKING THEIR PIT STOP. >> BIG, BIG NIGHT FOR KASEY
KAHNE. STARTED THE NIGHT 33 POINTS
BEHIND A CHASE QUALIFIED SPOT AS YOU JUST SAW THERE.
RUNNING TO FIVE POINTS OUT OF A CHASE QUALIFIED POSITION.
WHAT A DRIVE AND RALLY FOR THIS TEAM TONIGHT.
>> ANDY, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'RE WORKING ON YOUR RACE CAR, IT
HOPEFULLY GETS BETTER. >> OFTEN TIMES IT DOES AS THEY
HAVE WORKED *** THIS RACE CAR TONIGHT.
HE PICKED UP EIGHT SINCE THE RESTART.
KEVIN SAID KIND OF A WEIRD LINE BUT IT'S WORKING.
JASON IS ON THE MOVE. >> ONE THING I THINK ABOUT
KASEY, IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S NOT A FACTOR IN THE BEGINNING OR
MIDDLE PART OF THE RACE BUT HE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FINISH WELL.
HE'S DOING THAT TONIGHT. >> WHAT MAKE THAT IS HAPPEN?
IS THAT THE TEAM OR THE DRIVER WHO BUILDS TOWARD THE FINISH?
IS IT A NIGHT OWL WHO DOESN'T DO WELL EARLIER IN THIS DAY?
>> COULD BE ALL OF THAT. I'M NOT SURE.
>> DALE, JR., 88. VICKERS, 55.
JUNIOR HAD SOME PROBLEMS EARLIER WITH A PIECE OF DEBRIS ON THE
TRACK. THEY MADE A NICE RALLY.
>> THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEMSELVES BACK INSIDE THE TOP TEN HERE
ONCE AGAIN. IT'S AN IMPORTANT RACE FOR A LOT
OF THESE CONTENDERS FOR THE CHASE.
YOU TALK ABOUT CHICAGO BEING THE FIRST RACE OF THE CHASE.
PRETTY WORN OUT SURFACE THEY'LL ENCOUNTER THERE, TOO.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT QUITE AS BAD.
STILL SOME THINGS THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM THIS RACE THAT YOU
CAN APPLY THERE. EVEN HAD TEAMS THERE TESTING
THIS PAST WEEK. THIS COULD BE A PREVIEW OF THAT.
>> I THINK HE'S BEEN GOOD THERE TOO.
>> HE'S BEEN PRETTY GOOD HERE IN ATLANTA ALL WEEKEND LONG.
DOMINATED LAST NIGHT AND HAD CERTAINLY DONE MOST OF THE LEAD
TONIGHT. IT HASN'T BEEN ALL SMOOTH
SAILING. A FINAL ROUND OF PIT STOPS
COMING UP. WHO IS GOING TO WIN IT?
WE STILL HAVE TO FIND OUT. >> Announcer: THE ORAL-B USA 500
IN ATLANTA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ORAL-B AVAILABLE AT WALMART.
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE. NATIONWIDE IS ON YOUR SIDE.
GOODYEAR CHOSEN BY EXPERTS. MORE DRIVEN.
AND VICTORY MOTORCYCLES RIDE ONE AND YOU'LL OWN ONE.
VICTORYMOTORCYCLE.COM. >> KEVIN HAS HAD A DOMINANT
WEEKEND SO FAR. LOOK AT THE NUMBER LAST NIGHT.
THAT WAS 159 OF 195 IN THE RACE. HE'S LED 190 OF 293 TONIGHT.
OUT IN FRONT ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS LOOKING FOR THE
WEEKEND SWEEP HERE AT THE ATLANTA SPEEDWAY.
BEGINNING TO SEE SOME MOVES TO PIT ROAD HERE.
UNDER THE GREEN FLAG WITH 32 TO GO.
JAMIE. >> BRIAN VICKERS HAS HAD A GREAT
NIGHT. THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE TOP TEN
THE WHOLE TIME. MEANWHILE, THE 88, DAILY
EARNHARDT, JR. BROUGHT A CAR HERE.
TESTING IT OUT TO SEE HOW IT WILL RUN.
THE 99, EDWARDS IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT FRONT
TIRE. HAPPY TO GET THE NEW SET OF
>> THE 27, MENARD COMING IN. WHAT A STRONG NIGHT IT HAS BEEN
FOR PAUL. THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE NIGHT.
CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT THERE. FOUR TIRES AND FUEL.
NOW KYLE BUSCH, WHAT A NIGHT IT HAS BEEN THE KYLE.
HE HAD CONTACT WITH TONY STEWART EARLIER IN THE RACE AND MANAGED
TO HAVE A SOLID NIGHT. FOUR TIRE CHANGE FOR KYLE.
>> NOW THE PRESSURE BEGINS TO FALL ON THE HEAD OF THE CREW
CHIEF OF KEVIN HARVICK'S NUMBER 4.
HE HAS TO WATCH AND DECIDE WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO CALL HIS
DRIVER IN FOR THE PIT STOP. MATCHING THAT, THE TIRE
DEGRADATION NUMBERS AGAINST THE CAUTION PROBABILITY NUMBERS.
AND IN NINE OF THE LAST 12 RACES WE HAVE HAD A CAUTION AROUND 25
AND 20 TO GO. AGAINST THE WALL.
THERE'S THE CAUTION. >> HE MAY HAVE BLOWN A LEFT
FRONT TIRE, TOO. 22 IS ON PIT ROAD I BELIEVE.
>> AND LARSON. >> I BELIEVE THE TIRE WAS --
>> IN CONTACT WITH ANOTHER CAR. >> MIGHT IT BE THE 11?
COULD HAVE BEEN. >> YEAH LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THESE
CARS ARE THINKING ABOUT GOING IN ON PIT ROAD AND NOT BEING ABLE
TO SLOW DOWN. >> THAT CREATED THE ISSUE BEHIND
THERE. >> HAD A CAR IN THE WAY.
>> THEN YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE 2 CAR GOT THE DAMAGE ON THE LEFT
FRONT. TOO BAD FOR BRAD.
HE HAD A REALLY FAST CAR. >> THE 26 CAR WAS FULL WIDTH.
BRAD KESELOWSKI THERE. AND THE CAUTION DOES COME OUT
WITH 28 LAPS TO GO NOW. THE CAUTION IS THROWN IN THE
MIDDLE OF A ROUND OF PIT STOPS. >> KEVIN IS NOT GONG TO RESTART
AS THE LEADER OF THIS RACE. >> IT'S GOING TO CREATE SOME
PROBLEMS FOR HIM. >> IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE
LOGANO. >> SAYING HE'S ON THE SPLITTER
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE RUN AND LESS STABILITY.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT AND FOUR TIRES.
>> HAMLIN, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY DAMAGE.
THEY'LL GIVE HIM FOUR TIRES. >> STRONG ENOUGH RUN FOR KASEY
KAHNE. A SLIGHT WEDGE ADJUSTMENT TO
MAKE HIM STRONG IN THE SHORT RUN AT THE END.
SENDING HIM AWAY. HE WILL NOT WIN THE RACE OFF PIT
ROW. THAT WILL BE DENNY HAMLIN AGAIN.
>> A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOWER STOP.
YOU SEE LOGANO BACK ON AND OFF THE PIT ROAD.
BACK IN THE GARAGE AND OUT OF HIS CAR, KESELOWSKI.
. >>> 25 TO GO IN THE ORAL-B USA
500. BIZARRE TWIST OF EVENTS.
JOEY LOGANO LOOKING LIKE HE WAS IN FINE SHAPE BEFORE THE CAUTION
CAME OUT. THERE WAS A PROBLEM ON HIS GREEN
FLAG STOP THAT FORCED HIM TO STOP AGAIN UNDER THE YELLOW.
>> HE WAS GOING TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
GET BACK ON THE RACETRACK. DIDN'T PLUG IN UNTIL LATE IN THE
STOP. EVIDENTLY DIDN'T GET ENOUGH.
>> HE CARRIED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AROUND.
>> NEVER GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN.
>> WE'LL RECOVER. HUSTLE THROUGH IT.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO START 7. >> IT'S INTERESTING WHY THEY DO
SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT ON A PIT STOP.
>> DIDN'T NEED A LOT OF FUEL. JUST NEEDED A CAN, MAYBE LESS
THAN ONE CAN TO MAKE IT OR MAYBE A BIT MORE.
>> INSTEAD OF LOGANO BEING A LEADER HE'S GOING TO BE IN 7th
PLATE. HAMLIN WITH HARVICK TO HIS
OUTSIDE. WE HAVE SEEN THIS A FEW
DIFFERENT TIMES TONIGHT AND IT HASN'T ALWAYS WORKED OUT.
>> IT HASN'T. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY BE ABLE
TO RESTART FROM THE SECOND SPOT THERE.
BUT HARVICK HAS STRUGGLED. HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE HIS
BEST RESTART HERE. >> HUNGRY GUYS ON THIS LEAD TOO.
YOU HAVE GOT KASEY KAHNE. HE NEEDS TO WIN.
>> SAW MATT KENSETH AS THE LEADER AND NOW BACK IN 5th
PLACE. >> THEY HAD A PROBLEM ON THE PIT
STOP. THE LEFT FRONT, THEY DIDN'T HAVE
THE TIRE READY TO BE PUT ON. THAT WAS THE FIRST MISTAKE THEY
MADE ALL NIGHT ON THE PIT ROAD. >> 23 LAPS TO GO.
16 CARS. >> A HUNGRY DRIVER NEEDING TO
WIN. >> HARVICK SECOND, HAMLIN BACK
TO THIRD, KAHNE IN THE LEAD. >> CAN KASEY HOLD OFF KEVIN WHO
HAS BEEN THE DOMINANT ONE TONIGHT?
>> WOW, HARVICK HAD THAT ONE. >> HE WAS HANGING IT.
>> SCRAPING THE RIGHT REAR ON THE WALL.
>> STILL WORRIED ABOUT MAKING YOUR TIRES --
>> RIGHT NOW CASEY CAN'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.
YOU'VE GOT TO GO. RIGHT NOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
PASS HIM BACK. >> STAY DOWN ON THAT INSIDE.
THAT'S WHERE HARVICK IS AT HIS BEST.
HE CAN KEEP THAT AIR DIRTY BEHIND HIS CAR AND MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT. USE UP SOME TIRES TRYING TO GO
AROUND THE OUTSIDE. HARVICK HAS TO DO MORE WORK WITH
HIS RACE CAR AND THE TIRES. KAHNE DOING A GREAT JOB.
>> FIRST TIME KASEY KAHNE HAD CLEAR AIR, TOO.
>> TRYING TO HANG ON TO THAT NUMBER ONE SPOT.
NEWMAN WITH FREE PASS OF CAUTION.
WAVING AROUND TO GET BACK ON THE LAP.
CARL EDWARDS, KYLE BUSCH, KYLE LARSON AND MARTIN, JR.
SEVEN CARS ON THE LAP. >> BRAD KESELOWSKI HAS BEEN
RETIRED FROM THE RACE. >> THIS RIGHT NOW AS WE GET
BACK -- GREG BIFFLE, WHAT A GREAT COMEBACK FOR THIS TEAM.
IN THE 7th SPOT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF POINTS
FOR THIS 16 TEAM. >> ON TOP OF THAT THE POINTS.
THIS IS LIKE KASEY KAHNE WITH A CHANCE TO ONE THE RACE.
THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE NERVOUS. AND KENSETH IS PROBABLY GOING TO
LOCK IN HERE TONIGHT. >> SQUEEZING THE BUBBLE TIGHTER.
THERE'S THAT BUBBLE. REMEMBER THAT ALL CHANGES IF
KASEY KAHNE WINS AND THEN YOU TAKE HIM OFF THE LIST.
AND YOU MAKE IT JUST 14, 15 AND 16 AVAILABLE ON POINTS NEXT WEEK
AND IF KENSETH WALKS IN, TOO, IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHT.
>> GOING TO HAVE TWO SPOTS POSSIBLY AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK AT
RICHMOND. NICE JOB BY KASEY KAHNE.
THERE WAS A TIME I THOUGHT HE WAS REALLY COMING BACK MIDWAYS
IN THE RACE. IT WAS LIKE THEY LOST IT AGAIN
AND HE WAS BACK IN 15th AND COULDN'T MAKE UP ANY GROUND
WHATSOEVER. KENNY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT BEFORE
THE PREVIOUS PIT STOP. HE DROVE HIS WAY UP CLOSE TO THE
TOP FIVE BEFORE THE ROUND OF PIT STOP HAPPENING.
>> TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO CLOSE GROUND ON KAHNE.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK AWAY FROM THIS RESTART UNDER THE CAUTION
AND GETTING YOU SQUARE ON THAT BEFORE THE GREEN.
JAMIE CAUGHT UP WITH BRAD KESELOWSKI BEFORE THE YELLOW
ENDED. >> BRAD KESELOWSKI, WHAT AN
EFFORT. YOU RALLIED BACK FROM 16th UP TO
3 AND THEN WHAT DID YOU SEE? >> I HATE TO SAY IT.
I GUESS IT'S ONE OF THOSE RACES THAT THE CARS WERE PITTING AND I
KNEW 11 WAS PITTING BUT FIGURED HE WOULD FOLLOW.
BUT INSTEAD HE MADE A DECISION TO PIT FROM THE MIDDLE LANE AND
PRETTY MUCH RUINED OUR DAY. JUST HATE TO SEE THAT.
>> HAD A REALLY STRONG NIGHT. RESULTING IN A BAD NIGHT WHEN
YOU SEE THE RUNDOWN BUT CERTAINLY HE WAS A PRESENCE
TONIGHT HERE IN ATLANTA. >> HARVICK HAS DOMINATED.
HE MAY STILL WIN. BUT KASEY KAHNE, WHAT A JOB.
THE WAY THEY ADJUSTED THE CAR. NAILED IS THAT LAST RESTART.
>> THAT WAS PERFECT, THE RESTART HE MADE FROM THAT THIRD
POSITION, GETTING THE GOOD RESTART AND GETTING TO THE
OUTSIDE OF 11 OF HAMLIN IN TURNS ONE AND TWO AND BEING ABLE TO
HOLD HARVICK BEHIND HIM. WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BE
OTHER CARS ABOUT 15 TO 17 LAPS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY OUT
THERE IN FRONT OF HARVICK AND HE'S THE BETTER CAR THEN.
>> STILL GOT A HANDFUL, KASEY KAHNE DOES TO TRY TO WIN THIS
THING. >> RESTART CAME WITH 22 LAPS TO
GO. >> THAT CLEAN AIR REALLY HELPS I
BELIEVE. >> GOT TO BE CAREFUL, THAT LINE.
>> THAT AND JUST THE WILL TO WIN AND KNOWING WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR
THIS. >> A SITUATION LIKE THIS, DALE,
HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU
HITTING EVERY SINGLE MARK? >> YOU'RE REALLY NOT LOOKING
UNTIL YOU EXIT THE CORNER AND GET ON THE STRAIGHT-AWAY.
YOU'LL TAKE A GLANCE TO SEE AM I KEEPING MY DISTANCE, AM I DOING
THE RIGHT THINGS HERE. OTHERWISE, THE ENTRY TO THE
CORNER, YOU'RE TOTALLY FOCUSED ON WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUT THIS
RACE. HE'S PUTTING IT IN THE RIGHT
SPOT AND MAKING HARVICK GO WHERE HE DOES NOT WANT TO AND THAT'S
GOING TO BE THE KEY WIN THIS RACE.
>> PROBABLY GOING TO CATCH SOME LAP CARS BY THE FINAL MOMENTS OF
THIS ONE. AS THERE ARE SOME SLOWER CARS
JUST AHEAD. THAT WOULD BE KEY, KEEP HIS
MOMENTUM UP. >> STILL YOU'RE DOING PERFECT.
>> HAVING FOUR OF HIS ENTRIES ALREADY QUALIFIED, CERTAINLY THE
DISAPPOINTING SEASON AS HARVICK SLIDES A LITTLE BIT.
WITH ONLY TWO TOP FIVE FINISHES THE WHOLE YEAR.
TWO TOP FIVES THE ENTIRE SEASON. WOULDN'T HAVE PUT THAT ON MY
PREDICTION SHEET AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR SURE.
>> THAT'S THE BEAUTY. >> EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> YOU'RE INTO THE PLAYOFFS AND GOT EVERYBODY HEALTHY AND
STARTING AT GROUND ZERO AGAIN AND SEEING WHAT YOU COULD DO
FROM THAT POINT. YOU JUST GOT TO FOCUS ON THOSE
FIRST THREE RACES AGAIN AND MAKING YOURSELF ELIGIBLE.
WHAT A GREAT JOB BY KASEY KAHNE RIGHT HERE.
>> 66 AND 83. TRUEX YIELDING TO THE INSIDE.
>> I WONDERED THERE FOR A FEW LAPS WITH 10 TO 15 TO GO WITH
HARVICK. HE'S GETTING PUT IN BAD SPOTS BY
THE LAP CARS. SEE HOW KASEY KAHNE STRETCHED
THAT OUT. >> THAT MIGHT HAVE JUST DONE IT
RIGHT THERE. WE'RE GOING TO SEE NOW WHAT
HARVICK HAS. WHEN HE GOES BACK TO THE BOTTOM
OF THE RACETRACK AND SAVES TIRES TO MAKE A BIG RUN IN THESE LAST
FIVE LAPS. >> KEVIN WENT BACK TO IT.
>> HARVICK REALLY IS TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING HE POSSIBLY CAN.
HE JUST LOVES TO GET TO THE BACK BUMPER, NOT TO HIT HIM, JUST TO
GET HIM LOOSENED UP. >> USE THAT BUBBLE OF AIR BEING
PUSHED OFF THE FRONT OF IT TO UPSET THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN
FRONT OF YOU. >> HE'S GAINING A LITTLE BIT
THIS LAP. A LITTLE BIT QUICKER HERE.
>> I KNOW PEOPLE ALWAYS LIKE TO DEFLECT THAT YOU'RE NOT DRIVING
ANYMORE, YOU CAN TELL US, IS THAT GUY REALLY NERVOUS RIGHT
NOW? >> REALLY NERVOUS.
AND THIS IS EVEN A MORE NERVE-WRACKING SITUATION
PROBABLY THAN A LOT OF OTHERS. OTHER TIMES YOU JUST -- THIS IS
THEIR SEASON. THIS IS 2014 RIGHT HERE IN THESE
LAST THREE LAPS FOR THE 5 TEAM. >> TWO TO GO.
>> COMING UP OFF THE CORNER. HARVICK CLOSED THE GAP A LITTLE
BIT MORE ONCE AGAIN. >> CAUTION FLAG IS OUT.
>> YELLOW IS OUT. >> AND THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
HIT THE BIG RESET BUTTON ON IT ALL.
WE'RE NOT DONE YET. >> I'M ASSUMING THOSE NERVES
WERE MULTIPLIED EXPEDIENTIALLY. >> NO DOUBT.
>> TRUEX AND KYLE BUSCH INVOLVED IN THIS ONE.
THAT'S RATHER INTERESTING. >> MARK TRUEX.
THEY HAD SOME CONTACT EARLIER. AND LATER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S ALL ABOUT.
>> CERTAINLY CHANGED THE OUTCOME OF THIS RACE FOR KASEY KAHNE
THOUGH. >> YES IT DID.
>> DO THEY HAVE TO COME TO PIT ROW.
>> THEY HAVE WORKED SO MUCH. I THINK WHOEVER WINS THIS RACE
WILL MAKE A PIT STOP RIGHT NOW. >> WELL, CERTAINLY BIZARRE
CIRCUMSTANCES WITH KYLE BUSCH AND MARTIN TRUEX, JR. THERE.
ALTERING THE OUTCOME OF THIS RACE AND PUTTING OUT THE CAUTION
FLAG. PIT ROW OPENED HERE.
16 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. GOING TO BE A TWO LAP SHOOTOUT
TO THE FINISH OR AT LEAST ONE. >> SOMEBODY IS GOING TO STAY OUT
HERE. >> BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT
THEY DO. >> PIT STOP IS COMING AT THE
SCHEDULED CONCLUSION OF THE RACE.
KASEY KAHNE LEADS THEM IN. >> AND JOHNSON WORKS HIS WAY
INTO HIS PIT BOX. HERE'S THE NINTH STOP OF THE
NIGHT. >> HAMLIN REPORTED A STEERING
PROBLEM. NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT
NOW. SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> NO FUEL FOR KASEY KAHNE. LET'S WATCH THE CREWS WORK AND
SEE WHO WINS. THAT'S GOING TO BE HENRIK.
WHERE WILL SOME OF THAT COME OUT?
>> WOW, WOW, WOW. >> BAD TIME TO HAVE A BAD STOP.
>> THEY HAD A COUPLE TIRE GUYS. THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE FINAL
RESTART OF THIS. >> IT MIGHT NOT BE.
>> RIGHT. >> THAT'S TOUGH FOR KASEY KAHNE.
YOU CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL BAD FOR HIM.
HE CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK THIS YEAR.
>> THAT'S THE WAY THE SEASON HAS BEEN WHEN THEY PUT THEMSELVES
THIS IS THAT POSITION. >> TALKED ABOUT THE HEAT,
TEMPERATURE AND THE NUMBER OF PIT STOPS THE CREWS MAKE.
THE LAST ONE HAS GOT TO BE YOUR BEST ONE.
>> THAT SITUATION DID NOT PLAY IN THE FAVOR OF KASEY KAHNE.
>> STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN KYLE BUSCH
AND MARTIN TRUEX, JR. TO SET THAT INCIDENT OUT THAT BROUGHT
OUT THE CAUTION FLAG. >> WHAT WAS THAT FOR?
>> I DON'T KNOW. >> WELL, CERTAINLY A TOPIC THAT
COULD BE PURSUED AFTER THE RACE'S CONCLUSION.
I'M SURE KASEY KAHNE'S TEAM WOULD LIKE TO FIND THE ANSWER
OUT TO THAT ALSO. >> THEY MIGHT BE THE FIRST ONES
THERE. >> BUT CASEY I BELIEVE IS GOING
TO BE LIKE FIFTH SPOT. GOING TO AT LEAST BE ON THE
INSIDE WITH FOUR TIRES. >> MAYBE WHEN THE OUTSIDE LANE
DIDN'T GET GOING. >> NOW THE FRONT ROW HAS JUST
GOT TWO TIRES. THAT WILL BE INTERESTING, TOO.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYBODY TAKE TWO TIRES TONIGHT.
>> AND THE FRONT ROW HASN'T WON A RACE YET EITHER.
>> OH, YEAH, THERE IS THAT. >> KENSETH AND MENARD.
>> ARE WE SETTING UP FOR ANOTHER ONE OF THESE?
LAST LAP PASSES FOR THE WIN HERE IN ATLANTA.
FAMOUS RUN WITH HARVICK AND GORDON.
SHOWS YOU EARLIER. INSIDE LANE VERSUS OUTSIDE LANE.
THE LOCATION, THE FINISH LINE AND SO ON.
WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE TWO LAPS OF RACING TO SETTLE IT.
FIFTH TIME WE HAVE HAD THE GREEN CHECKER FINISH HERE IN ATLANTA.
THE LEADER AT THE SCHEDULED DISTANCE MOST TIMES HAS GONE ON
TO WIN. IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS
TIME, KASEY KAHNE IS GOING TO HAVE THAT MAKE THAT BIG RALLY AS
HE WAS THE LEADER. >> NOW WE DOUBLE UP TO THE
RESTART. GOING TO HAVE TWO LAPS TO GO IN
THIS ONE UNLESS WE GET A CAUTION BEFORE THE LEADER TAKES THE
WHITE FLAG AND THAT WILL DO IT AGAIN.
SO EXTRA DISTANCE HERE IN ATLANTA TONIGHT.
MATT KENSETH AND PAUL MENARD. CHANGING TWO TIRES ON THIS TRACK
WHERE TIRES HAVE BEEN SO IMPORTANT.
THEN DENNY HAMLIN AND KEVIN HARVICK, INSIDE/OUTSIDE ROAD,
TOO. LOGANO BACK THERE AND CURT BUSCH
AT 41. WHERE WAS HE LAST YEAR?
WENT FROM 10th TO 2nd ON THE ROAD RESTART.
I EXPECT TO SEE HIM WAY UP IN THAT OUTSIDE LANE ALSO.
>> DANICA PATRICK IN THE MIX. RESTARTING IN THE 7th SPOT.
>> WELL, THIS IS THE MOMENT OF THE RACE.
THE MOMENT OF THE RACE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DAIRY QUEEN, THEY COME
TO THE RESTART. THE GREEN CHECKER.
>> CAUTION IS NOW -- THAT CAR CAUSED THE CAUTION.
ONE ON THE WALL. IT IS HARVICK.
>> HOLD IT UP THERE. HOLD IT UP THERE.
>> THE NIGHT OF THE DOMINANT DRIVER AND CAR.
>> THOSE ARE HARD TO TAKE RIGHT THERE.
>> YOU HAVE TO WATCH THESE THINGS UNTIL THEY'RE OVER
BECAUSE THEY'RE NEVER OVER UNTIL THE VERY LAST LAP.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY HAVE BEEN ALL NIGHT.
>> MENARD WAS ON THE OUTSIDE. DIDN'T GET GOING.
THINGS JAMMED UP BEHIND HIM. LOGANO WENT TO THE OUTSIDE.
IT LOOKED LIKE HARVICK JUMPED UP THERE AND HE AND LOGANO MADE
CONTACT AND TURNED HARVICK'S CAR INTO THE WALL AND THAT'S THE
RESULT. WATCH 22 AND 4.
HARVICK WAS FORCED UP THERE. >> YEAH.
>> I THINK HARVICK GOT THIS THE BACK OF MENARD AS HE WAS TRYING
TO GET HIS GOING. I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS TICKED
OFF ABOUT THAT. >> KEEP COMING.
KEEP COMING. >> CLEAR, CLEAR, CLEAR.
>> TWO OUTSIDE. THREE OUTSIDE.
OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE. INSIDE, INSIDE.
CAUTION. >> WE DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD BE
THE LAST RESTART. >> THIS NEXT ONE MIGHT NOT BE
EITHER. >> 22 TRYING TO GET OUTSIDE,
OUTSIDE. 4 WIDE.
STRAIGHT. STRAIGHT.
YELLOW IS OUT. >> BE CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT PAUL
MENARD WAS HEARING ON HIS RADIO BECAUSE HE HAD CURT BUSCH TRYING
TO MAKE A RUN TO HIS INSIDE AS HE MOVED UP.
OR WAS IT AFTER? IT WAS AFTER.
OKAY. >> IT'S OBVIOUS.
MENARD NOT GETTING A GOOD START. IT WAS PROBABLY THE WORST ONE
WE'VE SEEN ALL NIGHT. THE OUTSIDE.
>> HARVICK HAD LAID BACK A LITTLE AND GOT A NICE LITTLE RUN
AND BUMPED MENARD JUST A BIT. >> THAT OUTSIDE -- THAT FIRST
ROW OUTSIDE JUST CAN'T GET GOING.
CANNOT SEEM TO GET ANY TRACTION. >> SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS
AGAIN. AND THIS TIME KASEY KAHNE WILL
BE UP IN THE INSIDE OF ROW TWO. >> THE FIRST ONE WITH FOUR
TIRES. WELL DENNY HAMLIN HAS FOUR.
>> YEP. >> LITTLE INTERESTING TWIST TO
THIS ONE, HUH, VINCE? >> HOW HAS YOUR CAR BEEN ON
THESE RESTARTS FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF LAPS?
>> IT'S BEEN GOOD WHEN WE HAVE HAD FOUR TIRES ON IT.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE STUCK BACK IN FIFTH OR SIXTH THERE.
OUR ONLY SHOT OF WINNING WAS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THE REST
WEREN'T. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO REACH ON
THE BOTTOM. WE KNOW WE GOT OFF PIT ROAD
FIRST. AT LEAST WE GET THAT SPOT.
>> THANKS, JASON. >> JUST AN INTERESTING SIDE BAR,
BY TAKING A WAVE AROUND BEFORE THE GREEN/WHITE CHECKER AND
GETTING THE PASS AS THIS CAUTION, JEFF GORDON IS ON THE
LEAD. >> MADE IT TWO LAPS.
>> JUST LIKE THAT. >> HOW IS THIS ONE GOING TO TURN
OUT? FOR PREDICTIONS WE TURN TO MIKE.
>> NONE OF US ARE AFRAID TO PREDICT.
THAT'S THE TRUTH FOR SURE. BUT WE THOUGHT WE KNEW HOW THIS
THING WAS GOING TO END ABOUT A HALF HOUR AGO.
EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED. WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING NOW?
>> YOU GOT DENNY HAMLIN IN THE OUTSIDE LANE WHICH HAS BEEN
TERRIBLE FOR RESTARTS AND KASEY KAHNE ON THE INSIDE LANE WITH
FOUR TIRES. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT KASEY
KAHNE IS GETTING READY TO HAVE THE RESTART OF HIS LIFE LIKE HIS
TEAMMATE JEFF GORDON DID IN INDIANAPOLIS.
THIS COULD BE A BIG RESTART FOR KASEY.
IF HE DOES THIS THING RIGHT, HE COULD COME OUT CLEAR FOR THESE
GUYS. THAT'S WHAT I'M PREDICTING.
I HAVE NO IDEA THAT'S GOING TO WORK OUT THAT WAY.
>> 2.5 LAPS AGO. KASEY KAHNE, I THINK HE HAS THE
BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TIRES. WHAT ABOUT DANICA PATRICK?
WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN. >> LOTS COULD HAPPEN HERE IN THE
CLOSING LAPS. >> CASEY HAS HAD AN AWESOME COME
BACK AND GOT ONE MORE RESTART TO TRY TO GET BACK TO THE FRONT.
HOW DOES THIS WORK FOR YOU? >> WE DIDN'T NEED THAT CAUTION.
I THINK WE HAD THE RACE. BUT THEY HAVE DONE A HECK OF A
JOB. WE HAVE GOT FOUR TIRES ON THE INSIDE.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. GOING TO BE A WILD FINISH.
>> WE'LL WATCH WITH YOU. >> HE'S GOING TO START INSIDE OF
ROW TWO. WITH DANICA PATRICK OUTSIDE OF
HIM. AND IN FRONT OF HIM MATT KENSETH
AND DENNY HARVICK. HASN'T GONE WELL ON RESTARTS.
WHEN CASEY GOT THE LEAD BEFORE IT WAS FROM RESTARTING INSIDE OF
ROW TWO. BROKE TO THE INSIDE AND WENT
AROUND. CAN HE DO IT AGAIN AND GET BACK
THE LEAD? THREE MORE CHECKER ATTEMPT
NUMBER TWO. >> ABOUT 20 FEET WIDE.
>> NOW ON A MISSION. >> THIS COULD GET FEISTY.
COMING AROUND THE WHITE FLAG. WHITE FLAG IN ATLANTA!
CHECKER FLAG IN THE AIR. THE TIMELIEST OF WINS FOR KASEY
KAHNE WHO PUNCHES HIS TICKET INTO THE CHASE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BUDDY.
THAT WAS A GOOD DRIVE. AWESOME DRIVING, BUDDY.
THANK YOU. >> WELCOME TO THE CHASE, BABY,
NICE JOB! >> AND HE DOES FINALLY CATCH A
BREAK. HE CAUGHT A BREAK.
>> HE MADE IT. HE MADE IT.
>> PROBABLY THE BIGGEST LEAD OF HIS CAREER.
EVEN THE VERY FIRST ONE OF HIS CAREER.
>> 17th WIN. GOING TO SEE SOME EMOTION OUT OF
THIS YOUNG MAN I DO BELIEVE. SUPERIOR FORMER KASEY KAHNE
TONIGHT. WHAT A VICTORY HERE IN ATLANTA.
>> BACK IN JANUARY I LOVED THE IDEA THAT IT'S ABOUT WINNING AND
THAT RIGHT THERE JUST SHOWS THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO,
JUST STAY IN TIME WITH OUR SPORT THE WAY THAT IT IS.
>> WHAT A CRAZY WAY TO GET THERE.
WHAT A BIZARRE END TO THIS LAP. MATT KENSETH QUENCHES A PLACE IN
THE CHASE ON POINTS TONIGHT WITH HIS FINISH.
AND AS I SUSPECTED THAT IT MIGHT BE, THERE'S MARTIN TRUEX, JR.
AROUND THE 18 OF KYLE BUSCH. >> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S START TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS
INCREDIBLE FINISH TONIGHT. VINCE?
>> LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS NIGHT.
HE CLENCHES HIS SPOT IN THE CHANCE FOR POINTS.
THE BAD NEWS IS HE DIDN'T GET THAT WIN.
TAKE US THROUGH THE RESTART OF THOSE FINAL TWO LAPS.
>> I HAD A GOOD RESTART THE FIRST TIME.
I WAS KIND OF HOPING IT WENT GREEN THERE BECAUSE PAUL WAS IN
THERE. STUCK ON THE TOP.
THE SECOND ONE WAS OKAY. WASN'T AS GOOD.
JUST SPUN THE LEFT REAR A BIT AND GOT UP THE MIDDLE THERE AND
WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH ONE AND TWO WIDE OPEN.
AND I HAD HIM CLEAR AND SOMEHOW GOT MOMENTUM TO GET BACK UP
ALONGSIDE ME. DID ALL WE COULD.
I WANT TO THANK HOME DEPOT AND DOLLAR GENERAL.
JASON WORKS EVERY WEEK TO FOR THESE CARS AND WE HAD THE BEST
PICK ON PIT ROW. THINGS ARE LOOKING UP.
>> THE RUNNER UP AND HEADED TO THE CHASE.
JIM. >> DENNY HAMLIN BRINGS IT HOME
THIRD. YOU HAD AMAZING PIT STOPS BY
YOUR TEAM. DID YOU NOT HAVE ENOUGH MOTOR AT
THE END? >> WE COULDN'T ACCELERATE WITH
THOSE GUYS. YOU KNOW, WE STILL MESSED UP A
BIT ON THE SETUP HALFWAY JUST KIND OF LOST THE HANDLE.
GOT COOLED OFF AND LIKE YOU SAID, MY PIT CREW JUST KNOCKED
IT OUT OF THE PARK EVERY STOP. KEPT GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY.
I COULDN'T GET THE RESTART. COULDN'T ACCELERATE.
LIKE I NEEDED TO TO KEEP THE FIVE BEHIND.
WHEN HE HITS THE GAS, HE WAS GONE.
WE TRIED TO FIGHT. WE HAD A DECENT HANDLING CAR.
I THOUGHT WE HAD A TOP FIVE CAR ALL DAY.
>> PRETTY GOOD TEAM PERFORMANCE BY THE 11th TEAM.
ALAN. >> JIM, WELL, IT GOT AWAY AND
CAME BACK. HARD EARNED AND KASEY KAHNE IS
IN THE CHASE. HE'S IN VICTORY LANE IN ATLANTA
TONIGHT. OUR VICTORY LANE PRESENTED BY
FIVE-HOUR ENERGY. >> YOU DID IT!
YOU DID IT! IT TOOK A LOT TO GET HERE.
>> IT TOOK A LOT. WE WERE KIND OF ALL OVER THE
PLACE. BUT THE GUYS STAYED WITH ME,
WORKED HARD, YOU KNOW, THOSE RESTARTS, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN BUT I HAD GREAT RESTARTS ALL NIGHT.
THAT'S BIG. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU
HAVE TO BE GOOD AT AND IT WORKED REALLY WELL TONIGHT.
REALLY HAPPY AND THANKFUL FOR FARMERS INSURANCE, CHEVROLET.
AND ALL THE FANS. WE HAVE HAD KIND OF A DOWNER
YEAR AT TIMES AND WE STARTED GOOD.
LAST WEEK AT BRISTOL DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM BUT KIND OF ONE THING
AFTER ANOTHER. I HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF
TEAMMATES. AWESOME TO WORK WITH THOSE GUYS
AND BE PART OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GIVEN AND GLAD WE'RE IN
THIS CHASE. >> DO YOU THINK THE NIGHT CAME
TO YOU, THE CONDITIONS OF THE TRACK TONIGHT?
>> WELL, NOT REALLY. I THINK OUR ADJUSTMENT STARTED
REALLY BAD AND LOOSE THEN WE GOT THE DRIVING GREAT.
WE WERE 5th, 6th AND ADJUSTED OUR WAY OUT AGAIN.
IT WAS ALL ADJUSTMENTS AND WHAT WE DID, THE COMMUNICATION.
AT THE END KENNY MADE A GREAT CALL WITH FUEL.
THAT HAD A BIG PART OF WHAT OUR SPLITTER WAS DOING.
A TEAM EFFORT. PRETTY PUMPED TO BE HERE.
>> AFTER THE SEASON AND AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT A FEW WEEKS
AGO IN INDIANAPOLIS WHAT IS THE EMOTION YOU'RE FEELING NOW?
YOU'RE LOCKED IN THE CHASE. >> YEAH, WE'RE LOCKED IN.
IT COMES DOWN TO THIS ABOUT EVERY YEAR FOR ME.
SOMETIMES WE'RE IN OR OUT. THANKFUL WE HAVE BEEN IN ALL
THREE YEARS. BUT WE HAVE THE PRESSURE TO
RICHMOND. WE HAVE MADE IT AGAIN.
THANKFUL FOR THAT THANKS TO MR. H.
WE STARTED FRIDAY TERRIBLE AND CAME BACK SATURDAY REALLY GOOD
AND RACED PRETTY WELL TONIGHT AT TIMES.
I'M GLAD WE GOT A RESTART. >> TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND GO FOR
THE CHAMPIONSHIP. >> SOUNDS GOOD.
>> ALAN. >> HOW COOL.
>> GREAT TEAMMATE. >> YEAH.
>> WELL DONE. >> WELL MR. HENDRICKS GOT ALL
FOUR OF HIS CARS IN THE CHASE WITH KASEY KAHNE'S VICTORY
TONIGHT. LOOK AT THE STANDINGS.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONCERNED WITH ONE RACE TO GO.
THOSE TOP 13 ARE LOCKED IN AS IS 14th PLACE MATT KENSETH ON
POINTS. THERE'LL BE TWO POSITIONS
AVAILABLE ON RICHMOND. THE ONLY DRIVERS WHO CAN MAKE
THE CHASE WITHOUT A WIN AT RICHMOND ARE NEWMAN, BIFFLE,
BOWYER AND LARSON. BUT OF COURSE SOMEBODY ELSE
COULD POP UP AND WIN AT RICHMOND AND SQUEEZE THAT BUBBLE EVEN
TIGHTER. KEVIN HARVICK DOMINATED TONIGHT.
LED 300 MILES OF THIS ONE. THINGS WENT WRONG AT THE END.
>> YOU LOOK AT THE BOX SCORE AND SEE KEVIN HARVICK, 19.
THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO TELL THE STORY.
WHERE DID IT GO WRONG? WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END?
>> I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THE 27 AND 20 I HAD TWO TIRES.
YOU KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO GET A BAD RESTART.
GOT ON THE OUTSIDE OF 27 AS SOON AS I COULD.
22 WAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF ME AND 27 KEPT COMING UP AND WE ALL
WRECKED. NOBODY WAS LETTING OFF THE GAS.
AND JUST KIND OF THE NATURE OF THE BEAST I GUESS.
FOR ALL OUR JIMMY JOHN'S GUYS BUT WE HAVE SOME THINGS WE NEED
TO WORK ON. >> WHAT DO YOU NEED TO WORK ON
TO BE A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME? >> OUR CARS ARE FAST IN DOING
THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO BUT WE LOST CONTROL EVERY TIME WE CAME
TO PIT ROAD TONIGHT. WE JUST GOT ABSOLUTELY MURDERED
ON PIT ROAD EVERY TIME WE CAME DOWN BY THE 20.
THOSE GUYS ARE OBVIOUSLY DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT WE HAVE KNOWN THAT
ALL YEAR AND NEED TO FIX IT. >> JAMIE.
>> DANICA PATRICK HAS A LOT OF MEDIA SURROUNDING HER.
HER BEST CAREER FINISH, A SIX TONIGHT.
HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE. HOW DO YOU FEEL.
YOU ENDED UP GOOD. >> IT WAS A LONG NIGHT.
MAN, THAT RACE FELL LIKE IT WAS 700 MILES.
WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE THAT YOU'RE HOPING IT
STAYS THERE AND KEEPS GOING WELL AND YOU KEEP IMPROVING AND DON'T
LOSE IT. THERE WERE A COUPLE TIMES LATER
IN THE RACE WE FELL BACK. YOU KNOW THE MIDDLE OF THE RACE
THE CAR WAS VERY GOOD AND TOOK A LITTLE STEP BACK BUT CAME BACK
AT THE END AND GIBSON RESET EVERYTHING WHEN WE WERE RUNNING
WELL. OBVIOUSLY THE PIT STOP AT THE
END WAS 11 SECONDS WAS SO GOOD. THERE WAS A COUPLE OF ROUGH ONES
IN THE BEGINNING. THAT MADE UP FOR ALL OF IT
BECAUSE IT PUT A 7 FOR THE RESTART AND HAD A GOOD LINE ON
THE INSIDE AND CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP ON THE OUTSIDE.
I'M HAPPY FOR THE TEAM WHO WE REALLY HAD PRETTY FAST CARS FOR
QUITE A WHILE NOW AND NOT GREAT FINISHES TO SHOW FOR IT.
THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY AND IF GO DADDY AND I HAVE SUCKED AT
RICHMOND EVERY TIME. SO I SURE HOPE THAT I CAN RUN
WELL AT RICHMOND NOW. >> GOOD NIGHT FOR DANICA
PATRICK. >> AFTER TONIGHT IN ATLANTA WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO SEE IN RICHMOND NEXT SATURDAY?
>> ALWAYS EXCITING THERE ANYWAY. >> THEN ON TO THE CHASE FOR THE
NASCAR SPRINT CUP. NEXT WEEK THROUGHOUT THE FALL
THERE'S THE TV SCHEDULE AND HOW YOU CAN GET TICKETS.
NASCAR.COM/TICKETS. KASEY KAHNE AFTER DOING A GREAT
JOB GETTING A LEAD ON A RESTART SEES HIS ADVANTAGE OVER HARVICK
DISAPPEAR WITH JUST A COUPLE OF LAPS TO GO IN THE RACE.
GETS ANOTHER SHOT -- ACTUALLY TWO MORE SHOTS AT A RESTART BUT
ON THE SECOND OF THE GREEN CHECK AND FINDS A WAY TO GET FROM
THIRD TO FIRST AND PUNCHES HIS TICKET TO THE CHASE.
YOU WATCH THIS THING ALL NIGHT AND THINK THERE'S NO WAY KEVIN
HARVICK CAN'T LOSE. YOU KNOW THE RESTARTS ARE
COMING. THAT'S WHERE IT IS TODAY.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THESE TALENTED DRIVES GET PUT IN A
SITUATION WHERE THEY KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE.
THAT'S WHAT WE SAW FROM KASEY KAHNE THERE.
KASEY KAHNE WAS NOT GOING TO BE DENIED.
WHAT A GREAT JOB BY THIS YOUNG MAN.
A HARD SEASON THAT THAT HAS BEEN THERE AND THEY DID THE JOB.
>> IT'S ON TO RICHMOND WITH SHORT TRACK RACING NEXT WEEKEND.
FRIDAY NIGHT THE NATIONWIDE SERIES AT 7:00 EASTERN.
NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT THE RACING WILL DECIDE THE FINAL PLACES IN
THE CHASE AND THE CHASE SEATINGS AS WELL ON ABC NEXT SATURDAY
NIGHT AT 7:00 EASTERN TIME. SPORTS CENTER COMING UP NEXT
PLUS ALL TODAY'S SPORTING NEWS. DESIGNED TO WIN AND GET IN.
HE HAD TO PLAY HARD TO GET IT BUT KASEY KAHNE, AN INCREDIBLE
VICTORY AT THE ATLANTA SPEEDWAY AND HE'S GOING TO RACE FOR A
CHAMPIONSHIP.