Pit Road Week 25: Atlanta

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 25

By Richard Tix

Sunday in Atlanta was the last time NASCAR will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend in the foreseeable future. That is because last week NASCAR announced changes to its 2015 schedule which gave us fans back a classic, Darlington on Labor Day weekend. 

Many things have changed in NASCAR and a lot of them seem to hit the core NASCAR fans who love there tradition and hate change. But when NASCAR took a Darlington date off the schedule and removed it from Labor Day weekend even the average fan got upset. So, hopefully the last Atlanta Labor Day race excited you, because it will come much earlier in the season now.

I didn't see all of it (an no, not just because it went late into the night), rather I was once again camping with the family. We did make our bike ride into town to stop at a local bar and watch some of it, but the rest was watched from my phone (on and off next to the camp fire). Sometimes life gets in the way of smaller things like the race. 

The big news though, Kasey Kahne got his win in 2015 and locked his spot in the Chase. Now, I have been sticking to my guns saying he would win and get in, but I didn't really think it would happen where I thought it might. My thoughts in Chasing the Chase: Part Two "Atlanta on the other hand has been a feast or famine track for Kahne. He has 2 career wins, but also in his last 4 he only has one finish inside the top 30. I personally like his chance's, but that's a total shot in the dark."

Even earlier on 7/18 in the Chasing the Chase: Part One I thought he could get a win in the remaining 7 races, "So the last spot goes to Kasey Kahne. Kahne is also a guy I could see winning a race in the remaining 7 races, but I truly think he will get in on having a great "points run" down the stretch."

So, through his struggles I thought he would get in but everyone gets a shot in the dark right every now and then, right?

So congrats Kasey. Now NASCAR has one race left until the Chase and only 2 spots open (13 winners and Matt Kenseth is locking in on points). So things are going to get exciting at Richmond. It looks like it will be Ryan Newman (747 points) and Greg Biffle (728 points). I think Newman is all but wrapped up, but Biffle needs to make sure he doesn't have a terrible race. If he just turns out a quality run he will be safe on points. That is, unless a guy like Clint Bowyer wins the race (705 points). If Clint wins, only the spot Newman is in can clinch a spot on points (Kenseth is already clinched) and Newman will have to have a bad day to lose his spot. 

Richmond is also a spot where a rookie could shine and possibly even win (Hint hint, Kyle Larson, 704 points). Bowyer or Larson could get in just on points if Biffle ends up having a technical issue or is involved in a wreck sending him to a 35+ finish. Still, either one would have to have a really strong race and finish up front.

No matter how you look at it Richmond should be fun. Here are the Atlanta race results.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 25 (Week 24)

1. Matt Kenseth (LW-7)- Coming down the stretch not a lot of divers are stringing together numbers for the #1 spot. So, this week it goes to Kenseth who just clinched a Chase spot on points after finishing 2nd.
2. Joey Logano (LW-1)- JoLo finished 14th Sunday night and didn't lead any laps. After taking the top spot for the first time in 2014 his ATL performance couldn't keep him there.
3. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- Watch out, JJ is coming in hot just at the right time (go figure, right?). He just posted back to back top 5's and now three straight top 10's.
4. Greg Biffle (LW-5)- Speaking of the right time, Biffles late season surge took him from a guy missing the Chase to a guy who holds most of his own destiny (unless someone else wins). He has 5 straight top 10's and 17 straight top 15's. 
5. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- Harvick won the pole and had a great night (leading 195 laps) but in the end finished 19th. 
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-4)- Jr's 11th place finish will help him forget his wreck at Bristol that ended his night. Since Dover he only has two finishes higher then 11th (13 races) which includes two road courses. 
7. Jeff Gordon (LW-3)- One of Gordon's lowest rankings all season has come in a stretch of four races where he has finishes of 17th, 16th, and 34th. But, that stretch also included two poles and a win, so #24 fans don't worry, he is still a Chase top contender.
8. Kasey Kahne (LW-11)- Kasey locked in the 4th Hendrick car into the Chase with his win at Atlanta. He had a rough start to his 2014 season, but he has been a bit better in the second half (of the regular season). He now has a fresh start after Richmond, so maybe he will get hot in the Chase?
9. Carl Edwards (LW-NR)- Carl has back to back top 10's after his 5th place finish on Sunday. He also has two top 5's and three top 10's in his last four. Other then Penske, all Fords had a slow start to 2014, but it seems Carl and Edwards have something figured out. 
10. Brad Keselowski (LW-6)- No doubt the #2 (and #22 for that matter) are fast week in and week out, but sometimes you need some luck to go with it. BK hit the wall late for the second time in three weeks (Michigan) but this time didn't rally for a quality finish. 
11. Ryan Newman (LW-9)- Newman just keeps hanging around. He should get a spot on points into the Chase since he is pretty safe, but a misstep at Richmond and a win by another driver could leave him out. I vote, he gets in.
12. Denny Hamlin (LW-12)- After his wreck at Bristol, and throwing his HANS safetly device, Hamlin got back on track with a 3rd place finish.

Dropped Out: Clint Bowyer

Just Missed: Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson, and Kurt Busch

Honorable Mention: Danica Patrick (6th and impressive 6th) and Aric Almirola (9th)

Hey, hey, hey. Last but not least we have some winners this week! We have a winner who has been on here a lot lately and also a first time (loyal Kasey Kahne) fan! 

Back to Back weeks! Also 3 of the last 4. Nice!

Technically was my first vote for Kahne! Nice Christal

And, Renee who has stuck with Kahne every week and finally gets to get a shout out!!

Maybe now he can make a run in the Chase??

As always, thanks for checking out NASCAR Behind the Wall. Check back in for this weeks TV Schedule, Entry List, and Race Preview (all should be out no later then Wednesday).