Kurt Busch Dominates 2009 Kobalt Tools 500

Atlanta Motor Speedway is famous for providing great racing and exciting finishes. Today's 2009 Kobalt Tools 500 was an exception to that rule as the race was dominated by Kurt Busch. A green-white-checkers "Overdrive" finish added some interest to the finish but this one was never really in doubt.

Qualifying

Mark Martin picked his first pole position since May 5th of 2001. Kurt Busch started on the outside of the front row in his Penske Dodge.

Jamie McMurray, Juan Montoya and Greg Biffle made up the remainder of the top five.

Drop Of The Green

The leaders fell in line quickly as Mark Martin lead Kurt Busch back to lead lap one. Reed Sorenson didn't make it far as he hit the wall and brought out the first caution on just lap two.

Kurt Busch jumped under Martin on the restart, stretched his lead and controlled the early part of the 2009 Kobalt Tools 500.

Storylines

Atlanta Motor Speedway has a long history of great races. The 2009 Kobalt Tools 500 did not see much great racing as Kurt Busch dominated most of the day. However, when Robby Gordon's tire came apart in the last six laps of the race we were primed for a two-lap shootout to settle the win.

Chasing The Checkers

Kurt Busch had a comfortable lead over Brian Vickers when the caution flag flew late in the race and set up a green-white-checkers "Overdrive" sprint to the finish.

Busch, Vickers and the rest of the leaders pitted for fresh tires. Carl Edwards only took two tires and won the race off of pit road ahead of Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon. Brian Vickers fell all the way back to sixth on pit road.

Kurt Busch jumped to the top in turn one and passed Edwards for the lead with Jeff Gordon hot on his heels. As Edwards and Gordon battled for second Kurt Busch got a lead and cruised home for the win.

Top Ten

1. Kurt Busch
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Carl Edwards
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Brian Vickers
6. Clint Bowyer
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Tony Stewart
9. Jimmie Johnson
10. Martin Truex Jr.

The Points

Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer both had strong top ten finishes today and maintained their top two positions atop the standings. Brian Vickers and Kasey Kahne both entered the top twelve while Michael Waltrip and Bobby Labonte fell out of Chase spots.

The top twelve are now:

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Clint Bowyer -43
3. Kurt Busch -46
4. Carl Edwards -87
5. Matt Kenseth -88
6. Tony Stewart -113
7. Kyle Busch -120
8. Kevin Harvick -123
9. Kasey Kahne -150
10. Greg Biffle -154
11. Brian Vickers -157
12. David Reutimann -159