What To Watch For: Emory Health Care 500 In Atlanta

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is coming off of it’s last bye week of the year. In the off week however the NASCAR Nationwide Series kept us on the edge of our seats with a thrilling photo finish at Montreal. However this week is a totally different beast as NASCAR rolls into one of the fastest tracks on the circuit Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Emory Health Care 500.

Here are five things to keep an eye on this weekend.

NSCS: THAT. JUST. HAPPENED. – History Made at Bristol

Whether you are a Kyle Busch fan, or not, the fans witnessed a historic event when Busch became the first driver in NASCAR history to win all three national series races in the same week. Busch won the truck race on Wednesday, out dueled Brad Keselowski to win the Nationwide race on Saturday and completed the sweep by taking his No. 18 Doublemint gum Toyota Camry to victory lane on Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

NSCS: Johnson looks to repeat at Bristol

Jimmie Johnson earned the pole at Bristol with a stout qualifying lap time of 15.540 seconds at 123.475 mph. Johnson took the low line and made it stick for his first career pole at Bristol.

NASCAR: Harvick Collects Three Post Race Awards During Chase-Clinching Win

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 17, 2010) – Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing team used a strategic call by crew chief Gil Martin to take the checkered flag, clinch a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and win three post-race contingency awards at Sunday’s CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Martin collected his fifth DirecTV Crew Chief of the Race Award this season, taking the lead in the race for the annual award.

NSCS: First practice at Bristol

he IRWIN Tools Night Race first practice is complete at Bristol Motor Speedway with some definite surprises. David Gilliland shocked the field laying down the fastest lap early in practice and hold that top spot throughout the two hour practice session. Gilliland was a full second faster than the second spot with a speed of 120.543 mph.

NSCS: “Thunder Valley” Preview

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series thunders into Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night under the lights marking the 100th NASCAR Cup Race at the “World’s Fastest Half-mile”. Plenty has changed at one of NASCAR most exciting and fan favorite tracks since the first race in 1961 but what hasn’t changed is the “edge of your seat” action and competitive racing. Hard to imagine when the track first open in 1961 the track held just 20,000 fans on its concrete bleachers. Today the track holds 160,000 fans a remains one of the hardest tickets to find in NASCAR.

NSCS: Kevin Harvick Lands Budweiser For 2011, Ambrose To No. 9

Kevin Harvick has a new primary sponsor for the 2011 season in Budweiser. The sponsor was announced to be moving to Richard Childress Racing in 2011 Tuesday.

Shell announced earlier in the season that they would be leaving Harvick, who they had sponsored since the 2007 season, when 2010 was over. So Harvick, who has been the point leader for the majority of the season, has had a question mark on what his sponsor would be for next year.

NSCS: Harvick Captures Chase Spot with Win at Michigan

Continuing the Richard Childress Racing domination of the weekend, Kevin Harvick won the late-race battle with Denny Hamlin and took his No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil machine to Victory Lane, becoming the only driver to earn a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup at the CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway Sunday.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice Roundup From Michigan

With the new car making its second run this weekend, NNS drivers had an extra day of “testing” at MIS for the CARFAX 250.

Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Charger, who earned the first pole with the new car at Daytona, says “there isn’t much we can take from Daytona other than the fact that we know we’ve built some pretty fast race cars.”

NSCS: Three Teams Dominate First NSCS Practice at Michigan

In the humidity and heat of Michigan International Speedway, three teams dominated the first practice – Roush Fenway Racing, Richard Childress Racing and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing took seven of the top ten spots. They were: Jeff Burton (1), Juan Pablo Montoya (2), Kevin Harvick (3), Carl Edwards (4), Greg Biffle (5), Jamie McMurray (7), and David Ragan (10).