Notebook: Friday at AMS

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Even when it's not raining, NASCAR can't seem to avoid rain delays.

Heavy rain earlier in the week left the track wet in spots Friday morning, forcing crews to begin track drying efforts. That delayed the start of Winston Cup practice by about 20 minutes.

However, compared to recent race weekends, the weather at the track was expected to remain gorgeous, with partly sunny skies and temperatures flirting with the 70-degree mark.

Harvick's 'snappy' ride

	Credit: Autostock

Expect to see Kevin Harvick in a candy apple red No. 29 Snap-on Tools paint scheme for The Winston.

The special one-race paint job was unveiled Friday by Harvick and owner Richard Childress to mark Snap-on's 10th season with the GM Goodwrench team.

"RCR has a long history with Snap-on and they've played an important role in our success," Childress said. "We're very proud about running (it) in The Winston."

The car is primarily a deep shade of red, with silver and back trim, prompting one member of the media to mumble, "It took 'em 10 years to paint the car and they left some of the primer showing."

Fit to be tired

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Even though many of the tracks on the Winston Cup circuit are considered "cookie-cutter" ovals, Atlanta Motor Speedway's combination of higher banking and newer asphalt makes for a unique situation for Goodyear.

The tire combination Goodyear brought to AMS is only used here, said Goodyear's Mark Keto.

"Atlanta's track surface has the highest wear characteristics of any of the 1.5-mile ovals that NASCAR goes to, and a unique set-up is required because of that," said Keto, lead engineer for Goodyear's stock car tire development group.

"Having said that, this same surface promotes some of the best side-by-side racing on the circuit, with cars able to utilize the entire width of the race track through the corners."