Pick 'em: Atlanta
By NASCAR.COM
October 26, 2007
12:37 PM EDT
October 26, 2007
12:37 PM EDT
type size: + -
Each week the staff at NASCAR.COM will pick a race winner, a dark horse for the checkers and the ain't-got-a-chance driver (no scrubs; someone with a Q score).
Our scoring system: Experts receive as many points as the "winner" pick gets in the race.
Pep Boys Auto 500
| Writer | Winner | Here's why ... | Dark Horse | No Chance | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duane Cross | Carl Edwards | He has five top-15s in six Chase races and he's obviously figured out Atlanta (two wins, only one start outside the top seven in six starts). | Bobby Labonte | Jeff Burton | 4663 |
| David Caraviello | Jimmie Johnson | Yeah, it sounds like broken record. Same guy every week. That's because he's good almost everywhere. And he may keep winning races but never catch teammate Jeff Gordon at the top of the Chase. | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Carl Edwards | 4437 |
| Mark Aumann | Carl Edwards | Roush Racing has traditionally been strong at Atlanta -- and Carl's record here is outstanding: Two wins and five top-10s in six starts. Plus, this is the opportunity to put last week's post-race dustup with Matt Kenseth in his rear-view mirror. | Jeff Burton | Kyle Busch | 4345 |
| Dave Rodman | Jimmie Johnson | Jimmie Johnson has been too good, too consistently at Atlanta Motor Speedway not to threaten to win; even as he zeroes in on defending his Nextel Cup championship -- even if he has to overrun his teammate, car owner and championship leader Jeff Gordon to do it. | Reed Sorenson | Kevin Harvick | 4198 |
| Raygan Swan | Jeff Gordon | Happy Anniversary Jeff Gordon; 15 years ago the points leader made his start here at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. He'll put lucky No. 7 of the season away on Sunday. Wonder if wife Ingrid bought him a gift? | Bobby Labonte | Tony Stewart | 4110 |
| Bill Kimm | Tony Stewart | This is like a no-brainer. He's finished first and second in the last two races plus he is on a streak of 11 top-10s in the last 12 races at Atlanta. He has yet to win in the Chase, and that changes this week at AMS. | Juan Montoya | Kyle Busch | 4076 |
| Joe Menzer | Bobby Labonte | Yeah, that's right. Anyone can keep making the safe picks week after week. How many times can you pick Gordon or Johnson with a clear conscience? Labonte has won at this track six times, he's been better than his finishes have shown over the second half of the season, and it's past time for Petty Enterprises to get back to Victory Lane. | Bobby Labonte | Jamie McMurray | 3949 |
| Josh Pate | Carl Edwards | Come on. It's a perfect scenario. After taking heat this week and everyone wondering who the real Carl is, the smiling backflipper shows up at Atlanta and tries to soothe the wounds. Now if only Matt Kenseth will interrupt his post-race interview in Victory Lane. | Kasey Kahne | Kevin Harvick | 3860 |
| Jarrod Breeze | Matt Kenseth | The quiet one has been very un-Kenseth-like in this Chase. Maybe this tiff with Carl Edwards is what he needs to get the blood boiling. | Casey Mears | Elliott Sadler | 3795 |
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