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Jeff Burton won the Atlanta Busch Series race last spring.By the Numbers: Atlanta
Burton, Edwards hope to end myth of unlucky green car
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Before Jeff Burton won the Atlanta spring race last year, he went nearly four years without reaching Victory Lane in a Busch or Cup car. Altogether, that was 191 races for Burton -- 16 in a Busch car and 175 in a Cup ride.
The Atlanta race last year, however, changed things for Burton.
"It's a pleasure to finally get something done," a relieved Burton said in Victory Lane after leading 75 laps, passing former teammate Matt Kenseth for the victory and getting a hug from Kenseth during the celebration.
Burton went on to win Busch and Cup races at Dover last year and make the Cup Series' Chase.
The luck seems to be carrying over into this year, where in the Busch Series Burton won last week at Las Vegas and has an average finish of 4.0 in his two races this season. But on St. Patrick's Day Burton hopes to prove that his recent success isn't all luck.
Interesting Fact
2.610Average running position for Jeff Burton in last spring's Atlanta race. Burton led 75 laps and won his first NASCAR race since Oct. 12, 2002 -- a Busch Series race at Charlotte.
Fun Fact
3Times a Busch Series race has been run on St. Patrick's Day, with either the points leader or the color green being involved in each. In 1996 points leader Bobby Labonte won at Nashville over David Green. In 2001 Jeff Green won at Darlington as the points leader. And in 2003 points leader Todd Bodine won at Darlington. This year, the points leader is Carl Edwards ... and he's driving a green car.
All the Facts
0Laps in last spring's Atlanta race that Jeff Burton fell outside the top 15. Burton has the highest driver rating entering Saturday's Nicorette 300 at 138.7.
3.7Average finish for Greg Biffle at Atlanta. His worst finish in his six races there is sixth. He has two pole positions and a victory (2003), and he has led 145 laps at the track.
6Former Atlanta winners entered in Saturday's Busch race: Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Ward Burton, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. The track's only repeat winner is Mark Martin (3), who is not entered.
9Victories by Chevrolet at Atlanta Motor Speedway, compared to Ford's six. No other manufacturer has won a Busch Series race at the track.
20.75Percent of passes made in Turn 4 of Atlanta Motor Speedway in the last two races, slightly more than any other place on the track. The frontstretch sees 19.77 percent of passes, while Turn 2 sees 19.04 percent.
27.0Average finish for Denny Hamlin in his two races at Atlanta. He finished 16th in 2005 and 38th last year.
43Laps in which Carl Edwards had the fastest car in the past two Atlanta races. Edwards started from the pole and won the 2005 race, then finished 24th last year.
52Laps led by Dave Blaney at Atlanta, the most among drivers entered in Saturday's race who have not won at the track. Matt Kenseth has led the most laps among drivers entered, with 209.
97.5Percent of laps in which Matt Kenseth ran inside the top 15 during the last two Busch races at Atlanta, or 388 of 398 laps. Kenseth finished fourth in both of those races and led 73 laps last spring.
113Green-flag passes made by Paul Menard in the last two Atlanta Busch Series races. Menard's average finish in those two races is 17.0.
154Laps led by Kyle Busch this season in the Busch Series, more than any other driver. Busch's average finish at Atlanta is a skewed 28.3 -- a second-place finish surrounded by two DNFs (43rd and 40th).
Stats at a Glance
Atlanta Motor Speedway winners
| Year | Pole | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Jeff Gordon | Jeff Gordon |
| 1993 | Mark Martin | Ward Burton |
| 1994 | Shawna Robinson | Harry Gant |
| 1995 | Mark Martin | Johnny Benson |
| 1996 | Dick Trickle | Terry Labonte |
| 1997 | Tim Bender | Mark Martin |
| 1998 | Dick Trickle | Mark Martin |
| 1999 | Dave Blaney | Mike Skinner |
| 2000 | Matt Kenseth | Mark Martin |
| 2001 | Ryan Newman | Joe Nemechek |
| 2002 | Greg Biffle | Jamie McMurray |
| 2003 | Greg Biffle | Greg Biffle |
| 2004 | Mike Bliss | Matt Kenseth |
| 2005 | Carl Edwards | Carl Edwards |
| 2006 | Kyle Busch | Jeff Burton |
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