Lap-by-Lap: Atlanta (cont'd)

Lap 56 -- Tony Stewart passes Jeff Gordon for sixth. Martin Truex Jr. is battling for the lead with Kurt Busch.

Lap 52 -- Ryan Newman passes David Gilliland for 10th.

Lap 50 -- Chase drivers currently occupy eight of the top-10 positions. Greg Biffle in fourth and David Gilliland in 10th are the non-Chase drivers up front.

Lap 46 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Greg Biffle for third.

Lap 43 -- GREEN FLAG: Kurt Busch brings the field to the green.
1. Kurt Busch
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Greg Biffle
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Jeff Gordon

Lap 40 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 2: Caution comes out due to Dave Blaney needing a push to the garage. Michael Waltrip earns the free pass.

Lap 39 -- On the restart, Dave Blaney has no power and is stuck on the backstretch.

Lap 38 -- GREEN FLAG: Kurt Busch brings the field to the green.
1. Kurt Busch
2. Greg Biffle
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Martin Truex Jr.
5. Jeff Gordon

Lap 37 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kurt Busch retakes the lead as Kyle Petty hits pit road. Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit the commitment cone coming down pit road and will restart at the tail end of the longest line.

Lap 36 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kyle Petty stays out and leads a lap collecting five very important bonus points in his quest to stay in the top 35 in owner points.

Lap 35 -- All the leaders hit pit road.
• Kyle Busch loves his car, they make a small track bar adjustment
• Kurt Busch has a lug nut issue but still wins race off pit road
• Ryan Newman makes up two positions in the pits

Lap 34 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 1: Juan Montoya blew a right-front tire bringing out the caution.

Lap 33 -- Tony Stewart started 30th and has moved his way up to 12th.

Lap 29 -- Greg Biffle is reporting a vibration and is passed by Jimmie Johnson for second.

Lap 26 -- Martin Truex Jr. passes Kasey Kahne for fifth. Kyle Busch is challenging Kahne for the sixth position.

Lap 22 -- Jeff Gordon gets by Kasey Kahne for fourth.

Lap 21 -- After starting 20th, Martin Truex Jr. is now sixth.

Lap 19 -- Kurt Busch has opened up a two-second lead on Greg Biffle.

Lap 16 -- Kyle Busch is up to ninth after starting 19th.

Lap 12 -- After starting third, Dale Jarrett is down to 10th.

Lap 10 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Kasey Kahne for third. Jeff Gordon is up to fifth.

Lap 5 -- Richard Petty lost his baseball hat while waving the green flag and his hat is currently sitting on the frontstretch.

Lap 2 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kurt Busch passes Greg Biffle for the lead and earns five important bonus points.

Lap 1 -- Polesitter Greg Biffle leads the first lap.

2:18 p.m. -- GREEN FLAG: Greg Biffle brings the field to the green as Richard Petty gets the Pep Boys Auto 500 under way.

2:13 p.m. -- The cars are rolling off pit road and onto the track.

2:08 p.m. -- In honor of his Cup debut 15 years ago at Atlanta, Jeff Gordon delivers the command from his car: "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

2:01 p.m. -- John Schneider, a.k.a. Bo Duke, performs the national anthem.

2 p.m. -- Chuck Holt of Graceway Baptist Church delivers the Invocation.

1:50 p.m. -- Robby Gordon and Matt Kenseth will start in the rear of the field after making engine changes.

1 p.m. -- NASCAR Countdown has started on ABC.

12:51 p.m. -- It is a gorgeous day in Atlanta. There isn't a cloud in the sky and it is a comfortable 65 degrees. A perfect day for racing when the green drops at 2:15 p.m. ET.

ATLANTA HEADLINES
COT planned for 2009 Nationwide Series debut
California wildfires hit close to home for native Johnson
Jarrett ready to run up front with leaders at AMS
Caraviello: Earnhardt's future begins with glance back at past
Kenseth unsure of what provoked Edwards' actions
Kurt Busch leads ho-hum qualifying night by Chasers
Hmiel lands with Ganassi amidst DEI's transition
DEI announces they will remain with Chevy for '08
Hendrick engines will face their toughest task at AMS