Lester steals spotlight from pole-winner Kahne
March 17, 2006Bill Lester became the first black driver to make a Cup race in 20 years while Kasey Kahne prevented Ryan Newman from winning his seventh consecutive Atlanta pole by two one-thousandths of a second.
Frustrated Edwards back at track he loves
March 17, 2006Carl Edwards is a victim of expectations - including his own. After a sensational Nextel Cup season in 2005 - his first full year in NASCAR's top series - Edwards has stumbled off the starting line this year. He crashed out of the season-opening Daytona 500 and finished last, bounced back with a third-place finish at California and then suffered through a very frustrating 26th-place run last Sunday in Las Vegas.
Roush 'Round the Track: Carl Edwards on Atlanta
March 17, 2006As he tries to become the first Cup driver to win three consecutive Atlanta races, Carl Edwards tells you what's unique about the track and what it takes to win there. Speed Mail Carl
Hamilton to be treated for cancerous growth
March 17, 2006Former NASCAR trucks champion Bobby Hamilton has a cancerous growth in his neck and will miss most if not all of the season while undergoing treatment. The 48-year-old driver said Friday the malignant growth was discovered last month when swelling from dental surgery did not go down. "A wisdom tooth saved my life," he said. Hamilton will receive chemotherapy, take a two week break and then have both chemotherapy and radiation treatment. He said his son, Bobby Hamilton Jr.
Bobby Hamilton Q&A
March 17, 2006Hamilton, a 48-year-old driver from Nashville, Tenn., has earned 10 wins, 33 top fives, and 54 top 10s in just 101 starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The 2004 NCTS champion announced today that he has cancer and will step out of the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram after tonight's race.
Todd Bodine wins Craftsman Truck pole
March 17, 2006NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesJohn Deere 200Starting Line-Up by RowAtlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, Ga. Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Friday, March 17, 2006 @ 6:30 PM Eastern Driver Date Time Speed Track Race Record Kyle Busch 10/29/05 01:30:19 132.999 Pos Trk Driver Team Time Speed Row 1 1 30 Todd Bodine Lumber Liquidators Toyota 30.569 181.360 2 5 Mike Skinner Toyota Tundra Toyota 30.601 181.171 Row 2 3 99 Erik Darnell # Woolrich Ford 30.605 181.147 4 85 Dennis Setzer Shell Rotella T Chevrolet 30.637 180.958 Row 3 5 20 Bobby East # State Fair Corn Dogs Ford 30.664 180.798 6 21 Jon Wood Duck Head Footwear Ford 30.721 180.463 Row 4 7 17 David Reutimann Team Tundra Toyota 30.774 180.152 8 12 Joey Miller # Curb Records Toyota 30.780 180.117 Row 5 9 29 Kraig Kinser # U.S. Army Chevrolet 30.782 180.105 10 6 Mark Martin Scotts Ford 30.786 180.082 Row 6 11 10 Terry Cook Ford Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford 30.787 180.076 12 60 Jack Sprague Con-Way Toyota 30.788 180.070 Row 7 13 11 David Starr Red Horse Racing Toyota 30.810 179.942 14 13 Kerry Earnhardt # ThorSport Racing Chevrolet 30.812 179.930 Row 8 15 06 Chad McCumbee # MRD Motorsports Chevrolet 30.815 179.912 16 50 David Ragan Roush Racing Ford 30.825 179.854 Row 9 17 23 Johnny Benson Exide Toyota 30.842 179.755 18 22 Bill Lester Waste Management Toyota 30.876 179.557 Row 10 19 59 Steve Park Harris Trucking Ford 30.903 179.400 20 14 Rick Crawford Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford 30.911 179.354 Row 11 21 75 Aric Almirola # Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet 30.916 179.325 22 4 Timothy Peters Dodge Motorsports Dodge 30.958 179.081 Row 12 23 16 Mike Bliss Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet 30.962 179.058 24 07 Sean Murphy # Green Light Racing Chevrolet 30.977 178.971 Row 13 25 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 30.988 178.908 26 88 Matt Crafton Menards/Energizer Chevrolet 30.996 178.862 Row 14 27 1 Robert Richardson # winyourmortgage.com Dodge 31.032 178.654 28 15 Kyle Krisiloff # ditech.com/Nat'l Land Lqdtrs/Krud Kutter 31.063 178.476 Row 15 29 08 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Corky's Ribs & BBQ Dodge 31.081 178.373 30 98 Erin Crocker # Cheerios Betty Crocker Dodge 31.094 178.298 Row 16 31 25 Boston Reid # Woodard & Sharp Racing Dodge 31.113 178.189 32 77 Brendan Gaughan The Orleans Dodge 31.164 177.898 Row 17 33 18 Bobby Hamilton Fastenal Dodge 31.225 177.550 34 04 Scott Lagasse Jr. # Hemi Dodge Dodge 31.449 176.285 Row 18 35 02 Kelly Sutton Team Copaxone Chevrolet 36 9 Ted Musgrave Team ASE/Germain Motors Toyota 30.846 179.732 Did Not Qualify: Chad Chaffin; Chase Montgomery; Carl Long.
Kahne paces first Cup practice
March 17, 2006NASCAR NEXTEL Cup SeriesGolden Corral 500Practice #1Atlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, Ga. Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Friday, March 17, 2006 @ 5:01 PM Eastern Pos Car # Driver Team Time Speed Lap# #Laps -Fastest -Next 1 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 29.295 189.247 21 21 2 41 Reed Sorenson # Target/Fuji films Dodge 29.301 189.209 13 13 -0.006 -0.006 3 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge 29.327 189.041 24 24 -0.032 -0.026 4 07 Clint Bowyer # Jack Daniels Chevrolet 29.491 187.990 11 11 -0.196 -0.164 5 43 Bobby Labonte Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge 29.492 187.983 7 7 -0.197 -0.001 6 99 Carl Edwards Office Depot Ford 29.506 187.894 29 30 -0.211 -0.014 7 01 Joe Nemechek U.S. Army Chevrolet 29.549 187.621 8 8 -0.254 -0.043 8 31 Jeff Burton Cingular Wireless Chevrolet 29.551 187.608 10 11 -0.256 -0.002 9 45 Kyle Petty National Tire & Battery Dodge 29.622 187.158 13 15 -0.327 -0.071 10 5 Kyle Busch Kellogg's Chevrolet 29.628 187.120 7 7 -0.333 -0.006 11 38 Elliott Sadler Combos/M&M's Ford 29.631 187.101 29 29 -0.336 -0.003 12 11 Denny Hamlin # FedEx Ground Chevrolet 29.632 187.095 23 23 -0.337 -0.001 13 16 Greg Biffle National Guard/Subway Ford 29.633 187.089 36 38 -0.338 -0.001 14 88 Dale Jarrett UPS Ford 29.633 187.089 26 26 -0.338 0.000 15 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 29.647 187.000 28 28 -0.352 -0.014 16 66 Jeff Green Best Buy Chevrolet 29.655 186.950 11 11 -0.360 -0.008 17 12 Ryan Newman Alltel Dodge 29.662 186.906 1 12 -0.367 -0.007 18 21 Ken Schrader Little Debbie Ford 29.678 186.805 16 16 -0.383 -0.016 19 17 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Power Tools Ford 29.707 186.623 19 19 -0.412 -0.029 20 18 J.J. Yeley # Husqvarna/Interstate Batteries Chevrolet 29.707 186.623 33 35 -0.412 0.000 21 6 Mark Martin AAA Ford 29.767 186.247 22 22 -0.472 -0.060 22 29 Kevin Harvick GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 29.770 186.228 10 10 -0.475 -0.003 23 * 10 Scott Riggs Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge 29.774 186.203 6 10 -0.479 -0.004 24 14 Sterling Marlin Waste Management Chevrolet 29.788 186.115 10 10 -0.493 -0.014 25 25 Brian Vickers GMAC Chevrolet 29.801 186.034 8 8 -0.506 -0.013 26 * 61 Kevin Lepage amp Energy Drink Ford 29.816 185.940 6 8 -0.521 -0.015 27 * 7 Robby Gordon Harrah's Chevrolet 29.819 185.922 8 8 -0.524 -0.003 28 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Chevrolet 29.834 185.828 3 7 -0.539 -0.015 29 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet 29.890 185.480 10 11 -0.595 -0.056 30 22 Dave Blaney Caterpillar Dodge 29.901 185.412 20 20 -0.606 -0.011 31 55 Michael Waltrip NAPA Dodge 29.945 185.139 23 23 -0.650 -0.044 32 * 51 Mike Garvey Marathon American Spirit Mtr Oil Chevrole 30.002 184.788 9 10 -0.707 -0.057 33 * 15 Paul Menard Menard's Chevrolet 30.003 184.782 12 13 -0.708 -0.001 34 26 Jamie McMurray IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford 30.011 184.732 19 19 -0.716 -0.008 35 * 4 Scott Wimmer AERO Exhaust Chevrolet 30.015 184.708 13 13 -0.720 -0.004 36 * 23 Bill Lester Waste Management Dodge 30.042 184.542 23 23 -0.747 -0.027 37 42 Casey Mears Texaco/Havoline Dodge 30.046 184.517 13 13 -0.751 -0.004 38 1 Martin Truex Jr. # Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet 30.048 184.505 11 12 -0.753 -0.002 39 * 32 Travis Kvapil Tide-Downey Chevrolet 30.099 184.192 11 11 -0.804 -0.051 40 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 30.138 183.954 9 9 -0.843 -0.039 41 49 Brent Sherman # Serta Dodge 30.268 183.164 16 17 -0.973 -0.130 42 40 David Stremme # Lonestar Dodge 30.306 182.934 11 11 -1.011 -0.038 43 * 37 Mike Skinner R&J Racing Dodge 30.322 182.838 6 9 -1.027 -0.016 44 * 13 Greg Sacks Who's Your Daddy Energy Drink Ford 30.468 181.961 4 7 -1.173 -0.146 45 20 Tony Stewart The Home Depot Chevrolet 30.502 181.759 3 20 -1.207 -0.034 46 * 34 Chad Chaffin TBA Chevrolet 30.569 181.360 8 10 -1.274 -0.067 47 * 96 Terry Labonte DLP® HDTV Chevrolet 30.589 181.242 8 9 -1.294 -0.020 48 * 95 Stanton Barrett Hair of the Dog Chevrolet 30.613 181.100 7 7 -1.318 -0.024 49 * 78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row/Bench Warmers Chevrolet 30.654 180.857 5 5 -1.359 -0.041 50 * 74 Derrike Cope MyGuardian911/Sundance Vacations Dodge 30.911 179.354 9 14 -1.616 -0.257 51 * 00 Hermie Sadler Aaron's Dream Machine Ford 30.986 178.920 5 5 -1.691 -0.075 52 * 92 Chad Blount TBA Dodge 31.062 178.482 17 18 -1.767 -0.076 * - Required to qualify on time
In-progress Cup qualifying updates, 7:10 p.m. ET
March 17, 2006Bill Lester tries to become the first black driver to make a Cup race in 20 years while Ryan Newman goes for his seventh consecutive Atlanta pole. Watch qualifying at 7 p.m. ET and get updates here.
Hamilton Taking Time Off from 2006 Season for Health Reasons
March 17, 20062004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton regretfully is stepping out of his No. 18 Fastenal Dodge for the 2006 season effective after the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway due to health reasons. Hamilton has been diagnosed with cancer in the right side of his neck and will be replaced for the season by his son Bobby Hamilton Jr.
Hamlin, Edwards and Kluever pace Busch practices
March 17, 2006
"I can see Rosberg and Kovalainen being the future of F1 in a few years" - FC
March 17, 2006Have your say about motorsport on the Five Live message board.
Oh, by the way, Stewart needs to chill out
March 17, 2006Darrell Waltrip says Tony Stewart won't win until he starts racing cars and stops racing people. Watch NASCAR Live on SPEED at 4 p.m. ET.
East paces Truck practice
March 17, 2006NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesJohn Deere 200Practice #1Atlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, Ga. Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Friday, March 17, 2006 @ 9:55 AM Eastern NOTE Kasey Kahne practiced the No. 98 early in the session. Pos Trk # Driver Team Time Speed Lap# #Laps -Fastest -Next 1 * 20 Bobby East State Fair Corn Dogs Ford 30.429 182.195 4 15 2 12 Joey Miller # Curb Records Toyota 30.559 181.420 4 12 -0.130 -0.130 3 * 21 Jon Wood Duck Head Footwear Ford 30.584 181.271 4 12 -0.155 -0.025 4 5 Mike Skinner Toyota Tundra Toyota 30.676 180.728 4 24 -0.247 -0.092 5 * 60 Jack Sprague Con-Way Toyota 30.687 180.663 6 7 -0.258 -0.011 6 99 Erik Darnell # Woolrich Ford 30.689 180.651 6 31 -0.260 -0.002 7 6 Mark Martin Scotts Ford 30.750 180.293 9 10 -0.321 -0.061 8 16 Mike Bliss Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet 30.762 180.222 3 22 -0.333 -0.012 9 * 9 Ted Musgrave Team ASE/Germain Motors Toyota 30.806 179.965 9 20 -0.377 -0.044 10 30 Todd Bodine Lumber Liquidators Toyota 30.813 179.924 3 22 -0.384 -0.007 11 15 Kyle Krisiloff # ditech.com/Nat'l Land Lqdtrs/Krud Kutter 30.818 179.895 2 18 -0.389 -0.005 12 85 Dennis Setzer Shell Rotella T Chevrolet 30.851 179.702 5 23 -0.422 -0.033 13 22 Bill Lester Waste Management Toyota 30.859 179.656 9 9 -0.430 -0.008 14 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 30.862 179.638 3 13 -0.433 -0.003 15 11 David Starr Red Horse Racing Toyota 30.877 179.551 7 22 -0.448 -0.015 16 17 David Reutimann Team Tundra Toyota 30.952 179.116 2 15 -0.523 -0.075 17 23 Johnny Benson Exide Toyota 30.958 179.081 9 11 -0.529 -0.006 18 10 Terry Cook Ford Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford 30.971 179.006 7 13 -0.542 -0.013 19 88 Matt Crafton Menards/Energizer Chevrolet 31.006 178.804 5 22 -0.577 -0.035 20 13 Kerry Earnhardt # ThorSport Racing Chevrolet 31.010 178.781 4 18 -0.581 -0.004 21 08 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Corky's Ribs & BBQ Dodge 31.028 178.677 8 19 -0.599 -0.018 22 4 Timothy Peters Dodge Motorsports Dodge 31.124 178.126 4 20 -0.695 -0.096 23 75 Aric Almirola # Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet 31.142 178.023 8 20 -0.713 -0.018 24 25 Boston Reid # Woodard & Sharp Racing Dodge 31.146 178.000 6 27 -0.717 -0.004 25 29 Kraig Kinser # U.S. Army Chevrolet 31.181 177.801 10 29 -0.752 -0.035 26 * 06 Chad McCumbee # MRD Motorsports Chevrolet 31.182 177.795 4 19 -0.753 -0.001 27 * 50 David Ragan Roush Racing Ford 31.201 177.687 10 26 -0.772 -0.019 28 14 Rick Crawford Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford 31.210 177.635 12 15 -0.781 -0.009 29 98 Erin Crocker # Cheerios Betty Crocker Dodge 31.214 177.613 4 20 -0.785 -0.004 30 59 Steve Park Harris Trucking Ford 31.241 177.459 4 9 -0.812 -0.027 31 18 Bobby Hamilton Fastenal Dodge 31.246 177.431 3 23 -0.817 -0.005 32 * 40 Chad Chaffin Russell E. Garwood Elect. Contractors Che 31.280 177.238 2 7 -0.851 -0.034 33 1 Robert Richardson # winyourmortgage.com Dodge 31.303 177.108 19 21 -0.874 -0.023 34 04 Scott Lagasse Jr. # Hemi Dodge Dodge 31.476 176.134 20 21 -1.047 -0.173 35 * 8 Chase Montgomery EQ Energy Drinks Dodge 31.535 175.805 2 12 -1.106 -0.059 36 77 Brendan Gaughan The Orleans Dodge 31.536 175.799 3 14 -1.107 -0.001 37 02 Kelly Sutton Team Copaxone Chevrolet 32.050 172.980 3 18 -1.621 -0.514 38 * 28 Carl Long Adult Oncology Hematology Chevrolet 32.184 172.260 4 8 -1.755 -0.134 39 07 Sean Murphy # Green Light Racing Chevrolet 32.457 170.811 2 3 -2.028 -0.273 * - Required to qualify on time
Craftsman Truck qualifying on SPEED at 5 p.m. ET
March 17, 2006NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesJohn Deere 200Qualifying OrderAtlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, Ga. Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Friday, March 17, 2006 @ 09:34 AM Eastern Driver Date Time Speed Track Qualifying Record Rick Crawford 3/18/05 30.339 182.735 # Trk Driver Team 1 * 20 Bobby East State Fair Corn Dogs Ford 2 02 Kelly Sutton Team Copaxone Chevrolet 3 14 Rick Crawford Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford 4 75 Aric Almirola # Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet 5 77 Brendan Gaughan The Orleans Dodge 6 12 Joey Miller # Curb Records Toyota 7 08 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Corky's Ribs & BBQ Dodge 8 * 06 Chad McCumbee # MRD Motorsports Chevrolet 9 16 Mike Bliss Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet 10 30 Todd Bodine Lumber Liquidators Toyota 11 59 Steve Park Harris Trucking Ford 12 * 40 Chad Chaffin Russell E. Garwood Elect. Contractors Che 13 * 50 David Ragan Roush Racing Ford 14 29 Kraig Kinser # U.S. Army Chevrolet 15 * 8 Chase Montgomery EQ Energy Drinks Dodge 16 * 21 Jon Wood Duck Head Footwear Ford 17 23 Johnny Benson Exide Toyota 18 22 Bill Lester Waste Management Toyota 19 * 9 Ted Musgrave Team ASE/Germain Motors Toyota 20 17 David Reutimann Team Tundra Toyota 21 10 Terry Cook Ford Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford 22 5 Mike Skinner Toyota Tundra Toyota 23 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 24 98 Erin Crocker # Cheerios Betty Crocker Dodge 25 25 Boston Reid # Woodard & Sharp Racing Dodge 26 18 Bobby Hamilton Fastenal Dodge 27 85 Dennis Setzer Shell Rotella T Chevrolet 28 1 Robert Richardson # winyourmortgage.com Dodge 29 * 28 Carl Long Adult Oncology Hematology Chevrolet 30 07 Sean Murphy # Green Light Racing Chevrolet 31 15 Kyle Krisiloff # ditech.com/Nat'l Land Lqdtrs/Krud Kutter 32 6 Mark Martin Scotts Ford 33 88 Matt Crafton Menards/Energizer Chevrolet 34 04 Scott Lagasse Jr. # Hemi Dodge Dodge 35 11 David Starr Red Horse Racing Toyota 36 99 Erik Darnell # Woolrich Ford 37 13 Kerry Earnhardt # ThorSport Racing Chevrolet 38 4 Timothy Peters Dodge Motorsports Dodge 39 * 60 Jack Sprague Con-Way Toyota * - Required to qualify on time
Busch qualifying on SPEED, Saturday at 1 p.m. ET
March 17, 2006NASCAR Busch SeriesNicorette 300Qualifying OrderAtlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, Ga. Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Friday, March 17, 2006 @ 11:56 AM Eastern Driver Date Time Speed Track Qualifying Record Greg Biffle 10/25/03 28.830 192.300 # Car Driver Team 1 25 Ashton Lewis Jr. Marines Ford 2 36 Tim Sauter Lester Buildings Chevrolet 3 * 88 Mark McFarland # NAVY Chevrolet 4 22 Kenny Wallace AutoZone Ford 5 00 Johnny Sauter Yellow Transportation Chevrolet 6 32 Jason Leffler ABF U-Pack Chevrolet 7 5 Kyle Busch Lowe's/Hitatchi Chevrolet 8 20 Denny Hamlin Rockwell Automation Chevrolet 9 35 Regan Smith McDonald’s Ford 10 18 J.J. Yeley Vigoro/The Home Depot Chevrolet 11 43 Aaron Fike Flagstar Bank/Smith Transportation Dodge 12 * 50 Danny O'Quinn Jr. # Stonebridge Life Ford 13 38 A.J. Foyt IV # Great Clips Dodge 14 9 Kasey Kahne Hellman's Dodge 15 41 Reed Sorenson Discount Tire Co. Dodge 16 * 57 Brian Vickers OreIda Chevrolet 17 11 Paul Menard Splash/Menards Chevrolet 18 34 Scott Lynch Hunter's Hope Chevrolet 19 12 Joel Kauffman # Supercuts Dodge 20 64 Jamie McMurray Top Flite Dodge 21 * 90 Elliott Sadler citifinancial Ford 22 * 33 Kevin Harvick Outdoor Channel Chevrolet 23 60 Carl Edwards Henkel/Dial for Men Ford 24 2 Clint Bowyer ACDelco Chevrolet 25 99 Michael Waltrip Aaron's Sales and Leasing Dodge 26 * 06 Todd Kluever # 3M Ford 27 59 Stacy Compton Kingsford/Bush's Baked Beans Ford 28 * 23 Chris Wimmer # LoveFiFi.com Chevrolet 29 47 Jon Wood ArmorAll Ford 30 21 Jeff Burton U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet 31 1 Jason Keller Miccosukee Resorts Dodge 32 27 David Green Cottonelle/USPS Ford 33 14 Tracy Hines # Jani-King Dodge 34 * 71 Ron Young TBA Chevrolet 35 * 17 Matt Kenseth Ameriquest Mortgage Ford 36 * 42 Casey Mears Texaco/Havoline Dodge 37 * 95 Steadman Marlin Sadler Bros. Trucking Dodge 38 58 Kevin Conway Carver Racing Dodge 39 * 39 Ryan Newman Mobil 1 Dodge 40 66 Ken Schrader Yard-Man Ford 41 * 10 John Andretti # Freedom Roads/Camping World Ford 42 * 0 Kertus Davis GunBroker.com/RACEGIRL Chevrolet 43 4 Mark Green GIECO/BryMak Dodge 44 * 49 Jorge Goeters Xtreme gel/Advil Ford 45 77 Burney Lamar # Dollar General Chevrolet 46 * 16 Greg Biffle Ameriquest Mortgage Ford 47 * 01 Jay Sauter Western Union Chevrolet * - Required to qualify on time
Wurz sets Malaysia practice pace
March 17, 2006Alexander Wurz is fastest in first practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix.