Race Capsule

What: Race 4 of 35 on Nationwide circuit
Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA
When: March 8, 2008
Laps: 195
Track Length: 1.54 miles
Race Length: 300.00 miles
Purse: $1,151,315
Last Year Winner: Jeff Burton

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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Nicorette 300
Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 08, 2008
Race 4 of 35

CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN MAKE SPONSOR OWNER

0 Dwayne Leik Skyland, NC Chevrolet Lori Morgan Johnny Davis
1 Johnny Sauter Necedah, WI Chevrolet Miccosukee Resort & Gaming James Finch
01 Kertus Davis Gaffney, SC Chevrolet RaceGirl Johnny Davis
2 Clint Bowyer Emporia, KS Chevrolet BB&T Richard Childress
4 Robert Richardson, II McKinney, TX Chevrolet Jay Robinson Inc. James Finch
5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kannapolis, NC Chevrolet Nat'l Guard / 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Rick Hendrick
05 Brett Rowe Barboursville, WV Chevrolet 31-W Insulation / CertainTeed Wayne Day
6 David Ragan Unadilla, GA Ford Discount Tire Jack Roush
7 Mike Wallace St. Louis, MO Toyota GEICO Bob Germain
9 Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA Dodge Hellmann's George Gillett, Jr
16 Jamie McMurray Joplin, MO Ford CitiFinancial Jack Roush
17 Matt Kenseth Cambridge, WI Ford Arby's Jack Roush
20 Kyle Busch Las Vegas, NV Toyota Farm Bureau Insurance Joe Gibbs
21 Bobby Labonte Corpus Christi, TX Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing Richard Childress
22 Mike Bliss Milwaukie, OR Dodge Supercuts Armando Fitz
24 Eric McClure Chilhowie, VA Chevrolet Hefty John McGill
25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Nashville, TN Ford Curly's Ed Rensi
27 Brad Coleman Houston, TX Ford Cottonelle BKB Mike Curb
28 Brian Keselowski* Rochester Hills, MI Chevrolet Jay Robinson Inc. Jay Robinson
29 Jeff Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express Richard Childress
32 Brian Vickers Thomasville, NC Toyota ABF U-Pack Moving Todd Braun
33 Kevin Harvick Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet Camping World/ RVs.com DeLana Harvick
36 Kenny Wallace St. Louis, MO Dodge Shark Energy Drink Mimi Fitz
37 Greg Biffle Vancouver, WA Ford Baker Curb Racing Gary Baker
38 Jason Leffler Long Beach, CA Toyota Great Clips Ralph Braun
40 Reed Sorenson Peachtree City, GA Dodge Fastenal Floyd Ganassi
41 Bryan Clauson* Noblesville, IN Dodge Polaroid Chip Ganassi
47 Kelly Bires Mauston, WI Ford Clorox Jodi Geschickter
52 Derrike Cope Spanaway, WA Chevrolet Means Racing Jimmy Means
59 Marcos Ambrose Launceston, Tasmania Ford Kingsford Hickory Charcoal Tad Geschickter
60 Carl Edwards Columbia, MO Ford Scotts Miracle-Gro Jack Roush
64 David Stremme South Bend, IN Chevrolet Atreus Homes & Communities Ed Rensi
66 Steve Wallace Mooresville, NC Chevrolet Atreus Homes & Communities Rusty Wallace
77 Cale Gale* Mobile, AL Chevrolet Rheem DeLana Harvick
81 D.J. Kennington St. Thomas, Ontario Dodge Northern Provincial Pipelines Pat MacDonald
84 Mike Harmon Birmingport, AL Chevrolet Elite2 Racing Mike Harmon
88 Brad Keselowski Rochester Hills, MI Chevrolet U.S. Navy Dale Earnhardt, Jr
89 Morgan Shepherd Conover, NC Dodge Victory In Jesus Cindy Shepherd
90 Johnny Chapman Stony Point, NC Chevrolet MSRP Motorsports Marcia Parsons
91 Larry Gunselman Belfair, WA Chevrolet MSRP Motorsports Stacey Humphrey
99 David Reutimann Zephyrhills, FL Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine Michael Waltrip
111 Jason Keller Greenville, SC Chevrolet America's Incredible Pizza Company Bryan Mullet
161 Kevin Lepage Shelburne, VT Ford Specialty Racing Charles Shoffner

* Denotes Rookie

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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Nicorette 300
Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 08, 2008
Race 4 of 35
Practice 1

RANK CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR SPEED TIME BEHIND

1 20 Kyle Busch Toyota Farm Bureau Insurance 179.406 30.902 Leader
2 2 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet BB&T 178.401 31.076 -0.174
3 29 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express 177.675 31.203 -0.301
4 38 Jason Leffler Toyota Great Clips 177.493 31.235 -0.333
5 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Nat'l Guard / 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team 177.385 31.254 -0.352
6 99 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine 177.385 31.254 -0.352
7 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Hellmann's 177.210 31.285 -0.383
8 32 Brian Vickers Toyota ABF U-Pack Moving 177.176 31.291 -0.389
9 33 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Camping World/ RVs.com 177.062 31.311 -0.409
10 64 David Stremme Chevrolet Atreus Homes & Communities 176.972 31.327 -0.425
11 66 Steve Wallace Chevrolet Atreus Homes & Communities 176.887 31.342 -0.440
12 21 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 176.034 31.494 -0.592
13 88 Brad Keselowski Chevrolet U.S. Navy 175.771 31.541 -0.639
14 22 Mike Bliss Dodge Supercuts 175.521 31.586 -0.684
15 16 Jamie McMurray Ford CitiFinancial 175.465 31.596 -0.694
16 60 Carl Edwards Ford Scotts Miracle-Gro 175.371 31.613 -0.711
17 37 Greg Biffle Ford Cub Cadet 175.310 31.624 -0.722
18 6 David Ragan Ford Discount Tire 175.216 31.641 -0.739
19 41 Bryan Clauson* Dodge Polaroid 175.094 31.663 -0.761
20 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Arby's 175.055 31.670 -0.768
21 47 Kelly Bires Ford Clorox 174.879 31.702 -0.800
22 01 Kertus Davis Chevrolet RaceGirl 174.823 31.712 -0.810
23 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Ford Curly's 174.779 31.720 -0.818
24 77 Cale Gale* Chevrolet Rheem 174.675 31.739 -0.837
25 59 Marcos Ambrose Ford Kingsford Hickory Charcoal 174.219 31.822 -0.920
26 27 Brad Coleman Ford Cottonelle BKB / Kroger 173.597 31.936 -1.034
27 40 Dario Franchitti* Dodge Fastenal 172.893 32.066 -1.164
28 111 Jason Keller Chevrolet America's Incredible Pizza Company 172.683 32.105 -1.203
29 7 Mike Wallace Toyota GEICO 172.608 32.119 -1.217
30 1 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet Miccosukee Resort & Gaming 172.581 32.124 -1.222
31 36 Kenny Wallace Dodge Shark Energy Drink 172.506 32.138 -1.236
32 161 Kevin Lepage Ford Specialty Racing 170.758 32.467 -1.565
33 4 Robert Richardson, II Chevrolet Reel Deal "Card Games" on Phantom EFX 168.988 32.807 -1.905
34 91 Larry Gunselman Chevrolet MSRP Motorsports 168.224 32.956 -2.054
35 89 Morgan Shepherd Dodge Victory In Jesus 167.852 33.029 -2.127
36 52 Derrike Cope Chevrolet Means Racing 167.802 33.039 -2.137
37 05 Brett Rowe Chevrolet 31-W Insulation / CertainTeed 166.697 33.258 -2.356
38 84 Mike Harmon Chevrolet M150 Energy Drink 165.928 33.412 -2.510
39 28 Brian Keselowski* Chevrolet Jay Robinson Inc. 165.671 33.464 -2.562
40 90 Johnny Chapman Chevrolet MSRP Motorsports 165.656 33.467 -2.565
41 24 Eric McClure Chevrolet Hefty 165.330 33.533 -2.631
42 81 D.J. Kennington Dodge Mahindra Tractors / NPPL 165.039 33.592 -2.690
43 0 Dwayne Leik Chevrolet Lori Morgan 162.557 34.105 -3.203

* Denotes Rookie

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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Nicorette 300
Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 8, 2008
Race 4 of 35

RAIN OUT Position Based on Owner Points

POS CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR SPEED TIME BEHIND

1 29 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express N/A N/A N/A
2 20 Kyle Busch Toyota Farm Bureau Insurance N/A N/A N/A
3 60 Carl Edwards Ford Scotts Miracle-Gro N/A N/A N/A
4 2 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet BB&T N/A N/A N/A
5 99 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine N/A N/A N/A
6 33 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Camping World/ RVs.com N/A N/A N/A
7 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Hellmann's N/A N/A N/A
8 38 Jason Leffler Toyota Great Clips N/A N/A N/A
9 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Nat'l Guard / 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team N/A N/A N/A
10 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Arby's N/A N/A N/A
11 22 Mike Bliss Dodge Supercuts N/A N/A N/A
12 6 David Ragan Ford Discount Tire N/A N/A N/A
13 16 Jamie McMurray Ford CitiFinancial N/A N/A N/A
14 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Ford Curly's N/A N/A N/A
15 77 Cale Gale* Chevrolet Rheem N/A N/A N/A
16 32 Brian Vickers Toyota ABF U-Pack Moving N/A N/A N/A
17 88 Brad Keselowski Chevrolet U.S. Navy N/A N/A N/A
18 41 Bryan Clauson* Dodge Polaroid N/A N/A N/A
19 7 Mike Wallace Toyota GEICO N/A N/A N/A
20 59 Marcos Ambrose Ford Kingsford Hickory Charcoal N/A N/A N/A
21 4 Robert Richardson, II Chevrolet Reel Deal "Card Games" on Phantom EFX N/A N/A N/A
22 27 Brad Coleman Ford Cottonelle BKB / Kroger N/A N/A N/A
23 37 Greg Biffle Ford Cub Cadet N/A N/A N/A
24 40 Dario Franchitti* Dodge Fastenal N/A N/A N/A
25 1 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet Miccosukee Resort & Gaming N/A N/A N/A
26 47 Kelly Bires Ford Clorox N/A N/A N/A
27 21 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing N/A N/A N/A
28 64 David Stremme Chevrolet Atreus Homes & Communities N/A N/A N/A
29 66 Steve Wallace Chevrolet Atreus Homes & Communities N/A N/A N/A
30 24 Eric McClure Chevrolet Hefty N/A N/A N/A
31 111 Jason Keller Chevrolet America's Incredible Pizza Company N/A N/A N/A
32 36 Kenny Wallace Dodge Shark Energy Drink N/A N/A N/A
33 161 Kevin Lepage Ford Specialty Racing N/A N/A N/A
34 81 D.J. Kennington Dodge Mahindra Tractors / NPPL N/A N/A N/A
35 01 Kertus Davis Chevrolet RaceGirl N/A N/A N/A
36 28 Brian Keselowski* Chevrolet Jay Robinson Inc. N/A N/A N/A
37 05 Brett Rowe Chevrolet 31-W Insulation / CertainTeed N/A N/A N/A
38 52 Derrike Cope Chevrolet Means Racing N/A N/A N/A
39 89 Morgan Shepherd Dodge Victory In Jesus N/A N/A N/A
40 90 Johnny Chapman Chevrolet MSRP Motorsports N/A N/A N/A
41 91 Larry Gunselman Chevrolet MSRP Motorsports N/A N/A N/A
42 84 Mike Harmon Chevrolet M150 Energy Drink N/A N/A N/A
43 0 Dwayne Leik Chevrolet Lori Morgan N/A N/A N/A

+ Set by Owner Points
* Denotes Rookie

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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Nicorette 300
Atlanta Motor Speedway

Order Driver (No.) Car Pts/Bonus Laps Laps Led Winnings

1 Matt Kenseth (17) Ford 190/5 198 14 $56,000
2 Kevin Harvick (33) Chevrolet 175/5 198 5 $37,175
3 Jeff Burton (29) Chevrolet 170/5 198 13 $28,850
4 Carl Edwards (60) Ford 165/5 198 1 $24,025
5 Bobby Labonte (21) Chevrolet 155/0 198 0 $21,400
6 Brad Keselowski (88) Chevrolet 150/0 198 0 $26,218
7 Mike Bliss (22) Dodge 146/0 198 0 $25,628
8 Jason Leffler (38) Toyota 147/5 198 1 $30,088
9 Kasey Kahne (9) Dodge 138/0 198 0 $18,025
10 David Reutimann (99) Toyota 134/0 198 0 $25,318
11 Marcos Ambrose (59) Ford 130/0 198 0 $23,818
12 Kelly Bires (47) Ford 127/0 198 0 $23,043
13 Jamie McMurray (16) Ford 124/0 198 0 $16,575
14 Jason Keller (111) Chevrolet 121/0 198 0 $21,693
15 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5) Chevrolet 118/0 198 0 $15,400
16 David Ragan (6) Ford 120/5 198 3 $15,275
17 Mike Wallace (7) Toyota 112/0 197 0 $21,768
18 Steve Wallace (66) Chevrolet 109/0 197 0 $21,268
19 Clint Bowyer (2) Chevrolet 111/5 197 1 $14,725
20 Cale Gale (77) Chevrolet 103/0 197 0 $21,893
21 Greg Biffle (37) Ford 100/0 197 0 $14,750
22 Brian Vickers (32) Toyota 97/0 197 0 $20,943
23 Bobby Hamilton Jr. (25) Ford 99/5 197 1 $21,268
24 Kyle Busch (20) Toyota 101/10 197 153 $14,325
25 Kenny Wallace (36) Dodge 93/5 197 3 $23,318
26 Johnny Sauter (1) Chevrolet 90/5 197 3 $14,225
27 Kevin Lepage (161) Ford 82/0 196 0 $14,175
28 Dario Franchitti (40) Dodge 79/0 193 0 $20,593
29 Bryan Clauson (41) Dodge 76/0 187 0 $21,543
30 David Stremme (64) Chevrolet 73/0 186 0 $14,250
31 Brian Keselowski (28) Chevrolet 70/0 185 0 $20,613
32 Robert Richardson Jr. (4) Chevrolet 67/0 185 0 $20,353
33 Eric McClure (24) Chevrolet 64/0 178 0 $20,318
34 D.J. Kennington (81) Dodge 61/0 177 0 $20,283
35 Brad Coleman (27) Ford 58/0 168 0 $20,253
36 Brett Rowe (05) Chevrolet 55/0 134 0 $20,218
37 Derrike Cope (52) Chevrolet 52/0 41 0 $20,183
38 Johnny Chapman (90) Chevrolet 49/0 27 0 $13,660
39 Larry Gunselman (91) Chevrolet 46/0 23 0 $13,610
40 Mike Harmon (84) Chevrolet 43/0 22 0 $13,550
41 Morgan Shepherd (89) Dodge 40/0 18 0 $19,958
42 Kertus Davis (01) Chevrolet 37/0 10 0 $19,913
43 Dwayne Leik (0) Chevrolet 34/0 7 0 $19,839

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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By MIKE HARRIS
AP Auto Racing Writer

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP)—It wasn’t pretty, but Matt Kenseth was just happy to be in a NASCAR Nationwide Series Victory Circle after nearly a year.

Kenseth passed Jeff Burton for the lead on lap 186 of Saturday’s Nicorette 300, a race extended three laps beyond its scheduled 195 laps at Atlanta Motor Speedway by a late caution flag.

Kenseth, who acknowledged he didn’t have the fastest car, managed to hold off Kevin Harvick by about three car-lengths in a green-white-checker shootout, winning for the first time since April 14, 2007, at Texas—a stretch of 18 races.

“About time, huh?” Kenseth said, smiling. “You certainly think about getting beat at the end. That happened to us a few times last year.”

Kyle Busch looked like a runaway winner as he led 153 of the first 170 laps before blowing a tire and hitting the wall for the second straight week. That left the battle to Kenseth, Burton and Kevin Harvick.

After Kenseth took the lead, Burton faded and Harvick gave chase to the leader, looking several times like he could catch him. But a bad pit stop and ill-timed caution flags at the end allowed Kenseth to maintain control on the way to his 24th Nationwide victory.

“Kevin was really fast,” Kenseth said. “On short runs, I could beat him . After a few laps, he could beat me pretty good.”

When Busch hit the wall on lap 170, it brought out the sixth of eight caution flags in the race and sent the leaders to pit road. Harvick went into the pits in front, but came out sixth.

“I don’t think anything happened,” the disappointed former series champion said. “It was just slow. I’m really disappointed. We gave it away on pit road there at the end. When you get handed these situations, you’ve got to capitalize on them.”

He still thought he could catch Kenseth, but two more caution flags kept cutting off his pursuit.

“I think we were definitely better than the 17 (Kenseth),” Harvick said. “He was better than us on restarts, but we could catch him pretty good after a few laps. We just didn’t get that one long run.”

Kenseth, a Sprint Cup star like his closest pursuers Saturday, had 14 top-10 finishes, including six seconds, in the 18 Nationwide events since he last won in the developmental series.

“Nobody was going to beat him on speed,” Kenseth said, referring to Busch. “I know (his crash) kind of opened the door for everybody.”

Busch, who finished second in the first two Nationwide events this year, hit the wall hard after his right front tire exploded while he was leading by more than two seconds.

“It wasn’t as gentle as last week,” was all he told his team on the radio as he drove slowly to the pits. He finished a lap off the pace in 24th.

Carl Edwards, the reigning Nationwide champion and winner of the last two Cup events heading into Sunday’s’ Kobalt Tools 500 on the Atlanta track, finished fourth Saturday, followed by Bobby Labonte, Brad Keselowski and Mike Bliss.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was involved in a three-car crash late in the race and wound up 14th.

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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