Atlanta Motor Speedway Advance Notes

Race:   Kobalt Tools 500 on Sunday, March 9 (NSCS)

            Nicorette 300 on Saturday, March 8 (NNS)

Track:  Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.54 miles)

Location:  Hampton, Ga.

NOTES

Dario Franchitti and No. 40 Fastenal Dodge Teams (NSCS/NNS)

Leading Rookie:  Franchitti currently leads the Raybestos Rookie of the Year race in both the NSCS (31-30 over Regan Smith) and the NNS (37-25 over CGRFS teammate Bryan Clauson).

Catching On:  In last weekend's NNS race at Las Vegas, Franchitti scored a NASCAR career best finish of sixth in the No. 40 Fastenal Dodge, topping his previous best finish of 20th earlier this season at Daytona. The result moved him up eight places in the NNS standings from 17th to ninth.

Fastenal Making it Easy for Franchitti:  This weekend Franchitti's primary NNS sponsor Fastenal will be adorning the hood of his NNS car as well as the NSCS car as he pulls double duty for the fourth straight weekend. With two identical cars, the former open wheel pilot (who's never had to consistently juggle two series in the same weekend) will find it easy to bounce back and forth between the NNS and NSCS garages.

Parrott's Atlanta Persona:  Franchitti's NNS crew chief Brad Parrott called a strong NNS race last year at AMS with another NASCAR newcomer Juan Pablo Montoya.  The team lined up inside the top 10 and finished eighth.  Parrott has an impressive history at Atlanta that includes Carl Edwards' first career NNS win in March 2005. 

CHASSIS INFO

No. 40 Fastenal Dodge (NSCS):  Chassis #807.  No previous starts.

No. 40 Fastenal Dodge (NNS):  Chassis #652.  The car had some good runs in 2007, including a 15th-place finish with Sorenson behind the wheel at Chicagoland in early July; a 14th-place finish with Montoya at Bristol and a 20th-place finish with Montoya at Las Vegas in March 2007.

2008 STATS

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

                            Starts  Wins    Poles   Top 5s  Top 10s Ave Start       Ave Finish      Pts. Pos./(Prev)      
Dario Franchitti        3         0          0           0            0           36.0                 32.7                  36/(35)

NASCAR Nationwide Series

                            Starts  Wins    Poles   Top 5s  Top 10s Ave Start       Ave Finish      Pts. Pos./(Prev)      
Dario Franchitti        3         0          0           0           1            10.7                 16.7                   9/(17)