| Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 News: |
| Carl Edwards made NASCAR history at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, winning the Golden Corral 500 his first NEXTEL Cup win just a day after capturing his first Busch Series win in Saturdays Aarons 312.
After celebrating with his now-famous backflip, Edwards continued to charm the world with his aw-shucks charm.This is beyond my wildest dreams, and Im enjoying every minute of it, Edwards said. About two and a half years ago, I was working on my dirt car in my garage at home; this is pretty cool. Its unbelievable.Edwards was a strong competitor throughout the day, starting fourth and staying in the top 10 throughout the 325-lap race. But it wasnt until the final feet of the final lap that Edwards earned his first career NEXTEL Cup win, banging door-to-door with Jimmie Johnson. At the checkered flag, it was a typical Atlanta photo finish, as .028 seconds separated the two cars. It was Atlantas fourth photo finish in five years. In 2000, Dale Earnhardt beat Bobby Labonte to the line by .010 seconds. The next year, Kevin Harvick bested Jeff Gordon by .006 seconds. And then on Friday, Ron Hornaday outlasted Labonte by .008 seconds in the World Financial Group 200 Craftsman Truck race. Jimmie Johnson is an amazing competitor, Edwards said. Ive never driven that hard in my life. When Edwards crossed the finish line, not only did he score a victory at the fastest track on the NASCAR circuit, but also a spot in the Atlanta Motor Speedway history book. Edwards is the first driver to sweep both the NEXTEL Cup and Busch series in a single weekend. I was just on a mission to win races, and I cant believe we won two this weekend, Edwards said. Im the luckiest guy in the world. Johnson led laps 300 to 324 and seemed to be in clear control until the final two laps, when Edwards was closing quickly. Then he turned his attention to full-throttle blocking.The whole day was a lot of fun, Johnson said. But at the end the No. 99 (Edwards) was really strong. When I came off of Turn 4, all I could see was windshield, so I knew he was coming. Only his first full season in the NEXTEL Cup series, Edwards has already proven himself a worthy competitor. |
| Event | Date | Tickets | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pep Boys Auto 500
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11:59 pm
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Atlanta Motor Speedway
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| Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn, the 2004 Walter Payton Man of the Year, has been named the Grand Marshal for Saturday's Aarons 312 Busch race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Warrick Dunn and two recipients from his Home for the Holidays program will give the command to the Aarons 312 drivers to start their engines. The Home for The Holidays program was established in 1997 and has helped 51 low-income, single mother families become first-time homeowners. In 2004, Dunn handed the keys to three single mothers for their new homes. Through the Home for the Holidays program, Dunn makes the down payments on new houses, then works with Aarons to fill each home with necessities such as furniture, electronics and computers, and other local businesses for linens, lawn and gardening equipment, lamps, kitchen appliances, and food. "I'm very excited to have another opportunity to start the race again, particularly here in Atlanta for Aarons," Dunn said. "We have had two great years with Aarons, as they have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make dreams come true for the moms, their families and myself. I look forward to many, many years of success with them." Aarons has been a large part of the Warrick Dunn Foundations Homes for the Holidays program. Aarons stores in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, and Tampa provide all of the furniture for the program. |