Kurt Busch and Dodge wins the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta

Delivering the first win for Dodge Motorsports this year in Sprint Cup, Kurt Busch held off Matt Kenseth and Juan Montoya to win today’s race at Atlanta Motorspeedway. The #2 Miller Lite, Dodge Charger was a rocket all day, and Kurt’s team was able keep the adjustments to a minimum. He led most of the laps today, and three weeks of disappointments were wiped clean. With the win today, Kurt moved into the top ten in total points.

His teammates didn’t fare as well. Brad Keselowski driving the #12 Mopar/FLO-TV Dodge Charger was apparently intentionally taken out by the #99 Scotts Ford, driven by Carl Edwards. Brad and Carl have been involved in a number of incidents dating back to Brad’s win last year at Talladega. Today’s accident was the second incident involving both drivers. Early in the race Brad and Carl tangled, causing Carl’s car to sit most of the day in the pits for repairs. Brad was going to have a top ten finish, but with three laps remaining Brad went to pass Carl when Carl’s car made a right turn on the tri-oval causing Brad to get loose, spin and then go airborne. The accident ended his day, Brad finished 36th, and NASCAR black-flagged Carl Edwards for the incident.

Sam Hornish Jr. and the #77 Mobil 1, Dodge Charger wasn’t a factor for the lead today. He finished one lap down in 28th.

Sprint Cup action now takes its first break of the year before heading off to Thunder Valley, and the short, high-banked track at Bristol, TN. I’ll be there and so will the Dodge Boys of Penske Racing—trying hard to make their marks.

– J.R., 7 Mar 2010