Cup race in Atlanta postponed until Tuesday morning

Cup race in Atlanta postponed until Tuesday morning
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(September 4, 2011)
HAMPTON, Ga.—Those looking for a clarity in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup picture will have to wait at least two more days.
Despite the best efforts of NASCAR and Atlanta Motor Speedway to run the race, the AdvoCare 500 Sprint Cup event was rescheduled from Sunday night until Tuesday morning after persistent rain squelched efforts to dry the 1.54-mile track.
Barring further interference from the remnants of tropical storm Lee, the 25th race of the Cup season will start at 11 a.m. ET Tuesday, with polesitter Kasey Kahne leading the field to the green flag. ESPN will televise the race.
With weather forecasts calling for rain all day Monday, NASCAR opted for the Tuesday start.
There will be much on the line for drivers when they do take the green. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin are trying to solidify their relatively tenuous positions in the Chase. Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Paul Menard, David Ragan, Marcos Ambrose and Kahne will be doing everything they can to unseat them.
In addition, one of four drivers—Menard, Ambrose, Kyle Busch or Brad Keselowski—can win a total of $3 million in the Sprint Summer Showdown (split among the driver, the driver’s designated charities and a race fan), should any of the four win the AdvoCare 500.
Menard qualified for the Showdown with his win in the Brickyard 400, Ambrose at Watkins Glen, Busch at Michigan and Keselowski as a double winner at Pocono and Bristol.
Steve Addington, crew chief for Kurt Busch’s No. 22 Dodge, says adjustability will be the key when the race starts, because track conditions will be markedly different for a daytime green flag from a planned start at night.
“We’ve built some adjustment into it, and that’s knocking spring rubbers in, pulling spring rubbers out, doing whatever we have to,” Addington said. “Adjusting wedge and track bar stuff.  That’s just something we’ll have to do as track conditions change on us -- and we do that every week.
“Atlanta is real sensitive, so it’s a deal where you have to adjust to it. Your car is not going to be as good in the daytime. It’s going to be a freer racetrack. We’ve got adjustability in the car. We’ll have to start the race and make it (through) that first run and then adjust on it from there.”