Atlanta qualifying - Rain Out??

[Chris]

Looks like it may be a rain out for Atlanta qualifying...
Watching the weather forecast tonight and all three weather stations are calling for 1-2 inches of rain on Friday and Friday night.  Even calling for strong thunderstorms late Friday afternoon and Friday night.  Rain SHOULD quit sometime Saturday morning.
They first called for it Thursday, but had said it will now be here Friday instead.

Even if it rains off and on, and clears up Friday night in time for qualifying (but no practice gets done).. it'll mean qualifying gets cancelled.
FIRST the cars have to have practice time, before any qualifying is done.  No way they can qualify without some practice and set up time first.  Also they got CTS practice to do Friday, along with IROC practice.
If it rains MUCH at all Friday,.. I don't see much way at having any qualifying Friday night, even with the lights.
like I said,.. right now they are calling for rain all day.

IF Qualifying is rained out here are the "go or go home cars" that would make the field...
#4-Todd Bodine
#32-Travis Kvapil
#34-Kevin Lepage
#37-Bill Elliott [CH]
#45-Kyle Petty
#55-Michael Waltrip
#61-Chad Chaffin
#78-Kenny Wallace

These would go home
#46-Carl Long
#49-Kevin Lepage
#74-Derrike Cope
#27-Kirk Shelmerdine
#83-A.J. Allmendinger

[Busch Babe 899]

A friend of mine, who has notoriously bad luck at bringing the rain whenever he attends a race in Atlanta (he was there in the spring) will be there again...so rain would NOT surprise me. 

[KurtBuschFan]

Well I hope it isn't rained out cause I want AJ Allmendiger to have a chance at making the field....

[Tyyrus]

Hell they may even have to reschedule the World Series...Baby...Rainin...every where !!

[smyler]

Here is the latest: Friday Night, Oct 27, Partly Cloudy w/ T-Storms, Not as cool in the evening with a couple of showers and a thunderstorm; otherwise, partly cloudy. Winds from the W at 13 mph. 

There is a chance things won't be as bad as it looked like it would be.

[Chris]

have to watch the 'local' news tonight and see what it says,...
usually they more accurate than weather.com or someplace that is not so local...
Haven't saw the weather as of today,.. may have changed today...
We'll know in an hour or so what the latest forcast is....

[Chris]

OK,.. here's the latest poop...
LOCAL Atlanta weather forecats was just on...
Here's what they are calling for on Friday.

Heavy Rain starting in the morning,... rain all day long.
100% chance of rain throughout the day and night until Saturday morning.
Scattered severe thunderstorms in the Atlanta area, with locally heavy rain.
Rain upwards of THREE inches.

For now they are calling for a total rain out of all outdoor activities tomorrow

Sounds like the ONLY thing they may be racing at AMS Friday is BOATS... and it'll be a MUDDY mess for the weekend

[nascarbabe2U]

An awsome Southern Storm and I'm missin it ......
Aw man Chris call me then stick the phone outside on the poarch will ya.....'purdy please'......I need a good storm fix.
All I can say is old Ma Nature had better have some for me when I get there in February.

[Chris]

well...
have to see... no promises...
most of the thunderstorms are supposed to be on the south-side (down toward the track)

[Checkeredflag]

If it rains until Saturday, it could really throw a bunch of plans in the air (and make for some very happy practice drivers in Memphis).

If everything is rained out on Friday, except for Kyle Busch, who has already opted out of the Busch race, there are 7 more guys who are planning to fly back and forth.  But, didn't that mean they would each miss a few minutes of Happy Hour?

But, if practice is delayed at all on Saturday, and there is no practice on Friday, then what?

Kevin Harvick should be a no brainer - 36 points out of first, the Busch Championship clinched, if I'm Richard Childress, and I see that boy eyeing a plane, I'm buckling him back in his Cup car myself.  And standing guard to make sure he doesn't make a break for it. 

But, then, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin are in a dog-fight for 2nd place.  Hamlin is only 47 points out of first in the Chase.  JD Gibbs is also busy learning how to work a seat belt.   

Bowyer is 18th in points, less than 100 out of 15th, no chance for ROTY, but in 3rd in Busch, only 72 out of 2nd place.  Edwards is in 12th in Cup, no chance of catching Stewart for 11th, and basically no chance for Biffle to catch him, so he really has nothing to lose.  If Edwards goes and Bowyer doesn't, Edwards has just basically sewn up 2nd place.  If I'm Jack Roush, I'm pulling out my hair, but probably sending Edwards.  Richard Childress is still busy standing guard, so Bowyer may be able to sneak off to Memphis without him seeing. 

JJ Yeley needs all the seat time he can get in a Cup car, should be perfectly safe to stay in the Top 35, and if he runs well in Memphis, could get himself in a position to gain ground and spots on any driver who skips the race.  Like Bowyer, JJ gets to sneak off to Memphis, with no one any the wiser. 

Reed Sorenson is a tough call.  He's in 10th in Busch points, but just barely.  At 25th in Cup points, he has about a 150 point cushion on Dave Blaney in 26th.  But, he is a rookie, Atlanta is his home track, and the seat time would be invaluable for him.  Too tough to call for me, but maybe since Chip has Montoya already there holding up the company banner, Reed gets to stay in Atlanta? 

The one with the biggest problem is Kasey Kahne.  He needs to run well at Atlanta, but according to the article on NOL, the sponsor is on his car solely because Kasey is scheduled to drive the car.  I guess Uncle Ray will have to stop playing house with Erin Crocker long enough to figure out what to do here...run the car with the practice driver, and then make it up to the sponsor at another race is what I would do, but I'm glad it's not my call!! 

[Chris]

Kevin Harvick should be a no brainer - 36 points out of first, the Busch Championship clinched, if I'm Richard Childress, and I see that boy eyeing a plane, I'm buckling him back in his Cup car myself.  And standing guard to make sure he doesn't make a break for it.

Seems I saw earlier this week (maybe Jayski) that Harvick has already opted out of Memphis to concentrate on the CUP race this weekend...
NOTE,.. on jayski it is NOW reports that Harvick will race,.. and Randy LaJoie subs for Harvick during practice and qualifying (of course this could all go out the window if Friday is a total wash-out).
Jayski also reports this:
One driver who has competed full-time in both series this year will miss his first race of the season. Kyle Busch will be replaced by Justin Labonte for practice, qualifying and the race in the #5 Lowe’s Chevrolet at Memphis

You bring up a great point CF.  I knew the rain was coming for the last 3 days or so since I live right here close,... and I knew it would screw up qualifying.
Never thought about the 'ripple' effects it would have, what with all the bushwhackers, and the BGN race at a different track.
It's a foregone conclusion all the activities will be rained out tomorrow...
SO lets look at the schedules for Saturday.
CUP practice is (as of now) scheduled for 10:30-11:30, and 12:00-1:00.
Here's the BGN schedule"
Saturday, Oct. 28—Qualifying, 10:05 a.m. ----  Race, 1:10 p.m.

IMO I don't see a way for ANY of the CUP drivers to run EITHER CUP practice on Saturday, and still run in the BGN race.  Might make it out of the private airport and fly to Memphis in time to race.  The private airport is just off of turn #2 at AMS... 5 minutes from track... Not sure about how close they have to land at Memphis....
But still they could be cutting it close,... practice until 11:30.... be in the plane on the runway by 11:45,.. gotta be an hour from take-off to touchdown,... that just leaves 15 minutes to make the race.... and you have to account for any bad weather on the way  yet.
  Gonna be interesting just KEEPING UP with the teams on Saturday...   LOL

[Blu]

Chris...hows it lookin now? Still the same..rain?


Its pouring here and looks settled in for the day BLAH!!

[Chris]

been raining for two hours already...
morning rush hour traffic is HORRIBLE

looks gloomy outside,....
weather man says it's set in for the day...
expect as much as 3 inches...
Heavy rain and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

Should move out by in the morning.
Saturday expected to be breezy and cool.
High of 58,.. winds 20-25 mph.. bbrrrrr

Sunday... sunny and excellent

fresh 'green' track.. sure gonna chew up a lot of tires on Saturday... set ups COULD change a lot from Saturday to Sunday

[Chris]

I see it's 3:45 pm Friday...
3 hours before qualifying is SUPPOSED to begin...

Nascar has ALREADY gave up on qualifying (along with the rest of us who live with in the area)
The STARTING LINE UP is already posted (3 hours before qualifying)
Thought this was interesting

[smyler]

Oh well.  I guess A J will have to wait.