By the numbers

Consecutive top-10 Atlanta finishes for Jeff Gordon, the longest current streak.

Wins in past 11 Atlanta races for Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards (3 each).

Top-10 for Bobby Labonte in 13 Atlanta races since win in spring 2003 (5th, fall '03) .

Green flag

1:16 p.m.

WRAZ, WFXI

Radio

WQDR-94.7

Race

No. 4 of 36

Distance

500.5 miles, 325 laps

Pole-sitter

Dale Earnhardt Jr., 192.761 mph

Qualifying record

Geoff Bodine, 197.478 mph, Nov. 16, 1997

Forecast

Sunny, high of 64

2009 winner

Kurt Busch

Race record

Bobby Labonte, 159.904 mph, Nov. 16, 1997 Kyle Busch upset with Said

Kyle Busch walked away from a banged-up car shaking his head, clearly miffed about a scrape in the final practice for today's Sprint Cup race.

Busch, who will start on the outside of the front row in the Kobalt Tools 500, tangled with Boris Said coming onto the back straightaway and was forced to park his Toyota after 37 practice laps. While the damage around the right rear tire was mainly cosmetic, it didn't improve Busch's mood.

"You've got guys who don't belong out there," he said. "He's off the pace at every track we've been to. But he keeps getting in on owner points."

Said drives for Latitude 43 Motorsports, a new venture by a Vermont businessman who bought the No. 26 team from Roush Fenway Racing, inheriting its points from a year ago. That team finished 22nd in the standings, so Said is guaranteed entry into the first five races this year.

Said, who has gotten into the last three races based on his owner points, managed only two laps in his final tuneup for the race. He was next-to-last on the speed chart, beating out rookie Kevin Conway.

Looking ahead

What: Food City 500 Where: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Green flag: 1:15 p.m. March 14 TV: WRAZ, WFXI Radio: WQDR-94.7 2009 winner: Kyle Busch