by Lee Spencer

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The weather-related issues kept drivers from getting up to speed or getting a feel for the new tire that Goodyear has introduced for this event, which presents a problem going into this weekend's Pep Boys Auto 500.

Both Goodyear and the teams struggled with the tires in the spring. Four-time AMS winner Jeff Gordon called the Kobalt Tools 500 "the hardest day" he had ever worked at a track for a top-five.

Second-place finisher Tony Stewart said the highlight of the race was not crashing.

"That was half the battle," Stewart said following the March 9th romp. "I've been racing 28 years and been a part of a lot of different professional racing series and never seen the quality of racing tire like I've seen this weekend. There has to be something in between."

Smoke roared, and for once, the industry listened. Goodyear engineers went back to the drawing board to create a tire for Atlanta that could withstand the challenges created by the new car: An additional 50-plus pounds of redistributed weight to the right side of the car and a higher center of gravity.

"If nobody said anything, nothing would've got done," Stewart said. "Criticizing me for being outspoken about it — all I did was speak from the driver's standpoint and spoke the truth.

"It got something done, didn't it? If it makes it safer for us and makes us all more comfortable as drivers out there, isn't that — at the end of the day — what's going to put on a better show for everybody?"

Race winner Kyle Busch, Scott Riggs and Travis Kvapil performed both the July and September tire tests for Goodyear at AMS.

According to Goodyear, the new combination "will help give cars more grip while maintaining good wear characteristics for Atlanta's abrasive racing surface."

Unlike Stewart, Busch said he didn't experience problems with the harder spring tire. Busch is in the majority that feels the problem is not the tire but the car on this track.

"I don't remember any blowouts," Busch said. "I think the tires are pretty safe. I think the cars are a piece of crap. We ran here with the spring tire when we tested — we got one good lap then the car was all over the place sliding everywhere.

"We came here and tested (again), we got eight good laps and the car was all over the place sliding everywhere. So it's no different, you just got eight laps instead of one ... because of the asphalt. It's worn out. All there is is rocks."

Carl Edwards, who will start fourth on Sunday because qualifying was cancelled, has a completely different view from Busch on AMS and the tire.

In eight starts at the 1.54-mile venue, he's finished outside of the top 10 just twice. Edwards feels Atlanta is the ideal track to cut into the 198-point deficit between the No. 99 Ford and Johnson.

"This track has been so good to me, and I love it so much that all week I haven't hardly been able to wait to race," Edwards. "I just really want to race, so I'm very excited about the race on Sunday."

But his excitement is tempered with the reality of the new Goodyear tire.

"I did think about that a little bit, and I don't know," Edwards said. "It seemed (today) like the tire had a ton of grip and you could drive the car pretty hung out. It wasn't a real hard-feeling tire. I felt like I could get the tire real sideways and drag that tire around, so I hope that tire wear is not an issue.

"I'm a little nervous about it just because it's a change. I guess they had Kyle here testing or something, and I'm sure he ran some really hard laps, so I hope it holds up and I hope it works out. They didn't have tire failures. I believe the last time we were here, people just didn't like the tire, so it makes me a little nervous that they changed it."

The Biff won't throw in towel yet

There are those that might be intimidated by Jimmie Johnson's tremendous success this season. But Greg Biffle, who trails J.J. by 149 points in the standings, shouldn't be counted among them.

Why is The Biff able to stay settled when others are panicked? "The power of positive thinking."

"We certainly aren't gonna give up working as hard as we can," said the driver of the No. 16 Roush Fenway Ford. "Anybody that wins this championship is gonna have to be on their game these last four races. Granted, (Johnson's) got a 150-point lead, and that's a lot to overcome. It's gonna be hard, but we're gonna do our best to cut into that lead."

For Biffle, starting up front and salvaging a 12th-place finish at Martinsville last week after he pitted out of sequence was nearly as good as a win. Now the tour rolls into four tracks where he is certain to make progress.

And although he'll start second on race day after rain wiped out qualifying Friday, Biffle would have liked to compete for pole position.

"We had a really good car," Biffle said. "I was able to make two laps and felt really good about that car. I'm just disappointed that we didn't get a chance to try and qualify.

"I feel a lot better inside that we were close off the truck. I think I've definitely got something to work with tomorrow."

Generation next for Childress

Richard Childress is riding high with all three of his Sprint Cup drivers enjoying success among the top six in the championship standings. On top of that, RCR's Clint Bowyer holds a commanding 196-point lead in the Nationwide Series standings.

Perhaps more gratifying from a personal standpoint, Childress will have the satisfaction of watching his grandson Austin Dillon attempt to qualify for his first Nationwide Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday. Dillon made his NNS debut at Richmond last month, but qualifying was rained out and the No. 21 started 26th.

Richard Childress' grandson, Austin Dillon, will look to qualify for his first Nationwide Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park Saturday. (Jerry Markland / Getty Images)

"He didn't get to qualify at Richmond and made a couple mistakes that I don't think he'll make again," Childress said. "We're going to ease him into it. His schedule for next year is to run the Camping World East schedule again where he (won) Rookie of the Year, finished second in points and won a race. But the most important thing was he finished every lap. That's what impressed me. That he's able to race and run well."

Dillon races the No. 3 in the CWE series and will run seven races in the NNS to maintain his rookie eligibility for 2010. The 18-year-old is a senior at Forsyth Country Day School and hopes to balance his racing with studies at Wake Forest, University of North Carolina or High Point College.

Is it possible that once he graduates we could see the number "3" revived in one of the top NASCAR tours?

"He's running it right now in the East Series and gets a lot of compliments on it," Childress said. "Who knows down the road what life will give us all?"

Hot Laps

Rookies Bryan Clauson and Joey Logano will have to wait until next time to race. Clauson attempted to make his debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway but was knocked out by weather as well. Logano's luck hasn't been much better in the No. 02. The 18-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver made two Cup starts with Hall of Fame Racing but has yet to enjoy the full Gibbs' experience on the Cup side. "It was different than what I was used to driving after doing a lot of testing with the Gibbs guys," Logano said. "You kind of have to start over with what you want with the racecar and what they want. It wasn't gelling completely, the way we needed it to be" ...

NASCAR VP of Communications Jim Hunter said the sanctioning body is rethinking the 24-day testing schedule given the current economic conditions. Testing has to make financial sense for the haves as well as the have-nots ...

Quote of the day — Part I

"We suck right now. We got work to do. We're falling behind. The 48 is kicking our ass."

— Kyle Busch, in response to what the problems were with the No. 18 team.

Quote of the day — Part II

"If these young guys can't get to work on time, then someone will do their job for them."

— Mark Martin, on why he was standing by for Kyle Busch in the Craftsman Truck Series garage when Busch's plane was delayed due to inclement weather.