The race would start and just after one lap completed there is a major wreck. Caution #1. It would bring out the red flag for 30 min. #16 Mike Bliss and #57 Steve park would stop in the middle of turn one after a big collision. #07 Eric Norris was involved as well. They talked to Ted during the red flag and he said he was going to pass Skinner on the outside when he heard 3-wide from his spotter. He said he looked down and saw that to be true so he had to hold his line.
The race would resume on lap five with Ted in 2nd place. Then Caution #2 would come out on lap 9 as #17 David Reutimann would blow an engine. They would restart on lap 13 with Ted still in second and #15 Kyle Busch in the lead. On lap 17 #5 Mike Skinner passes Ted and sends him to 3rd. On lap 21 #2 Jimmy Spencer pits for a blistering tire problem and goes a lap down. Then on lap 42 #50 Todd Kluever passes Ted for 3rd.
We now hear that Ted is dropping back because of a vibration in the right-front tire and soon after he hits the wall bringing out Caution #3 on lap 43. Ted would bring the #1 Mopar Dodge into the pits for repairs. He reports the tow is out as well.
Restart on lap 49 and Ted is 28th and the last truck on the lead lap. It would take many laps but Ted with a wounded truck worked himself back up through the field. On lap 62 Ted is 23rd. On lap 73 Ted would be 20th. Lap 75 he would be 18th. Lap 80 he would be 15th. Now with 47 laps to go in the race and green flag pits stops looming Ted is in 14th! With 45 laps to go Ted is in 13th right behind #46 Dennis Setzer.
Caution #4 would come out with 40 laps to go for #30 Todd Bodine blowing a tire and hitting the wall. At this time Ted had worked himself up to 11th spot! All would pit and Ted would restart the race in 10th position with just 37 laps to go.
Ted would continue his move up through the field and with 33 to go he was in 9th. With 28 laps to go he was in 7th. However after making it up to 7th spot, Ted would start to drop back. It is soon after we see why. Another blown tire! This time the right-rear. Ted would create Caution #5.
Ted would come in for tires along with some of the leaders. Ted would leave the pits with his right-front rim on fire. All would be ok. Ted would restart the race in 18th.
Ted would gain four more spots before the end and finish the race in 14th position. Dennis Setzer would finish 13th. Kyle Busch on the other hand restarted with 3 to go in 9th spot. He would easily pass the ones on old tires a few each lap. He would then on the last turn drive along side of #60 Jack Sprague. Sprague would get loose trying to hold his line and a giant wreck was created.
My thoughts on this race and just how it was that Kyle won the race. First he pitted for fresh tires and was going to be faster than all those ahead. That is ok. But then we hear that Bodine said he pulled over and let him go. Others not in the top 3 probably did the same. Then he got to the top 3 and like he said at Martinsville "I'm here to win, not point race." Well that doesn't mean you have to push the issue. I am willing to bet if Kyle was going for a Nextel Cup win and Sprague had a one race deal and Sprague got to the outside of him on the last lap and got him loose and Kyle wrecked. I will bet that he would not be too happy. Heck Jack is there to win. All is fair right???? Kyle's quote after the race that Jack did a Rowdy Gates on him and ran him into the wall was total bunk. Like I said reverse the roles and the tune would change. Just my opinion.
All in all it was a team effort in Atlanta that salvaged Ted a decent finish. Ted only lost 3 points to Dennis and is 51 points ahead. There are now just 3 races to go in the season. Great job again Mopar crew!
On to Texas. Ted has finishes in order of 14th-10th(2001), 5th-6th(2002), 13th-3rd(2003), 2nd-6th(2004) and 14th in the spring race this year.