Short Laps

1 In winning his first race of '09, Kurt Busch led more laps on Sunday (234) than he did all last season (164). Over the winter Busch and his crew chief, Pat Tryson (above left, with Busch), emphasized improving on 1.5-mile tracks, which are a big part of the Chase schedule. Sunday's victory was Busch's first at such a venue since November '02.

2 Media center estimates put the crowd at 60,000 (NASCAR estimated attendance at 94,400), making it the smallest gathering at Atlanta Motor Speedway for a Sunday race in more than a decade. The flagging economy is taking a toll on the sport. More than 1,000 tickets remain for the March 22 Sprint Cup race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, which is in danger of not selling out a Cup race for the first time since 1982.