Date October 29, 2006 (2006-10-29) Course Permanent racing facility1.540 mi (2.478 km) Distance 325 laps, 500.5 mi (805.476 km) Average speed 143.421 mph (230.814 km/h) | ||
The 2006 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series stock car race held on October 29, 2006 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Contested over 325 laps, the race was the 33rd of the 36-race 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season. Matt Kenseth of Roush Racing won the pole, while Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing won the race.
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Background
Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 25 miles (40 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) quad-oval track. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5 miles (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.
Summary
The 7th race of the Chase, qualifying was rained out, and the starting order was set by owner points, with Matt Kenseth sitting on the pole. A. J. Allmendinger was to have made his Nextel Cup debut here but failed to qualify. In the race, the first few laps involving Kyle Busch, putting a driver on the bubble of championship hopes. Meanwhile, another chaser, Kasey Kahne, who earned six wins of the season, just made some damage with David Stremme, sending two drivers into the garage. Less than 20 laps to go, Mark Martin, the veteran drivers just wreck, ending the championship hopes. Those three drivers putted on the dangerous spot of championship hopes. Tony Stewart captured his second race win in a 2006 chase race.