Atlanta

Motor Speedway brings Indy Racing League excitement to

the area this weekend.

Qualifying

for the Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500 begins Friday night.

It is followed by a 24-lap U.S. F2000 race and an

autograph session with the top drivers in the IRL

sponsored by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The racing

action starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with Legends feature

races followed by a four-lap U.S. F2000 race. The Kobalt

Mechanics Tools 500 begins at 7:30 p.m.

Last year's

winner was Kenny Brack, who was also the IRL champion

last year. Brack is currently in fifth place in the

points standings but he won the Indianapolis 500 recently

and will be the the all-time victory leader if he can

secure a win this weekend. Brack also holds the record at

AMS, finishing a race in 2:17:15.289. His average speed

during the race was 140.026 mph.

Scott

Goodyear is the current points leader, leading Jeff Ward

164-149. During last year's race, Goodyear and Ward

combined to lead 75 percent of the race. Goodyear led for

93 of the 208 laps and finished in fourth place, while

Ward led for 64 laps and finished in sixth place.

Goodyear has won two races this year.

The other

big story for Saturday night's race is the AMS debut of

Jimmy Kite. Kite is a 23-year-old from Stockbridge who

has attended nearly every race at AMS since he was 10.

This will be the first time he has raced an Indy car on

the track.

The Grand

Marshal for the race will be three time Indianapolis 500

champion Johnny Rutherford. Rutherford also won the first

Indy-Style race held at AMS in 1965. He notched three

victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway in his career.

Rutherford is currently the Pep Boys Indy Racing League's

special events director. It is his job to work with the

rookie drivers as well as drive the pace car.

"You

never think about being a gand marshal until after you

retire," said Rutherford. "It's part of the

reward for making it to retirement and an honor to be

able to stand up there to give the command."

There are

still tickets left for this weekend, ranging in price.

Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet or at

the AMS box office. Call 770-946-4211.

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