Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday pit notes 2

Atlanta Motor Speedway Pit Notes 2 - Sunday, March 8, 2009

PENSKE GOES GREEN: Penske Racing and PPG officials announced Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway the team's conversion to an environmentally-friendly waterborne paint system.

The waterborne paint system, which is touted as reducing up to 80 percent of the emissions of traditional oil-based paint, debuts this weekend on the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge driven by Kurt Busch and the No. 77 Mobil 1 driven by Sam Hornish Jr.

Penske Racing's conversion should be complete by the end of the 2009 season.

"This is good for the race team, but also for the environment," Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said. "And as (team owner) Roger (Penske) tries to be the leader in all aspects, it just made more and more sense."

WINTER FLURRY CHAMPS: Atlanta Motor Speedway crowned its Winter Flurry Legends, Bandolero and Roadster champions Saturday.

Even without taking the green flag this weekend, AMS President Ed Clark wrapped up his third Roadsters Winter Flurry championship. Adam Gay won Saturday's race, which also featured Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell's Roadster debut. Campbell finished fourth after spinning out early.

Chase Elliott, son on NASCAR driver Bill Elliott and a Dawsonville (Ga.) native, won the race as well as the Winter Flurry title. Other drivers to sweep were Bandits driver Brady Boswell and Masters driver Jeff Haynie.

Pro driver Austin Hill captured his division race Saturday, but the Winter Flurry championship went to Will Prance. In the Outlaws division, Jake Armstrong won the race but lost the title to Garrett Smithley. And in the Young Guns division, Evan Bell captured the checkers, but Will Martin picked up the series trophy.

No champion is declared in the adult beginner Charger series, but Blake Jones won Saturday's race.

NASCAR NUPTIALS: One couple will be tying the knot and two others renewing their vows during today's Kobalt Tools 500 pre-race ceremonies. The proceedings will begin at 12:26 p.m. on the pre-race stage.

OFFICIALLY CLEARED: Martin Truex Jr. has been officially released by NASCAR to race in today's Kobalt Tools 500.

-credit: ams