Viewer's Guide: Atlanta

If there's one driver that should feel pretty comfortable heading into Sunday's Bass Pro Shops/MBNA 500, it's Jimmie Johnson.

In his past two Atlanta Motor Speedway starts, Johnson's average finish is 1.5. He finished first there one year ago and he was runner-up to Carl Edwards in a thrilling finish there last March.

	Inside the Numbers Jimmie Johnson's Cup record at Atlanta Motor Speedway Race Start Finish Oct. 2001 21 29 Mar. 2002 15 3 Oct. 2002 2 22 Mar. 2003 11 32 Oct. 2003 9 3 Mar. 2004 3 4 Oct. 2004 8 1 Mar. 2005 3 2 Average 9 12

Still, he and the No. 48 team tested there recently. Unfortunately for the other 42 drivers in Sunday's race, the test went pretty well.

"We went down for a day and it was a little bit warmer than we would have expected it to be, so I feel since the car drove good in the hot conditions, it will be better in the cooler conditions."

What's more, Johnson said the track is starting to remind him of another track on which he has done exceedingly well.

"The track, as it ages, is much more difficult to get a hold on. In some ways it reminds me of Darlington by how hard it is on the tires and the way you have to drive the car. I think those things are going to help the No. 48 team."

The help may lead the No. 48 team to a championship. Johnson enters the weekend 15 points behind Nextel Cup Series points leader Tony Stewart. On Sunday's pre-race show, Johnson will sit down with Dave Burns for a one-on-one interview.

Later in the show, the NBC crew will examine the growing feud between the camps of Johnson and Stewart.

The ratings news was slightly disappointing for NBC last weekend.

The network's coverage of the Subway 500 garnered a 3.8 overnight national rating and 8 share, according to Nielsen Media Research. The number is down about 5 percent from 4.0/8 last year.

	NBC/TNT producer Sam Flood
	EMAIL Send Mark your take for "The Rant" or your question for "Ask The Producer"

In this week's "Ask the Producer" question, Corey Hays of Altoona, Wis. wants to know why viewers don't see in-car camera shots during qualifying coverage.

Sam Flood, who produces NASCAR broadcasts on NBC and TNT says the reason in simple.

"We need a helicopter hovering over the track for the in-car camera signals to work," said Flood. "We test the cameras during Happy Hour practice and we do use them for Daytona 500 qualifying, but usually for just one car at a time going around the track, we don't."

Each week, we'll choose a fan's question to ask a NASCAR on NBC/TNT producer. Send your puzzler by e-mail using the link to the right.

In this week's version of "The Rant," Sherry Shumaker of Phoenix, Ariz. wants a service given to all of Wally Dallenbach's guests.

There must be a way to get Wally's guest riders better fitting helmets! I wouldn't let my kid out on her skates in a helmet that fit like last week's guest at Charlotte.

Now on to this weekend's schedule.

Nextel Cup Series: Bass Pro Shops/MBNA 500

Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway

Tears flowingJohnson pulls off an emotional win at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

• 1.54-mile oval
• 24-degree banking in turns
• 5-degree banking on straights
• Length of frontstretch: 2,332 feet
• Length of backstretch: 1,800 feet

Race length: 325 laps/500.5 miles

TV schedule (All times ET)

• NASCAR Live: 4 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Final practice, 6 p.m. Fri., SPEED (tape)
• Trackside: 7 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Bud Pole Qualifying: 8 p.m. Fri., SPEED (tape)
• NASCAR Live: 1, 7:30 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• NASCAR Performance: 6:30 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• NASCAR This Morning: 10:30 a.m. Sun., SPEED
• Pre-race: Noon Sun., NBC
• Race: 12:40 p.m. Sun., NBC

One year ago, Johnson held off Mark Martin's dominating car to get his third consecutive Nextel Cup Series victory.

The most recent checkered flag went to Jeff Gordon, who completed a season sweep at Martinsville Speedway.

Keep an eye on Carl Edwards, who, with a win at Atlanta, can be the third driver in three weeks to get a season sweep at a Nextel Cup Series racetrack. Gordon did it last week at Martinsville and Jimmie Johnson accomplished it two weeks ago at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Craftsman Truck Series: EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200

Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway

• 1.54-mile oval
• 24-degree banking in turns
• 5-degree banking on straights
• Length of frontstretch: 2,332 feet
• Length of backstretch: 1,800 feet

Race length: 130 laps/200.2 miles

Thriller in AtlantaHamilton bangs doors with Skinner en route to the checkers Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

TV schedule (All times ET)

• Race: 3 p.m. Sat., SPEED

One year ago, Bobby Hamilton made his move on the final lap, moving to the outside to get to the side of Mike Skinner as the two truck came out of Turn 4. The two bumped, with Hamilton taking the win -- his fifth career Craftsman Truck Series victory -- while Skinner's truck slid sideways through the infield grass.

he most recent checkered flag went to Ricky Craven, who drove the last 145 laps on the same tires and tank of gas, and made Jack Roush the leader in career wins among owners in the Craftsman Truck Series with a victory Saturday at Martinsville Speedway.

Keep an eye on Hamilton. He is the only driver to have finished among the top five in each of the series' visits to Atlanta Motor Speedway. He followed last year's victory with a third-place finish in March's World Financial Group 200.

Mark Spoor is a senior producer for NASCAR.COM. The Domino's Viewer's Guide appears each Thursday during race weeks.