Some news tidbits from the world of NASCAR:

• After back-to-back wins by Jimmie Johnson, the 48 haters are looking for a glimmer of hope. It’s a 50-50 proposition with Chassis No. 558, the primary car that Johnson will drive at Atlanta. In two starts, the car has an average finish of 18.5, including a 36th-place finish at Atlanta in September 2009. Do the math; the other time Johnson drove the car — at Charlotte in October — he won the race.

      So what is he looking for this weekend at AMS? “It really reminds me of Darlington, where you just have to be very conscious of what end of the race car is taking the abuse or what tire is slipping and sliding too much. Every time you slide that tire, you’re just taking speed out of the car and especially off the tail end of the run.

      “You’re just trying to be very aware of what tires work and looking for ways to get around that, the balance and the load between all four tires. When you’re able to do that, your car typically drives very comfortable and you’re going to need that for 500 miles at Atlanta. It just kind of comes down to that — making sure you feel all four tires being worked equally.”

• This weekend will mark the return of the FR9 engine as it goes under the hood of the famed No. 21 Ford of the Wood Brothers and driver Bill Elliott. The Wood Brothers, which are running a limited schedule in 2010, have committed to run the FR9 in every race they compete.

      “With us running a limited schedule, in the unlikely event something goes wrong, it doesn’t kill us in the points because we’re not really worried about points,” said Len Wood, co-owner of the No. 21. “We talked to [engine builder Doug Yates] last fall and he came up with a plan because it’s not just as simple as changing out the old engine for the new engine in an hour. There are different motor mounts in the car for the FR9 and it requires the cable drive fuel pump, which we had never used before until Daytona. The headers are different and some of the radiator connectors are different, so there was a changeover period we went through to get ready.”

• David Reutimann has a streak of five consecutive top-15 finishes dating to last season. The streak includes one top-five (fifth in the Daytona 500), another top-10s (2009 Phoenix), a 13th-place finish at Las Vegas and two 15th-place finishes (2009 Homestead and Fontana). And during the past 10 races on 1.5-mile tracks, Reutimann ranks fifth in points (1,337) trailing only Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.

      So what’s Reutimann expecting at Atlanta? “It’s a cool race track,” he said. “It’s pretty abrasive, so it’s a little bit rougher on the tires. The cars slide around a lot and it can be pretty fun. The track is still really, really fast — it’s one of the fastest places we go.

      “I was able to win my very first pole there in the Truck Series, which came in only my second start in that series during my rookie year [2004]. We went to Daytona and then Atlanta was the second race of the year at the time. It’s always been pretty special to me; I enjoy going back.”

• In eight starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Clint Bowyer boasts four top-10 finishes — all sixth-place finishes. His average finish is 15.6, thanks to four finishes between 20th and 29th. This season he’s been a front-runner — Bowyer has been inside the top 15 for a series-best 670 of 725 laps (92.4 percent) — and expects more of the same on Sunday.

      “We’ve done well at finishing sixth [at Atlanta],” Bowyer said with a laugh. “We went on a heck of a run, but Atlanta has been a good track for us. We’ve run up front , led laps before and had strong showings. But, usually something happens at the end. The last time we were there, it was a disaster.” He finished 29th, two laps down, in September 2009.

• Kevin Harvick will drive Chassis No. 288 at Atlanta — the same car that scored a runner-up finish at Fontana. In 18 starts at the 1.54-mile oval, Harvick has one victory, four top-five finishes and five top-10. The victory came in Harvick’s third start in the Cup Series, the 2001 Cracker Barrel 500 in a photo finish over Jeff Gordon, securing the emotional victory by .006 seconds, the fifth-closest finish in series history.

      Harvick finished fourth and second at AMS in 2009, so his expectations are high. “Atlanta, over the last few years, has just been one of those places that seem to fit everything that we do,” he said. “So, hopefully, nothing has changed. Atlanta has just always been really good to us.

      “We go there expecting to be in contention for the win, and anything short of that will be a disappointment.”

• Roush Fenway Racing on Tuesday announced that Valvoline will sponsor the No. 17 Ford and driver Matt Kenseth for three Sprint Cup Series races this season, including Atlanta this weekend. Valvoline also will serve as the primary sponsor at Talladega in April and Phoenix in November.

      Valvoline first teamed up with Roush in 1990, and together the duo has brought home 44 wins in the Cup Series. Valvoline is the official motor oil at Roush Fenway Racing.

• Bristol Motor Speedway officials on Tuesday announced that president and general manager Jeff Byrd has taken a leave of absence to undergo tests and treatment for a recently discovered medical matter. It will prevent him from involvement in the upcoming Food City 500 weekend.

      Byrd recently went through a series of tests and his doctors are encouraged that the condition is limited to one area and is treatable.

      “I fully intend to be back on the job as soon as the doctors say it is OK,” Byrd said in a statement released by the track. “I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and will miss being at the track for the Food City 500 weekend. I have said for years I have the best team in motorsports and things are in good hands.”

      Byrd and his family have asked for prayers and privacy at this time.

• 79.2 — Percentage of winners in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s 101 Cup Series races that started in the top 10. That is tops among the series’ active intermediate tracks (1.5- to 2-mile ovals). Atlanta has the most winners, 80, followed by Charlotte’s 77. (Statistics do not include two 101-mile qualifying races for the 1961 World 600 at Charlotte that counted as points races.)

      The Cup Series races on seven 1.5-mile ovals (Atlanta, Charlotte, Texas, Homestead, Kansas, Chicago and Las Vegas) and two 2-mile ovals (Michigan and Fontana).

• Gil Martin, crew chief for the No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Sunday’s Shelby American GT 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

      After a crash during Friday’s practice and a poor qualifying run, the No. 29 team started the race in the 34th position. Harvick rebounded quickly, slicing his way into the top 20 after just 18 laps. On Lap 88, Martin called his driver to pit road for service, and while several cars opted for just two tires, Martin called for four tires and fuel, a call that would improve the car handling, therefore allowing Harvick to make his way back up through the field.

      A caution for debris brought the field to yellow one final time on Lap 228. The Martin-led team came into the pits running fourth, and a quick and accurate stop for two tires shot Harvick back out in the third position. Working his way up to the front, Harvick passed Jeff Gordon for second, but couldn’t catch leader Jimmie Johnson, eventually finishing runner-up to the No. 48 car for the second week in a row.

• Crown Royal will run a season-long “Race Matt” promotion, where fans (where legally eligible) will be able to enter to race 2003 Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, prior to the series’ season-ending banquet.

      Three fans will be selected at various intervals throughout the season to compete in the finale in Las Vegas for the chance to win $17,000. Each of the three winners also will receive a trip for two to Charlotte, N.C., where they will complete a mentorship program and tour the Roush Fenway Racing headquarters in an effort to prepare for their big day against Kenseth.

      Adult fans (21 and over) can enter the promotion at www.CrownRoyal.com throughout the season, and by entering also will automatically receive entry to a local market sweepstakes for a VIP at-track experience to a nearby track. The local program will be fulfilled at various tracks throughout the season, beginning April 10.