View source for 2009 Kobalt Tools 500

{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report
| Type           = CUST
| Description    = Race 4 of 36 in the [[2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series]] season
| Race Name      = Kobalt Tools 500
| Details ref    = <ref name=calendar>{{cite web|title=2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/schedule/_/year/2009|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=December 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201160600/http://espn.go.com/racing/schedule/_/year/2009|archive-date=December 1, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Jayski500>{{cite web|title=The Race: Kobalt Tools 500|url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2009/4ams2009.htm|publisher=[[Jayski's Silly Season Site]]|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326021553/http://www.jayski.com/next/2009/4ams2009.htm|archive-date=March 26, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=RR500>{{cite web|title=2009 Kobalt Tools 500|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race/2009_Kobalt_Tools_500/W|publisher=Racing-Reference|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181203120406/https://www.racing-reference.info/race/2009_Kobalt_Tools_500/W|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| Fulldate       = {{Start date|2009|03|8}}
| Year           = 2009
| Race_No        = 4
| Season_No      = 36
| Image          =2009_Kobalt_Tools_500_program_cover.png
| Caption        =2009 Kobalt Tools 500 program cover
| Official name  = Kobalt Tools 500
| Course          = Permanent racing facility
| Location       = [[Atlanta Motor Speedway]], [[Hampton, Georgia]]
| Course_mi      = 1.54
| Course_km      = 2.48
| Distance_laps  = 330
| Distance_mi    = 508.2
| Distance_km    = 817.868
| Scheduled_laps = 325
| Scheduled_mi   = 500.5
| Scheduled_km   = 805.476
| Weather        = Temperatures up to {{convert|73.9|F|C}}; wind speeds up to {{convert|15|mph|km/h}}<ref name=Temps>{{cite web | url=http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/GA/Hampton/2009-03-08 | title=Weather information for Hampton, Georgia | publisher=[[Old Farmer's Almanac]] | access-date=June 14, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002257/http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/GA/Hampton/2009-03-08 | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| Avg            = {{convert|127.573|mi/h}}
| Pole_Driver    = [[Mark Martin]]
| Pole_Team      =  [[Hendrick Motorsports]]
| Pole_Time      =  29.640
| Most_Driver    = [[Kurt Busch]]
| Most_Team      = [[Penske Racing]]
| Most_laps      = 234
| Car            = 2
| First_Driver   = [[Kurt Busch]]
| First_Team     = [[Penske Racing]]
| Network        = [[Fox Broadcasting Company]]
| Announcers     = [[Mike Joy]], [[Darrell Waltrip]], [[Larry McReynolds]]
| Ratings           = {{Plainlist|
* 5.5/12 (Final)
* 4.7/10 (Overnight)<ref name=ratings>{{cite web|title=2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup TV Ratings|url=http://www.jayski.com/pages/tvratings2009.htm|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=January 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909024117/http://www.jayski.com/pages/tvratings2009.htm|archive-date=September 9, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 8,877,000 million<ref name=TV2009Fox>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Michael|title=NASCAR ratings take hit|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2009/05/11/This-Weeks-News/NASCAR-Ratings-Take-Hit.aspx|work=[[Advance Publications|SportsBusiness Daily]]|date=May 11, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203123117/https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2009/05/11/This-Weeks-News/NASCAR-Ratings-Take-Hit.aspx|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|Attendance=94,400}}

The '''2009 Kobalt Tools 500''' was the fourth [[Stock car racing|stock car race]] of the [[2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series]]. It was held on March 8, 2009, in [[Hampton, Georgia]], at [[Atlanta Motor Speedway]], before a crowd of 94,400 attendees. The circuit is an [[Oval track racing#Intermediate|intermediate]] track that holds [[NASCAR]] races. The 325-lap race was won by [[Team Penske|Penske Racing Championship]]'s [[Kurt Busch]] from a second position start. [[Jeff Gordon]] of [[Hendrick Motorsports]] took second, with [[Roush Fenway Racing]] driver [[Carl Edwards]] in third.

[[Mark Martin]] won his first pole position since the [[2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2001 season]] by posting the fastest lap in qualifying, and he held the lead for the first six laps, until Busch overtook him on the seventh lap. He lost it after the first [[pit stop]] cycle to [[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]] but he passed him on the 18th lap to retake the position. After that, Busch ceded the lead to [[Jimmie Johnson]] after a refuelling problem during a pit stop, but he returned to the lead on lap 103. At the [[Green–white–checker finish|green–white–checker]] restart on lap 330, Edwards was in the first position, but he was passed by Kurt Busch on the outside lane soon after, and the latter held off Gordon for the remainder of the race to win. There were eleven [[Racing flags#Yellow flag|cautions]] and thirteen lead changes amongst eight different drivers during the course of the event.

The victory was Busch's first of the season, his second at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and the 19th of his career, since he debuted in the [[2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2000 season]]. The result advanced him from seventh to third in the [[List of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champions|Drivers' Championship]]; 46 points behind Gordon (whose second-place finish enabled him to increase his points advantage over [[Clint Bowyer]]). In the [[List of NASCAR Manufacturers' champions|Manufacturers' Championship]], [[Chevrolet]] lowered [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]'s lead to two points, while [[Toyota]] and [[Dodge]] were tied for third with 33 races left in the season. The race had a television audience of 8,877,000 million.

== Background ==
{{further|2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series#Teams and drivers}}
[[File:Atlanta Motor Speedway aerial 2006.jpg|thumb|left|An aerial view of [[Atlanta Motor Speedway]]]]

The Kobalt Tools 500 was the fourth out of thirty-six scheduled [[Stock car racing|stock car races]] of the [[2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series]]. It was held on March 8, 2009, in [[Hampton, Georgia]], at [[Atlanta Motor Speedway]];<ref name="calendar" /><ref name="RR500" /> an [[Oval track racing#Intermediate|intermediate]] track that holds [[NASCAR]] races.<ref name="tacksnascar">{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/|title=NASCAR Race Tracks|publisher=NASCAR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012082703/http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/|archive-date=October 12, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=January 7, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The standard track at Atlanta Motor Speedway is a {{convert|1.54|mi|km|abbr=on}} four-turn [[Oval track racing#Quad-oval|quad-oval]].<ref name="atlantatrack">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/track-profile-atlanta-motor-speedway-032009|title=Track profile: Atlanta Motor Speedway|work=[[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203125100/https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/track-profile-atlanta-motor-speedway-032009|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref> The track's turns are [[Banked turn|banked]] at twenty-four [[Degree (angle)|degrees]], while the [[Straight (racing)|front stretch]], the location of the finish line, and the back stretch are banked at five degrees.<ref name="atlantatrack" />

Before the race, [[Hendrick Motorsports]]' [[Jeff Gordon]] led the [[List of NASCAR Cup Series champions|Drivers' Championship]] with 459 [[List of NASCAR points scoring systems#1975–2010|points]], ahead of [[Clint Bowyer]] in second, and [[Matt Kenseth]] third. [[Greg Biffle]] and [[David Reutimann]] were fourth and fifth, and [[Kyle Busch]], [[Kurt Busch]], [[Tony Stewart]], [[Carl Edwards]], [[Bobby Labonte]], [[Kevin Harvick]], and [[Michael Waltrip]] rounded out the top twelve.<ref name="PointsLV2009">{{cite web|title=2009 Official Driver Standings: Shelby 427|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/races/cup/2009/3/data/standings_official.html|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527191900/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/3/data/standings_official.html|archive-date=May 27, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In the [[List of NASCAR Manufacturers' champions|Manufacturers' Championship]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] led with 22 points; [[Chevrolet]] were in second place with 18 points. [[Toyota]] placed third with 16 points, and [[Dodge]] were fourth with ten points.<ref name="manufacturers">{{cite web|title=Manufacturers' Championship Classification|url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2009/manu2009.htm|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=January 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707174849/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2009/manu2009.htm|archive-date=July 7, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kyle Busch was the race's defending champion from the [[2008 Kobalt Tools 500|2008 event]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/03/02/452266.html|title=Atlanta Motor Speedway Kobalt Tools 500 News and Notes – March 2, 2009|date=March 2, 2009|publisher=[[The Auto Channel]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203151823/https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/03/02/452266.html|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref>

Starting from the Atlanta round, NASCAR established a regulation that determines how long the restart zone is on each track. This added to a new rule devised by NASCAR at the start of the season, when they created a zone from which the race leader was required to commence the race for better consistency. NASCAR's vice-president of competition [[Robin Pemberton]] explained series officials would double the figure of the [[Pit stop|pit road]] speed limit, and then establish it as the distance in feet of the restart area, "It will be twice the pit-road speed. It's a means to get variable lengths in there for the race track itself. It's something the garage area asked us to do. Is it perfect; maybe, maybe not. But, it's a start."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.racingone.com:80/article.aspx?artnum=47790|title=Formula for Restart Zone Created|date=March 6, 2009|publisher=[[Motor Racing Network]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312075657/http://www.racingone.com/article.aspx?artnum=47790|archive-date=March 12, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=December 3, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Practice and qualifying ==

Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race; one on Friday and two on Saturday. The first session lasted 90 minutes, and the second, scheduled for 45 minutes, was shortened to 20 minutes because of fog delaying qualifying for the [[2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series|Camping World Truck Series]] round. The final session ran for an hour.<ref name="Jayski500" /> In the first practice session, [[Mark Martin]] was fastest with a 30.180 seconds lap, ahead of Harvick in second, and [[Brian Vickers]] in third. [[David Stremme]] was fourth-fastest, [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] placed fifth, and [[Kasey Kahne]] sixth. Kurt Busch, Edwards, [[Marcos Ambrose]], and [[A. J. Allmendinger]] rounded out the session's top ten competitors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/races/practice/1/2009/atlanta-motor-speedway/kobalt-tools-500/148|title=NASCAR Practice #1 Speeds for the 2009 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway|date=March 6, 2009|publisher=Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029182807/http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/races/practice/1/2009/atlanta-motor-speedway/kobalt-tools-500/148|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Mark Martin.jpg|thumb|[[Mark Martin]] ''(pictured in 2007)'' had the 42nd [[pole position]] of his career.]]
Forty-seven drivers attempted to qualify on Friday evening,<ref name="Jayski500" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/kobalt-tools-500-entry-list-030609|title=Kobalt Tools 500 entry list|date=March 6, 2009|work=Fox Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203153019/https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/kobalt-tools-500-entry-list-030609|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref> according to NASCAR's [[Go or Go Home|qualifying procedure]] forty-three were allowed to race. Each driver ran two laps, with the starting order determined by the competitor's fastest times.<ref name="Jayski500" /> Martin took his first pole position since the [[2001 Pontiac Excitement 400]], and the 42nd of his career,<ref name=APQuali>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Mar06/0,4670,CARNASCARAtlantaQualifying,00.html|title=Mark Martin takes first pole since 2001|last=Newberry|first=Paul|date=March 6, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119011433/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Mar06/0,4670,CARNASCARAtlantaQualifying,00.html|archive-date=November 19, 2010|publisher=[[Fox News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> with a time of 29.640 seconds.<ref name=AutosportQuali>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com:80/news/report.php/id/73598|title=Martin claims Atlanta Cup pole|last=Meija|first=Diego|date=March 7, 2009|website=Autosport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310021158/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73598|archive-date=March 10, 2009|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He was joined on the [[Glossary of motorsport terms#G|grid]]'s front row by Kurt Busch whose best lap was 0.108 seconds behind because of his slower corner entry speed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/nascar/news/143729/1/martin-streaks-to-atlanta-pole|title=Martin secures Atlanta pole|last=Salisbury|first=Matt|date=March 7, 2009|publisher=Crash|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203160918/https://www.crash.net/nascar/news/143729/1/martin-streaks-to-atlanta-pole|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2009}}</ref> [[Jamie McMurray]] was the highest-placed Ford driver in third. Montoya qualified fourth after a minor loss of car control leaving turn four, Biffle took fifth, and [[Denny Hamlin]] sixth. [[Jimmie Johnson]], [[Joe Nemechek]] (the fastest driver to qualify on merit outside the top 35), Kyle Busch, and Harvick completed the top ten starters.<ref name=AutosportQuali/> The four drivers who did not qualify were [[Todd Bodine]], [[Scott Riggs]], [[Jeremy Mayfield]], and [[Geoff Bodine]].<ref name=APQuali/> [[Tony Raines]] withdrew prior to qualifying.<ref name="Jayski500" /> Martin said afterward, "I feel like a rookie, I really, really do. I'm still shaking. I thought I ran out of talent in turn four. There was no possible way to hold my foot on the floor and not hit the wall, back end first, in turn four. But that was really fun. I live to scare myself like that."<ref name=APQuali/>

On Saturday morning Biffle was the fastest driver in the second practice session with a time of 30.030 seconds. Edwards was second, and Stremme in third. Hamlin was fourth-fastest, Kenseth came fifth, and Jeff Gordon sixth. Kyle Busch, Montoya, [[David Ragan]], and Johnson followed in positions seven through ten.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/races/cup/2009/4/data/practice2_speeds.html|title=Practice Two Speeds|date=March 8, 2009|publisher=NASCAR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309232821/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/4/data/practice2_speeds.html|archive-date=March 9, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=December 3, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Later that day, Edwards paced the final practice session with a lap of 30.880 seconds, with Kahne three-hundredths of a second behind in second. Hamlin was third-fastest; Kurt Busch came fourth, McMurray placed fifth, and Biffle was sixth. Stremme was seventh-fastest, Jeff Gordon eighth, Martin ninth, and [[Aric Almirola]] completed the top ten ahead of the race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/races/cup/2009/4/data/practice3_speeds.html|title=Practice Three Speeds|date=March 8, 2009|publisher=NASCAR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309232827/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/4/data/practice3_speeds.html|archive-date=March 9, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=December 3, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> During practice, [[Martin Truex Jr.]] was in pain due to a small [[Calculus (medicine)|kidney stone]].<ref name="OSTruexKidneyStone">{{cite news|last=Ganguli|first=Tania|title=NASCAR notes: Martin Truex Jr. treated for kidney stones|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-03-08/sports/nascarnotes08_1_johnson-truex-earnhardt-ganassi-racing|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=March 8, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001010118/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-03-08/sports/nascarnotes08_1_johnson-truex-earnhardt-ganassi-racing|archive-date=October 1, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was transported directly to the infield medical centre to undergo an examination, and later to Spalding Regional Medical Center in [[Griffin, Georgia]] for observation and further treatment.<ref name="AutoweekTruex">{{cite web|last=Pearce|first=Al|title=NASCAR: Truex slowed by kidney stones|url=https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/nascar-truex-slowed-kidney-stones|work=[[Autoweek]]|date=March 6, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203093304/https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/nascar-truex-slowed-kidney-stones|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of NASCAR's drug regulations, he elected to forgo medications while passing the stone so that he could compete in the race.<ref name="SDTruexKS">{{cite web|title=Earnhardt Ganassi Racing' Martin Truex Jr. respects NASCAR's drug policy|url=http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Earnhardt_Ganassi_Racing_Martin_Truex_Jr_respects_NASCARs_drug_policy.html|work=[[NASCAR Scene]]|date=May 15, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518024325/http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Earnhardt_Ganassi_Racing_Martin_Truex_Jr_respects_NASCARs_drug_policy.html|archive-date=May 18, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Qualifying results ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Qualifying results
|-
! scope="col" | Grid
! scope="col" | Car
! scope="col" | Driver
! scope="col" | Team
! scope="col" | Manufacturer
! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Time|Time in seconds}}
! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Speed|Speed in MPH}}
|-
! scope="row" |  1
| 5||[[Mark Martin]]||[[Hendrick Motorsports]]||[[Chevrolet]]|| 29.640||187.044
|-
! scope="row" |  2
| 2||[[Kurt Busch]]||[[Team Penske|Penske Championship Racing]]||[[Dodge]]|| 29.748||186.365
|-
! scope="row" |  3
| 26||[[Jamie McMurray]]||[[Roush Fenway Racing]]
|[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]|| 29.757||186.309
|-
! scope="row" |  4
| 42||[[Juan Pablo Montoya]]||[[Chip Ganassi Racing|Earnhardt Ganassi Racing]]|| Chevrolet|| 29.773||186.209
|-
! scope="row" |  5
| 16||[[Greg Biffle]]|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 29.777||186.184
|-
! scope="row" |  6
|11
|[[Denny Hamlin]]||[[Joe Gibbs Racing]]||[[Toyota]]|| 29.780||186.165
|-
! scope="row" |  7
| 48||[[Jimmie Johnson]]|| Hendrick Motorsports|| Chevrolet||29.798
|186.053
|-
! scope="row" |  8
| 87||[[Joe Nemechek]]||[[NEMCO Motorsports]]|| Toyota|| 29.819||185.922
|-
! scope="row" |  9
| 18||[[Kyle Busch]]|| Joe Gibbs Racing|| Toyota||29.824
|185.891
|-
! scope="row" |  10
| 29||[[Kevin Harvick]]||[[Richard Childress Racing]]|| Chevrolet|| 29.833||185.835
|-
! scope="row" | 11
| 14||[[Tony Stewart]]
|[[Stewart-Haas Racing]]|| Chevrolet|| 29.848||185.741
|-
! scope="row" | 12
| 39||[[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]]|| Stewart-Haas Racing|| Chevrolet|| 29.874||185.579
|-
! scope="row" | 13
| 9||[[Kasey Kahne]]||[[Richard Petty Motorsports]]|| Dodge|| 29.898||185.430
|-
! scope="row" | 14
| 19||[[Elliott Sadler]]
| Richard Petty Motorsports|| Dodge|| 29.913||185.337
|-
! scope="row" | 15
| 31||[[Jeff Burton]]
| Richard Childress Racing|| Chevrolet|| 29.922||185.282
|-
! scope="row" | 16
| 24||[[Jeff Gordon]]|| Hendrick Motorsports|| Chevrolet|| 29.924||185.269
|-
! scope="row" | 17
| 83||[[Brian Vickers]]||[[Red Bull Racing Team]]|| Toyota|| 29.976||184.948
|-
! scope="row" | 18
| 00||[[David Reutimann]]||[[Michael Waltrip Racing]]|| Toyota|| 29.989||184.868
|-
! scope="row" | 19
| 7||[[Robby Gordon]]
|[[Robby Gordon Motorsports]]|| Toyota|| 30.023||184.658
|-
! scope="row" | 20
| 88||[[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]]|| Hendrick Motorsports|| Chevrolet|| 30.049||184.499
|-
! scope="row" | 21
| 33||[[Clint Bowyer]]|| Richard Childress Racing|| Chevrolet|| 30.049||184.499
|-
! scope="row" | 22
| 28||[[Travis Kvapil]]||[[Yates Racing]]||Ford
| 30.088||184.260
|-
! scope="row" | 23
| 1||[[Martin Truex Jr.]]|| Earnhardt Ganassi Racing|| Chevrolet|| 30.113||184.107
|-
! scope="row" | 24
| 55||[[Michael Waltrip]]|| Michael Waltrip Racing|| Toyota|| 30.129||184.009
|-
! scope="row" | 25
| 7||[[Casey Mears]]|| Richard Childress Racing|| Chevrolet|| 30.130||184.003
|-
! scope="row" | 26
|82
|[[Scott Speed]]|| Red Bull Racing Team|| Toyota||30.134
|183.978
|-
! scope="row" | 27
| 66||[[Dave Blaney]]||[[Phil Parsons Racing|Prism Motorsports]]|| Toyota|| 30.139||183.948
|-
! scope="row" | 28
| 12||[[David Stremme]]|| Penske Championship Racing|| Dodge|| 30.143||183.923
|-
! scope="row" | 29
| 99||[[Carl Edwards]]|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 30.150||183.881
|-
! scope="row" | 30
| 17||[[Matt Kenseth]]|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 30.164||183.795
|-
! scope="row" | 31
| 71||[[David Gilliland]]||[[The Racer's Group|TRG Motorsports]]|| Chevrolet|| 30.169||183.765
|-
! scope="row" | 32
| 43||[[Reed Sorenson]]||Richard Petty Motorsports
| Dodge|| 30.171||183.753
|-
! scope="row" | 33
| 98||[[Paul Menard]]|| Yates Racing|| Ford|| 30.248||183.285
|-
! scope="row" | 34
| 47||[[Marcos Ambrose]]||[[JTG Daugherty Racing]]|| Toyota||30.250
|183.273
|-
! scope="row" | 35
| 21||[[Bill Elliott]]||[[Wood Brothers Racing]]|| Ford|| 30.251||183.267
|-
! scope="row" | 36
| 77||[[Sam Hornish Jr.]]|| Penske Championship Racing|| Dodge|| 30.254||183.249
|-
! scope="row" | 37
| 8||[[Aric Almirola]]|| Earnhardt Ganassi Racing|| Chevrolet|| 30.306||182.934
|-
! scope="row" | 38
| 44||[[A. J. Allmendinger]]|| Richard Petty Motorsports|| Dodge|| 30.308||182.922
|-
! scope="row" | 39
| 6||[[David Ragan]]|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 30.319||182.856{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 40
| 96||[[Bobby Labonte]]||[[Hall of Fame Racing]]|| Ford|| 30.331||182.753
|-
! scope="row" | 41
| 34||[[John Andretti]]||[[Front Row Motorsports]]|| Chevrolet|| 30.358||182.621
|-
! scope="row" | 42
| 20||[[Joey Logano]]|| Joe Gibbs Racing|| Toyota|| 30.472||181.938
|-
! scope="row" | 43
| 09||[[Mike Bliss]]||[[Phoenix Racing (NASCAR team)|Phoenix Racing]]|| Dodge|| 30.354||182.645
|-
|colspan="8"|{{center|'''Failed to qualify'''}}
|-
! scope="row" | 44
| 35||[[Todd Bodine]]||[[Germain Racing]]|| Toyota|| 30.443||182.111
|-
! scope="row" | 45
| 36||[[Scott Riggs]]||[[Tommy Baldwin Racing]]|| Toyota|| 30.584||181.271
|-
! scope="row" | 46
| 41||[[Jeremy Mayfield]]|| Mayfield Motorsports|| Toyota|| 30.811||179.936
|-
! scope="row" | 47
| 64||[[Geoff Bodine]]||[[Max Q Motorsports|Gunselman Motorsports]]|| Toyota|| 31.018||178.735
|-
|colspan="10"|{{center|{{small|{{smallsup|1}} Moved to the back of the grid for changing engines (#6) }}}}
|-
|colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|''Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Race Lineup: Kobalt Tools 500|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/races/cup/2009/4/data/lineup.html|publisher=NASCAR|date=March 8, 2009|access-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328154827/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/4/data/lineup.html|archive-date=March 28, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>''}}}}
|}

== Race ==
Live television coverage of the event, the 100th in NASCAR Cup Series competition at Atlanta Motor Speedway,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/134654-right-sides-only|title=Right Sides Only: A NASCAR Weekend Preview|last=South|first=Reno|date=March 5, 2009|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203152246/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/134654-right-sides-only|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref> commenced in the United States on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] at 1:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Standard Time]] ([[UTC−04:00]]).<ref name="LapbyLap">{{cite web|title=Lap-by-Lap: Atlanta|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/2009/races/lapbylap/03/07/atlanta/index.html|publisher=NASCAR|date=March 9, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310105356/http://www.nascar.com/2009/races/lapbylap/03/07/atlanta/index.html|archive-date=March 10, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Around the start of the race, weather conditions were clear and warm with the air temperature at {{Convert|73.3|F|C|abbr=on}}.<ref name=LVSunRace/><ref name="Temps" /> Lead pastor Chris Patton of Southside Church in [[Peachtree City, Georgia]] began pre-race ceremonies with an [[invocation]]. Country music artist and songwriter [[Richie McDonald]] performed the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|national anthem]], and the command for drivers to start their engines was given by Kelly Brown, vice president of merchandising for [[Lowe's]]. During the [[Parade lap|pace laps]], Ragan dropped to the rear of the field because of an engine change.<ref name="LapbyLap" /> Poor track [[Grip (auto racing)|grip]] caused drivers to battle for control of their cars during the event.<ref name="AutosportRace" />

The race commenced at 2:18 local time. Martin maintained the first position on the entry to turn one. The first [[Racing flags#Yellow flag|caution]] was waved on the next lap as [[Reed Sorenson]] made contact with the wall lining the track at turn one after a car component failure. He drove to his garage for repairs. Martin held the lead at the lap six [[Rolling start|restart]], followed by Kurt Busch and McMurray. On the following lap, Kurt Busch passed below Martin to take the lead. Bobby Labonte triggered the second caution five laps later, when he spun in turn 4, but avoided damage to his car. During the caution, some drivers including Kurt Busch, made pit stops for tires and car adjustments. Nemechek led for one lap before making his pit stop on the 14th lap. [[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]] then took the lead, and held it at the restart on lap 16. Kurt Busch overtook Martin for second place on the next lap. On the 17th lap, Kurt Busch steered right to the outside lane and passed Newman to reclaim the first position. Hamlin got ahead of Newman for second two laps later. Martin attempted to do the same for third, but he was unsuccessful. After starting 16th, Jeff Gordon advanced to ninth by the 23rd lap. Similarly, Edwards was in seventh by lap 31 after beginning from 29th place. Eight laps later, [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]] lost tenth to Kyle Busch.<ref name="LapbyLap" />

[[File:CarlEdwardsAugust2007.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[Carl Edwards]] ''(pictured in 2007)'' finished in third after losing his chance of the victory at the [[Green–white–checker finish|green–white–checker]] restart.]]

[[Racing flags#Green flag|Green flag]] pit stops for tires, fuel, and car adjustments began on lap 53.<ref name="LapbyLap" /> Fourteen laps later, a tire escaped from Ambrose's pit crew, and rested approximately {{Convert|70|ft|m|abbr=on}} in the infield.<ref name=AmbroseNASCAR>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/2009/news/headlines/cup/03/18/mambrose.crewman.penalty/index.html|title=Ambrose OK with decision to suspend gas man Watts|last=Menzer|first=Joe|date=March 18, 2009|publisher=NASCAR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320234804/http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/03/18/mambrose.crewman.penalty/index.html|archive-date=March 20, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=December 3, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Ambrose's gas man and firefighter Jimmy Watts ran across the grass, and was within {{Convert|25|yards|m|abbr=on}} of the track when he retrieved the tire.<ref name="LVSunRace">{{Cite news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/08/kurt-busch-runs-away-dominating-win/|title=Kurt Busch runs away with dominating win|last=Newberry|first=Paul|date=March 8, 2009|work=[[Las Vegas Sun]]|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181203134809/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/08/kurt-busch-runs-away-dominating-win/|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live|agency=Associated Press|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="SDUTRace">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-1s12motors22032-racing-lost-more-lap-sunday-atlant-2009mar12-htmlstory.html|title=Racing lost more than a lap Sunday in Atlanta|last=Center|first=Bill|date=March 12, 2009|work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205145718/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-1s12motors22032-racing-lost-more-lap-sunday-atlant-2009mar12-htmlstory.html|archive-date=December 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Because Watts ventured into the infield, considered by NASCAR to be part of the track,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/NASCAR-suspends-gas-man-Jimmy-Watts/15231236795067/|title=NASCAR suspends gas man Jimmy Watts|date=March 11, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018|work=[[United Press International]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203152424/https://www.upi.com/NASCAR-suspends-gas-man-Jimmy-Watts/15231236795067/|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and with cars leaving turn four at near to {{Convert|200|mph|km/h|abbr=on}},<ref name="SDUTRace" /> series officials waved the third caution.<ref name="RR500" /> NASCAR officials escorted Watts from pit road,<ref name="LVSunRace" /> and he was suspended for the remainder of the event.<ref name="SDUTRace" /> Kurt Busch made a second pit stop after a refueling problem at a prior stop.<ref name="AutosportRace" /> The caution meant 15 drivers were on the lead lap, and Johnson led at the lap-74 restart. Two laps later, Jeff Gordon's [[clutch]] developed a problem. On lap 78, Edwards overtook Hamlin for second. Edwards got past Johnson on the outside lane for the lead on the 80th lap. Three laps later, Johnson was passed by Hamlin on the inside line while in slower traffic for the third position. On the 103rd lap, Kurt Busch passed Edwards around the outside to claim the first position.<ref name="LapbyLap" /> Labonte spun on the frontstretch on the same lap, necessitating the fourth caution. Under caution, lapped drivers made pit stops for adjustments to their cars.<ref name="RR500" /><ref name="LapbyLap" />

At the lap 112 restart, Kurt Busch kept the lead over Edwards and Bowyer. Edwards drove on the inside lane, while Kurt Busch ran on the outside line. As some drivers began another phase of green flag pit stops on the 155th lap, the fifth caution came out when fluid was found in turn two. Kurt Busch again held the lead at the lap 162 restart, followed by Bowyer. Two laps later, Bowyer fell to fifth when Jeff Gordon, Johnson, and Edwards got past him. He lost a further position to Martin on lap 166. Jeff Gordon caught and overtook Kurt Busch for first on the 172nd lap, but he did not hold it, as Kurt Busch re-passed him before crossing the start-finish line. On lap 183, Ambrose's car billowed smoke, and he stopped on the [[Glossary of motorsport terms#A|apron]] below the track. The sixth caution was issued two laps later as debris was located on the track. The leaders elected to make pit stops for tires and car adjustments during the caution. Truex led lap 190 but Kurt Busch was first at the lap 192 restart. Ragan made contact with his teammate Biffle on the 196th lap, causing him to go sideways into the wall, and prompting Biffle to regain control of his car. Six laps later, Kurt Busch glanced the wall, and Jeff Gordon passed him for the lead, but lost it to Busch before the conclusion of the lap.<ref name="LapbyLap" />

[[File:TSM350 - Kurt Busch 2 - 2015 - Stierch.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kurt Busch]] ''(pictured in 2015)'' took his 19th career victory after leading a race high 234 laps]]

On lap 204, [[Sam Hornish Jr.]] collided with the turn one wall, drifted back down the track, and collected [[Bill Elliott]], prompting the seventh caution.<ref name="RR500" /><ref name="LapbyLap" /> The leaders, including Kurt Busch, chose to make pit stops for car adjustments and tires during the caution. Jeff Gordon took the lead and held it at the lap 209 restart, with Kurt Busch in second and Martin third.<ref name="LapbyLap" /> Five laps later, the eighth caution was given; Martin [[Flat tire|cut his right-rear tire]], and went backward into the turn one barrier.<ref name="RR500" /><ref name="LapbyLap" /> His car sustained heavy rear [[sheet metal]] damage but he continued to pit road.<ref name="LapbyLap" /><ref name=AutosportRace>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com:80/news/report.php/id/73621|title=Kurt Busch dominates at Atlanta|last=Meija|first=Diego|date=March 9, 2009|website=Autosport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312033827/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73621|archive-date=March 12, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=December 4, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The leaders again made pit stops under caution. Jeff Gordon led at the lap 222 restart. Hamlin was passed around the outside by Kurt Busch for third on lap 235. Five laps later, he caught and overtook Johnson for the second position. Kurt Busch narrowed Jeff Gordon's lead, and passed him on the outside lane leaving turn four to retake the lead on the 251st lap. The ninth caution came out nine laps later as debris from [[Robby Gordon]]'s car was located in turn four. During the caution, the leaders went to pit road for fuel, tires and car adjustments. The restart on lap 265 was led by Kurt Busch from Vickers, and Bowyer. On lap 267, [[Scott Speed]] hit the wall leaving turn four, and slid into the front of Ragan's car. Biffle was collected by Speed, and was spun into the outside wall, and [[Jeff Burton]] went through the grass, activating the tenth caution.<ref name="LapbyLap" />

Five drivers elected not to make pit stops under caution. Kurt Busch led the field back to racing speed on the lap 275 restart, with Vickers second. Earnhardt was passed by Stewart, and Burton after running close by Almirola on lap 279, and fell to 14th. Vickers reduced the lead of Kurt Busch, when the final caution was necessitated after Robby Gordon's tire shredded and scattered debris on the circuit. All of the leaders, including Kurt Busch, made pit stops for tires and fuel. Edwards won the race off pit road, and led on the [[Green–white–checker finish|green–white–checker]] restart (extending the race to 330 laps) on lap 329.<ref name="LapbyLap" /> Edwards lost the lead on the outside lane to Kurt Busch on the backstretch,<ref name="LVSunRace" /><ref name=AutosportRace/> and he was then passed by Jeff Gordon.<ref name="LapbyLap" /> Kurt Busch held off Jeff Gordon on the final lap to take his first win of the season,<ref name="LapbyLap" /> his second at Atlanta Motor Speedway,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/us/nascar-cup/news/kurt-busch-dominates-for-atlanta-victory/2875232/|title=Kurt Busch dominates for Atlanta victory|date=March 8, 2009|publisher=[[motorsport.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204173317/https://www.motorsport.com/us/nascar-cup/news/kurt-busch-dominates-for-atlanta-victory/2875232/|archive-date=December 4, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 4, 2018}}</ref> and the 19th of his career.<ref name="LVSunRace" /> Jeff Gordon finished second, ahead of Edwards in third. Harvick was fourth, and Vickers fifth. Bowyer, Kahne, Stewart, Johnson, and Truex completed the top ten finishers.<ref name="RR500" /> There were thirteen lead changes among eight different drivers during the course of the race, Kurt Busch led six times for a total of 234 laps, more than any other driver.<ref name="RR500" />

=== Post-race ===
{{Quote box
| quote = A guy like Kurt could drive for any team out there. His brother is a great driver, but there's not many people out there who can hold a candle to Kurt, and that's why we hired him.
| source = [[Roger Penske]] on Kurt Busch ending a 22-race winless streak for [[Team Penske|Penske Championship Racing]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Nate|title=This time, Kurt makes his mark|url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A195171496/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=a2711bfd|work=[[USA Today]]|page=12C|date=March 9, 2009|access-date=December 4, 2018|via=Biography in Context|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| align = left
| width = 40%
}}
Kurt Busch appeared in victory lane after his [[Victory lap|Polish victory lap]] to celebrate his first victory of the season in front of a crowd of 94,400 attendants;<ref name="RR500" /><ref name="LVSunRace" /> the win earned him $164,175.<ref name="RR500" /> Kurt Busch thanked his team for providing him with a car that won him the race, "This car was unbelievable. I guess good things come to those who wait. I just drove (against) the track, not the competition, We had strong pit stops, a great-handling car, a strong motor and a great assistant [[Spotter (auto racing)|spotter]]."<ref name="LVSunRace" /> Jeff Gordon was encouraged with his second-place finish, "It was a great day for us, though. Just driving to the front, battling up front, leading laps, battling for the lead at times. We lost a little something there in the long runs there, middle of the way on and those guys were a little bit stronger than us. But on the restarts, we were real strong."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/2009/news/headlines/cup/03/09/post.race.jgordon.atlanta/story_single.html|title=Gordon has another solid run despite clutch issues|last=Aumann|first=Mark|date=March 9, 2009|publisher=NASCAR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314000458/http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/03/09/post.race.jgordon.atlanta/story_single.html|archive-date=March 14, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=December 4, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Edwards said of his third-place finish, "Third place, considering our pit debacle down there — we were boxed in, It was just a bad pit stall selection and it didn't work out like we planned, but we made the most of it."<ref name=AutosportRace/>

Two days after the race, it was announced that Watts was suspended for the next four races of the season by NASCAR for transgressing Section 12–1: "actions detrimental to stock car racing", and Article 9-15-U, a regulation which forbids crew members from entering the boundaries of the track while cars were circulating for any reason. Additionally, he was placed on probation until December 31, 2009. Crew chief Frank Kerr was also put on probation until the end of the year because he was deemed responsible for Watts' actions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nascar.speedtv.com:80/article/cup-crew-member-suspended-for-rule-violations-at-atlanta/|title=CUP: Crew Member Suspended For Rule Violations At Atlanta|date=March 10, 2009|publisher=Speed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314215812/http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-crew-member-suspended-for-rule-violations-at-atlanta/|archive-date=March 14, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=December 3, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> NASCAR stated that had Watts not ventured into the infield, they would have waved the caution once all cars had made their pit stops.<ref>{{cite web|last=Newton|first=David|title=NASCAR bans Watts 4 races|url=http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/news/story?id=3968422|publisher=ESPN|date=March 10, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203153341/http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/news/story?id=3968422|archive-date=December 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Watts admitted to reacting inappropriately and apologized for his actions.<ref name="SDUTRace" /> According to Ambrose, the decision to suspend Watts was the correct move to take, "It was a disaster. But I think the penalty was a good one. You can't have guys running out to the race track. It's just not the thing to do. Jimmy is a great guy. He went on instinct. You can't blame the guy for that, either. I mean, he just went on a reaction and it was the wrong reaction. He needs to be an example for others not to do the same."<ref name=AmbroseNASCAR/>

The result of the race meant Jeff Gordon extended his lead in the Drivers' Championship to 43 points ahead of Bowyer in second place. By winning the race, Kurt Busch advanced from seventh to third, while Edwards' third-place finish meant he was in the third position after being in eighth place going into the race. Kenseth fell to fifth in the standings. Stewart, Kyle Busch, Harvick, Kahne, Biffle, Vickers, and Reutimann rounded out the top twelve drivers.<ref name=Kobalt500Points>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/races/cup/2009/4/data/standings_official.html|title=2009 Official Driver Standings: Kobalt Tools 500|publisher=NASCAR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312050648/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/4/data/standings_official.html|archive-date=March 12, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=December 4, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet cut Ford's lead to two points. Dodge tied with Toyota in third place with 33 races left in the season.<ref name="manufacturers" /> The event had a television audience of 8,877,000 million;<ref name=TV2009Fox/> it took 3 hours, 59 minutes and 1 second to complete the race, and the margin of victory was 0.332 seconds.<ref name="RR500" />

=== Race results ===
{| class="sortable wikitable" border="1"
|-
|+ Race results
|-
! scope="col" | Pos
! scope="col" | Grid
! scope="col" | Car
! scope="col" | Driver
! scope="col" | Team
! scope="col" | Manufacturer
! scope="col" | Laps Run
! scope="col" | Points
|-
! scope="row" | 1
| 2|| 2|| Kurt Busch||Penske Championship Racing
| Dodge|| 330||195{{smallsup|1}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2
| 16|| 24|| Jeff Gordon|| Hendrick Motorsports|| Chevrolet|| 330||175{{smallsup|2}}
|-
! scope="row" | 3
| 29|| 99|| Carl Edwards|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 330||170{{smallsup|2}}
|-
! scope="row" | 4
| 10|| 29|| Kevin Harvick|| Richard Childress Racing|| Chevrolet|| 330||160
|-
! scope="row" | 5
| 17|| 83|| Brian Vickers|| Red Bull Racing Team|| Toyota|| 330||155
|-
! scope="row" | 6
| 21|| 33|| Clint Bowyer|| Richard Childress Racing|| Chevrolet|| 330||150
|-
! scope="row" | 7
| 13|| 9|| Kasey Kahne|| Richard Petty Motorsports|| Dodge|| 330||146
|-
! scope="row" | 8
| 11|| 14|| Tony Stewart|| Stewart-Haas Racing|| Chevrolet|| 330||142
|-
! scope="row" | 9
| 7|| 48|| Jimmie Johnson|| Hendrick Motorsports|| Chevrolet|| 330||143{{smallsup|2}}
|-
! scope="row" | 10
| 23|| 1|| Martin Truex Jr|| Earnhardt Ganassi Racing|| Chevrolet|| 330||139{{smallsup|2}}
|-
! scope="row" | 11
| 20|| 88|| Dale Earnhardt Jr.|| Hendrick Motorsports|| Chevrolet|| 330||130
|-
! scope="row" | 12
| 30|| 17|| Matt Kenseth|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 330||127
|-
! scope="row" | 13
| 6|| 11|| Denny Hamlin|| Joe Gibbs Racing|| Toyota|| 329||124
|-
! scope="row" | 14
| 15|| 31|| Jeff Burton|| Richard Childress Racing|| Chevrolet|| 329||121
|-
! scope="row" | 15
| 3|| 26|| Jamie McMurray|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 328||118
|-
! scope="row" | 16
| 25|| 7|| Casey Mears|| Richard Childress Racing|| Chevrolet|| 328||115
|-
! scope="row" | 17
| 38|| 44|| A. J. Allmendinger|| Richard Petty Motorsports|| Dodge|| 328||112
|-
! scope="row" | 18
| 9|| 18|| Kyle Busch|| Joe Gibbs Racing|| Toyota|| 327||109
|-
! scope="row" | 19
| 39|| 6|| David Ragan|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 327||106
|-
! scope="row" | 20
| 14|| 19|| Elliott Sadler|| Richard Petty Motorsports|| Dodge|| 327||103
|-
! scope="row" | 21
| 37|| 8|| Aric Almirola|| Earnhardt Ganassi Racing|| Chevrolet|| 327||100
|-
! scope="row" | 22
| 12|| 39|| Ryan Newman|| Stewart-Haas Racing|| Chevrolet|| 327||102{{smallsup|2}}
|-
! scope="row" | 23
| 28|| 12|| David Stremme|| Penske Championship Racing|| Dodge|| 326||94
|-
! scope="row" | 24
| 31|| 71|| David Gilliland|| TRG Motorsports|| Chevrolet|| 326||91
|-
! scope="row" | 25
| 24|| 55|| Michael Waltrip|| Michael Waltrip Racing|| Toyota|| 326||88
|-
! scope="row" | 26
| 19|| 7|| Robby Gordon|| Robby Gordon Motorsports|| Toyota|| 326||85
|-
! scope="row" | 27
| 4|| 42|| Juan Pablo Montoya|| Earnhardt Ganassi Racing|| Chevrolet|| 325||82
|-
! scope="row" | 28
| 33|| 98|| Paul Menard|| Yates Racing|| Ford|| 325||79
|-
! scope="row" | 29
| 41|| 34|| John Andretti|| Front Row Motorsports|| Chevrolet|| 324||76
|-
! scope="row" | 30
| 42|| 20|| Joey Logano|| Joe Gibbs Racing|| Toyota|| 324||73
|-
! scope="row" | 31
| 1|| 5|| Mark Martin|| Hendrick Motorsports|| Chevrolet|| 316||75{{smallsup|2}}
|-
! scope="row" | 32
| 18|| 00|| David Reutimann|| Michael Waltrip Racing|| Toyota|| 305||67
|-
! scope="row" | 33
| 32|| 43|| Reed Sorenson|| Richard Petty Motorsports|| Dodge|| 264||64
|-
! scope="row" | 34
| 5|| 16|| Greg Biffle|| Roush Fenway Racing|| Ford|| 262||61
|-
! scope="row" | 35
| 26|| 82|| Scott Speed|| Red Bull Racing Team|| Toyota|| 262||58
|-
! scope="row" | 36
| 35|| 21|| Bill Elliott|| Wood Brothers Racing|| Ford|| 201||55
|-
! scope="row" | 37
| 36|| 77|| Sam Hornish Jr.|| Penske Championship Racing|| Dodge|| 199||52
|-
! scope="row" | 38
| 34|| 47|| Marcos Ambrose|| JTG Daugherty Racing|| Toyota|| 179||49
|-
! scope="row" | 39
| 8|| 87|| Joe Nemechek|| NEMCO Motorsports|| Toyota|| 110||51{{smallsup|2}}
|-
! scope="row" | 40
| 40|| 96|| Bobby Labonte|| Hall of Fame Racing|| Ford|| 103||43
|-
! scope="row" | 41
| 27|| 66|| Dave Blaney|| Prism Motorsports|| Toyota|| 82||40
|-
! scope="row" | 42
| 22|| 28|| Travis Kvapil|| Yates Racing|| Ford|| 32||37
|-
! scope="row" | 43
| 43|| 09|| Mike Bliss|| Phoenix Racing|| Dodge|| 21||34
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|''Sources:<ref name=RR500/><ref>{{cite web|title=2009 Official Race Results : Kobalt Tools 500|url=http://www.nascar.com:80/races/cup/2009/4/data/results_official.html|publisher=NASCAR|date=March 8, 2009|access-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312032109/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/4/data/results_official.html|archive-date=March 12, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>''}}}}
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|{{smallsup|1}} Includes ten bonus points for leading the most laps}}}}
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|{{smallsup|2}} includes five bonus points for leading a lap}}}}
|}

== Standings after the race ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Drivers' Championship standings
{| class="wikitable " style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Pos|Position}}
! scope="col" | +/–
! scope="col" | Driver
! scope="col" | Points
|-
| 1
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]]
| Jeff Gordon
| style="text-align:center;"| 634
|-
| 2
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]]
| Clint Bowyer
| style="text-align:center;"| 591 (−43)
|-
| 3
| [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 4
| Kurt Busch
| style="text-align:center;"| 588 (−46)
|-
| 4
| [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 5
| Carl Edwards
| style="text-align:center;"| 547 (−87)
|-
| 5
| [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 2
| Matt Kenseth
| style="text-align:center;"| 546 (−88)
|-
| 6
| [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 2
| Tony Stewart
| style="text-align:center;"| 521 (−113)
|-
| 7
| [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 1
| Kyle Busch
| style="text-align:center;"| 514 (−120)
|-
| 8
| [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 3
| Kevin Harvick
| style="text-align:center;"| 511 (−123)
|-
| 9
| [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 4
| Kasey Kahne
| style="text-align:center;"| 484 (−150)
|-
| 10
| [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 6
| Greg Biffle
| style="text-align:center;"| 480 (−154)
|-
| 11
| [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 6
| Brian Vickers
| style="text-align:center;"| 477 (−157)
|-
| 12
| [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 7
| David Reutimann
| style="text-align:center;"| 475 (−159)
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|''Sources:<ref name=RR500 /><ref name=Kobalt500Points/>''}}}}
|}
{{col-2}}
[[File:National Guard Bureau.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Jeff Gordon]] remained the points leader after coming third in the race.]]
;Manufacturers' Championship standings
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Pos|Position}}
! scope="col" | +/–
! scope="col" | Manufacturer
! scope="col" | Points
|-
| 1
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]]
| Ford
| style="text-align:center;"| 26
|-
| 2
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]]
| Chevrolet
| style="text-align:center;"| 24 (−2)
|-
| 3
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]]
| Toyota
| style="text-align:center;"| 19 (−7)
|-
| 4
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]]
| Dodge
| style="text-align:center;"| 19 (−7)
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="9"|{{center|{{small|''Source:<ref name="manufacturers" />''}}}}
|}
* <small>'''Note''': Only the top twelve positions are included for the driver standings.</small>
{{col-end}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

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  Series        = Sprint Cup Series|
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[[Category:2009 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state)|Kobalt Tools 500]]
[[Category:2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series|Kobalt Tools 500]]
[[Category:NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway]]
[[Category:March 2009 sports events in the United States]]