THE BIGGER ONE (11 cars, Many Chase Drivers)
With just 14 laps to go a massive wreck happened when Carl Edwards tried to bump draft his teammate Greg Biffle and it didn’t work out so well. 11 cars were involved including 6 Chase drivers like Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch
Granted Dale Earnhardt Jr. has already had some issues this weekend at NASCAR’s largest track. On Friday he blew an engine in his primary car, after replacing that, his right rear tire exploded in practice, destroying the entire rear of his race car. Dale will have to race in his backup car, and start in the rear of the field, which at Talladega is not so bad.
The Earnhardt Factor: It Can’t be Overlooked
Talladega is the track where Dale Earnhardt Jr. has enjoyed his most success in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, with five victories. It’s obviously a good time for this week’s trip to the big track, as Earnhardt comes in eighth in the series points, 190 behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
Are the stars aligned for an Earnhardt victory? His team’s sponsor is also the race sponsor. And rest assured the usual pro-Earnhardt crowd will be in full vocal force at Talladega for the Amp Energy 500, knowing that Earnhardt’s championship chances need a serious boost.
Wild Card Weekend, Allmendinger out, Gordon’s new paint for 2009, Point Standings, a full Talladega preview, plus we chat with Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hosted by Kerry Murphey
Q: Dale, very big weekend coming up. A lot going on and off the racetrack. Tell us about that to open up.
DALE EARNHARDT JR.: This has been a good track for us. Always run good there. Got a lot of fans there. We’re going to have a special paint scheme with all the fans that signed into the promotional deal with Amp. All their names will be on the car, about 70,000 names. We’re pretty excited about that.
I don’t know, it’s just a good track. Look forward to it. It’s always a lot of fun. It’s a real easy weekend. It’s more of a mental race than a physical race. It’s not really who has the best car; it’s the guy who makes the best moves and makes the right decisions there at the end of the race.
Q. This is a track where it seems like anybody can win. During the Chase, you don’t see many non-Chase guys win. Can you imagine what it’s like for a non-Chase guy to win a race this time of year?
DALE EARNHARDT JR.: Yeah, I mean, it’s just like any other race, I guess, during the season, a win’s a win. They’re fun to celebrate. That’s really what you show up for, is to be able to go to Victory Lane, get that feeling, celebrate with your team.
I think if you haven’t made the Chase, that’s sure vindication I guess for the season and beyond. Gives you a lot of momentum going into the off-season, too, if you can get a win.
Bidding Starts Today in 10-Day Charity Auction for a Ride with Dale Jr.
Wrangler® and NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Team up to Raise Money for Children’s Camp
Greensboro, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2008) – Three laps, four and a half miles, three and a half minutes, 170 mph…. No matter how you look at it, a breakneck ride shotgun next to Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a thrill of a lifetime! And, thanks to an online charity auction from the Wrangler® brand, one lucky fan will get the chance to climb in the passenger side of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet for a thrilling ride around Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte.
Bidding opens today at 7:00 p.m. EDT on eBay and will continue through Friday, Oct. 3. Following the final bid, Wrangler® will donate 100 percent of auction proceeds to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a NASCAR-themed medically sound camp that enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.
The denim giant is also hosting two additional auctions of autographed memorabilia to further help raise funds for Victory Junction. Up for grabs are a pair of signed Wrangler® jeans worn by Dale in a photo shoot for the brand’s current ad campaign, and a door panel from the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet Dale drove during this year’s Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Dale was unfortunately involved in a crash during the February race, resulting in the blue paint streaks still marring the front of the panel.
NSCS Recap: Jimmie Johnson edges Tony Stewart to win Chevy Rock and Roll 400
RICHMOND, Va. — Gather round the water coolers, folks. Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kyle Busch are at it again, just like they were when they left Richmond International Raceway the last time.
Only this time, the shoe was on the other foot, a hot shoe at that.
More on that in a minute.
Jimmie Johnson outdueled Tony Stewart in a race to the wire Sunday to win the Chevy Rock & Roll 400.
Running side by side and bumper to bumper the last 10 laps of the 400-lap race, Johnson beat Stewart across the finish line, serving notice he intends to really go after a third NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in a row. Johnson and Stewart finished ahead of Virginian Denny Hamlin and Earnhardt, who led several times during the race and tangled with Busch, who spun and hit the wall just like Earnhardt did in the spring when the two got together.
Top 12 Chase Drivers 2008 - CIA Stock Photo
It was an instant replay of the spring incident except Busch wound up on the receiving end this time around.
The Sunday crowd of more than 100,000 fans cheered loudly when the two cars rubbed together after racing each other side by side.
Actually, the accident was neither driver’s fault, just good hard racing fans have come to expect at this track.
And they’ll likely be talking about this one for weeks to come. It was the final race before the Sprint Chase and the lineup of the top 12 remained the same, even though young David Ragan made a valiant effort to unseat Clint Bowyer from the 12th and final spot.
At one point in the race, Ragan, who started 17 points behind Bowyer, had moved ahead of the Jack Daniels driver but a skirmish with teammate Matt Kenseth ended his chances.
DAYTONA
Distance: 2.5 Mile Oval
Banking/Turns 1-4:31º
Banking in Tri-oval:18º
Banking/Backstretch: 3º
Length/Frontstretch: 3,800 ft.
Length/Backstretch:3,400 ft.
Miles/Laps: 500 mi = 200 laps