NASCAR Notebook: Talladega
Barry F. Hess
April 28, 2006
The Big One
Sunday the NASCAR circuit makes its second restrictor plate stop when the boys head down to Talladega Super Speedway.
If you thought Daytona was wild wait until the 43-car field comes trucking down the two-and-a-half mile super speedway at speeds and G-Forces unimaginable to most.
There will be several rookies making their first Nextel Cup start at Talladega and combine that with the already volatile situation we have all come to know and love that is restrictor plate racing and there will be more than a few drivers regretting they ever went down to the peach state this weekend.
About the only regret Jimmie Johnson will have heading into Sunday?s race is the fact that he can?t take the Daytona 500 winning car with him.
Of course the car that wins the Great American Race is put on display immediately following the race for one full year at the Daytona Beach Museum but somehow I have to believe Johnson and crew have built as close of a mirror image to that Daytona car as they could.
Despite not heading into race weekend with the lead in points Johnson has maintained a solid position and is poised to make yet another run at a Nextel Cup Title, look for Johnson to qualify extremely well, legally this time around, and to be out in front for much of Sunday?s race.
After a disappointing and uncharacteristic 26th place finish at Daytona for Jeff Gordon, expect the No. 24 team to have a whole new set up at Talladega.
While Gordon has run much better than his disappointing season last year he has yet to break out and run in the dominating fashion we?ve grown accustomed to in recent years.
Expect Gordon to qualify well and remain up front this time around and if all goes well compete for the win at the end of the day.
Though he has cooled off considerable in recent weeks Casey Mears began the 2006 season with a very impressive second place finish at Daytona and you have to believe he will be just as good this weekend.
Mears, currently 10th in the point standings, is an adjustment or two away from leading a lot of laps this weekend and it couldn?t come at a better time.
After failing to finish in the top ten five weeks in a row a solid run at Talladega may be just what the doctor ordered for the entire No. 42 Texaco team.
There have been few races in 2006 where the name Kasey Kahne wasn?t mentioned as the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge came speeding up towards the front of the pack.
Kahne has, by far, driven the best eight races of his Nextel Cup career and he will look to go for win number three this year on Sunday.
Kahne led several laps at Daytona and will most likely bring that same car to Talladega.
The most important thing fro Kahne thi9s weekend is a strong qualifying performance.
A starting position near the middle of the back or worse may prove to e to much to overcome for the young driver but a starting position inside the top 15 and you may see the No. 9 car speed off to victory lane before the end of the day.
Back when Tony Stewart was considering a career change to law enforcement you may remember an incident involving he and Matt Kenseth that ended badly for the driver of the No. 17 Dewalt Ford in Daytona.
Kenseth more than likely had the best car in Daytona but after the wreck caused by Stewart managed finished 15th.
Though the car will likely be different the set-up will be the same and just as Kenseth has proven to be the benchmark of the Roush Racing team week after week this year, he will contend for the win again this weekend.
Just as qualifying will be vital to Mears? success the same is true for Kenseth, notorious for poor qualifying outings.
The last thing Kenseth needs is to start in the middle of the pack and hope not to be involved in ?The Big One? whenever it may come.
If he can keep his nose clean and race in open air Kenseth has to be considered a favorite to win the race.
Prediction: This Sunday at Talladega the stage is set for an incredible race and an even more incredible story.
Though he?s run well for much of the year Dale Earnhardt Jr. has yet to win a race, that will all change Sunday afternoon.
Driving a special car, painted to look like his late father?s old No. 3 Chevy, Earnhardt will be driving like a man possessed, just as Dale Sr. did when he won five races at Talladega.
A past Talladega winner Earnhardt has shown the disappointing season last year was an abnormality and his real capabilities are to compete for a Nextel Cup title.
Currently sixth in the point standings Earnhardt finished eight at Daytona and will likely bring the same car with him to Talladega.
Famed for it?s restrictor plate set-ups in recent years Earnhardt has the capability to run away with the race on Sunday and cut into the 173-point deficit he?s in on the point lead.
Just as so many drivers worried when they saw the black No. 3 in their rear view mirror at Talladega so to will they worry when the black No. 8 comes speeding by this weekend.
Sunday the NASCAR circuit makes its second restrictor plate stop when the boys head down to Talladega Super Speedway.
If you thought Daytona was wild wait until the 43-car field comes trucking down the two-and-a-half mile super speedway at speeds and G-Forces unimaginable to most.
There will be several rookies making their first Nextel Cup start at Talladega and combine that with the already volatile situation we have all come to know and love that is restrictor plate racing and there will be more than a few drivers regretting they ever went down to the peach state this weekend.
About the only regret Jimmie Johnson will have heading into Sunday?s race is the fact that he can?t take the Daytona 500 winning car with him.
Of course the car that wins the Great American Race is put on display immediately following the race for one full year at the Daytona Beach Museum but somehow I have to believe Johnson and crew have built as close of a mirror image to that Daytona car as they could.
Despite not heading into race weekend with the lead in points Johnson has maintained a solid position and is poised to make yet another run at a Nextel Cup Title, look for Johnson to qualify extremely well, legally this time around, and to be out in front for much of Sunday?s race.
After a disappointing and uncharacteristic 26th place finish at Daytona for Jeff Gordon, expect the No. 24 team to have a whole new set up at Talladega.
While Gordon has run much better than his disappointing season last year he has yet to break out and run in the dominating fashion we?ve grown accustomed to in recent years.
Expect Gordon to qualify well and remain up front this time around and if all goes well compete for the win at the end of the day.
Though he has cooled off considerable in recent weeks Casey Mears began the 2006 season with a very impressive second place finish at Daytona and you have to believe he will be just as good this weekend.
Mears, currently 10th in the point standings, is an adjustment or two away from leading a lot of laps this weekend and it couldn?t come at a better time.
After failing to finish in the top ten five weeks in a row a solid run at Talladega may be just what the doctor ordered for the entire No. 42 Texaco team.
There have been few races in 2006 where the name Kasey Kahne wasn?t mentioned as the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge came speeding up towards the front of the pack.
Kahne has, by far, driven the best eight races of his Nextel Cup career and he will look to go for win number three this year on Sunday.
Kahne led several laps at Daytona and will most likely bring that same car to Talladega.
The most important thing fro Kahne thi9s weekend is a strong qualifying performance.
A starting position near the middle of the back or worse may prove to e to much to overcome for the young driver but a starting position inside the top 15 and you may see the No. 9 car speed off to victory lane before the end of the day.
Back when Tony Stewart was considering a career change to law enforcement you may remember an incident involving he and Matt Kenseth that ended badly for the driver of the No. 17 Dewalt Ford in Daytona.
Kenseth more than likely had the best car in Daytona but after the wreck caused by Stewart managed finished 15th.
Though the car will likely be different the set-up will be the same and just as Kenseth has proven to be the benchmark of the Roush Racing team week after week this year, he will contend for the win again this weekend.
Just as qualifying will be vital to Mears? success the same is true for Kenseth, notorious for poor qualifying outings.
The last thing Kenseth needs is to start in the middle of the pack and hope not to be involved in ?The Big One? whenever it may come.
If he can keep his nose clean and race in open air Kenseth has to be considered a favorite to win the race.
Prediction: This Sunday at Talladega the stage is set for an incredible race and an even more incredible story.
Though he?s run well for much of the year Dale Earnhardt Jr. has yet to win a race, that will all change Sunday afternoon.
Driving a special car, painted to look like his late father?s old No. 3 Chevy, Earnhardt will be driving like a man possessed, just as Dale Sr. did when he won five races at Talladega.
A past Talladega winner Earnhardt has shown the disappointing season last year was an abnormality and his real capabilities are to compete for a Nextel Cup title.
Currently sixth in the point standings Earnhardt finished eight at Daytona and will likely bring the same car with him to Talladega.
Famed for it?s restrictor plate set-ups in recent years Earnhardt has the capability to run away with the race on Sunday and cut into the 173-point deficit he?s in on the point lead.
Just as so many drivers worried when they saw the black No. 3 in their rear view mirror at Talladega so to will they worry when the black No. 8 comes speeding by this weekend.
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