The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series descends on Talladega Superspeedway for the 30th race of the 2008 season, the AMP Energy Drink 500. This year's edition of the fall race at Dega should be one of the wildest races of the season. Race Preview sheds a light on how the field might finish on Sunday.
When: Sunday, October 5, 2008; 2:17 p.m./et
Weather: Sunny with a high around 81; wind out of the ESE at 8 mph. Chance of precipitation 10%.
The Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a 2.66 tri-oval. It has steep 33 degree banking in the turns and 18 degree banking on the straightaways. As a result of the incredible speeds NASCAR has made this is restrictor plate track. This means all cars entered in the race must use the restrictor plates on their engines to limit air-intake and thus reduce their horsepower.
Key to Race: AVOID THE BIG WRECK
As is the case with all restrictor plate races the field always becomes bunched up in two-wide groups of up to 30 cars. These freight-train like packs cruise around the track just inches away from each other. It just takes just one car to have a flat tire or get loose to cause a massive accident. If a driver can get lucky and stay away from the inevitable crash they have a great chance to finish in the top 20.
Sports
Qualifying Procedures:
46 cars will attempt to qualify for 43 spots. Cars not in the top 35 in the 2008 point standing will have to qualify based on speed. Starting positions 1-43 will be determined by two lap qualifying runs that will be done on Saturday, October 4 at 12:10 am/et.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson won the 2006 April race at Talladega and finished second in both the 2007 races. He is a great pick to win on Sunday.
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.: After not finishing worse than second in seven-straight races Junior has cracked the top 10 just twice in the past seven races at the track. We think he will show why he has been crowned "The King of Talladega" this weekend.
No. 20 Tony Stewart: Smoke doesn't like restrictor plate racing, but he is getting good at it. He has led at least one lap in nine-straight Talladega races. He is a great pick this weekend.
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon has six career wins at Talladega, including both the 2007 races. We think this could be the weekend Gordon gets to victory lane for the first time in 2008.
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has had back-to-back top five finishes at Talladega. He is a great pick this weekend.
6 to 10
No. 17 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth has led just three laps in the past three races at Talladega. He has had success at the track in the past and should be right around the top 10 on Sunday.
No. 83 Brian Vickers: Vickers is a great sleeper pick this weekend. He won at Talladega in 2006 and has four top six finishes in the past five races at the track.
No. 29 Kevin Harvick: Harvick has finished in the top 10 in seven of the last 11 races at Talladega even though in the past five races at the track he has led just two laps. He has been driving great the past several races and should be near the front all day.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch has cracked the top 10 in six his last seven starts at Talladega. He is a decent option on Sunday.
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Rowdy had averaged just a 32nd place finish during his six Talladega starts prior to winning at the track in April. We don't think he will show enough patience to find Victory Lane again this weekend, but he should be near the front all day.
11 to 20
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards has led just nine laps in eight career starts at Talladega. There are far better tracks to use the No. 99 car.
No. 6 David Ragan: Ragan was awesome at Talladega in April. He is a interesting pick again this weekend.
No. 12 Ryan Newman: Newman has cracked the top 10 in the past three Talladega races. He has the ability to run in the front and is a decent pick this weekend.
No. 07 Clint Bowyer: Talladega isn't one of Bowyer's favorite tracks, but he has finished strong in his past two starts there. He should crack the top 15 once again Sunday.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya used a late push to finish second at Talladega in May. He is used to fast speeds from his days in open-wheel racing and is a good sleeper pick this weekend.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton has cracked the top 25 just twice in the past six races at Talladega. He isn't a terrific pick on Sunday, but we expect he will crack the top 25.
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle has never had success at Talladega. In 11 career Cup starts his best finish is just 13th. Save him for another week.
No. 38 David Gilliland: Gilliland excels at restrictor plate races. If there is ever a weekend to use him this is it.
No. 9 Kasey Kahne: Kahne's average finish at Talladega is 20th. That is right around where we see him finishing this weekend.
No. 19 Elliott Sadler: Sadler has three poles and has led at least one lap in the past 11 races at Talladega. He is a decent sleeper pick on Sunday.
21 to 30
No. 5 Casey Mears: Mears has cracked the top 10 the past two starts at Talladega. He should be in the mix for another decent finish on Sunday.
No. 1 Martin Truex Jr.: Truex Jr. has been great in two of the past four races at Talladega and was terrible in two of the past four races. He is a bit too risky of a pick for us this weekend.
No. 28 Travis Kvapil: Kvapil has cracked the top 20 in all four of his career starts at Talladega. We think he will struggle to maintain his streak of top 20 finishes on Sunday.
No. 66 Scott Riggs: Riggs has finished in the top 20 in his past four starts at Talladega. He is another very interesting sleeper pick this weekend.
No. 26 Jamie McMurray: McMurray has led laps in four of the past six races at Talladega. There are better options in fantasy leagues this weekend.
No. 7 Robby Gordon: Gordon has finished in the top 20 in eight of the last 11 races at Talladega. He is fearless and isn't a bad option as a fifth fantasy driver on Sunday.
No. 44 David Reutimann: Reutimann was strong in last October's Talladega race. He could surprise on Sunday.
No. 01 Regan Smith: Smith has cracked the top 25 in both career starts at Talladega.
No. 55 Michael Waltrip: Waltrip took the pole in last October's race at Talladega. He could crack the top 25, but we just don't see him as much of a fantasy option.
No. 15 Paul Menard: Menard led a few laps and had a decent finish at Talladega in April. He won't do enough to be a fantasy option, but he should crack the top 30 once again.
31 to 35
No. 84 Mike Skinner: Skinner takes over the No. 84 car. He isn't much of an option.
No. 41 Reed Sorenson: Sorenson finished 10th in the October 2007 race at Talladega, but his average finish at the track during his career is just 29th.
No. 22 Dave Blaney: Blaney cruised to a very impressive third place finish during last October's race at Talladega, but he failed to qualify for this year's April race. He won't have to worry about qualifying, but we don't like his chances.
No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.: Hornish Jr. should make the race, but there are far better sleeper picks on Sunday.
No. 10 Patrick Carpentier: Carpentier should make the race, but should continue to struggle with restrictor plate racing.
Field Fillers
No. 8 Aric Almirola
No. 43 Bobby Labonte
No. 45 Terry Labonte
No. 78 Joe Nemechek
No. 96 Ken Schrader
No. 00 Kenny Wallace
No. 70 Tony Raines
No. 33 Mike Wallace
No. 21 Jon Wood
No. 09 Sterling Marlin
No. 08 Boris Said
Brownie's Picks
Top Four:
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Tony Stewart
4. Jeff Gordon
Sleepers:
1. Brian Vickers
2. David Ragan
Busts:
1. Greg Biffle
2. Kasey Kahne
