CampingWorld.com 500
Talladega Superspeedway
By Richard Tix
Everyone know's it. The big one is coming. NASCAR heads to Talladega this week which means two things when you say the big one. First, everyone knows at some point a large wreck is possible and it will effect a lot of drivers.
Second, this race in general is a big one for Chase drivers. It is the last one in the round and the last chance to put together a good finish before four more drivers are eliminated. Some drivers are in desperate need of a win, while others just need a quality finish. With so many different strategies and mindsets, along with the nature of superspeedways, the CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega is setting up to be a dramatic race.
The Good
- Clint Bowyer- Bowyer is a surprising name to this list most of the time, but he find's his way around superspeedways very well. Many times he takes the wait in the back approach, and then he finds his way to the front when it counts. He has 10 top 10's in 19 races here.
- Kevin Harvick- Over his career Harvick has been streaky at Talladega, but who hasn't. Currently he has three straight top 10's.
- Kurt Busch- Kurt went through a very rough and long stretch at Dega from 2010-2013, but since then he has two quality finishes. Over his career he has 14 top 10's in 29 starts with a 16.8 average finish (which is 7th best of current drivers and 5th best of current drivers with more than 3 starts).
The Middle
- Jimmie Johnson- JJ has either finished really well at Dega, or he falls in the middle. Obviously we see this a lot at Dega and Daytona with the nature of the race. Earlier this season JJ finished runner up but last year in this Chase race he finished 24th.
The Bad
- AJ Allmendinger- In 11 starts he only has one top 10 (a top 5) and an average finish of 22.8. He seems to find trouble most years on superspeedways.
- Kyle Busch- In 20 Talladega races Kyle Busch only has 5 top 10's! Yes, five. Seems strange for a driver of his talent level. He does have 1 win and 4 top 5's in those 5 top 10's so it isn't like he can't do well.
- Kasey Kahne- Same as Kyle, in 23 races Kahne only has 5, yes 5 top 10's. Three of those are top 5's, but he still should be better here.
Check out the NASCAR Behind the Wall article: The Big One
- A look at some NASCAR videos of some past "big ones" at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega
Superspeedway
|
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Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Make / Model
|
1969-44
|
9/14/1969
|
36
|
Richard Brickhouse
|
9
|
'69 Dodge
|
1970-10
|
4/12/1970
|
40
|
Pete Hamilton
|
6
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1970-35
|
8/23/1970
|
50
|
Pete Hamilton
|
4
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1971-18
|
5/16/1971
|
50
|
Donnie Allison
|
1
|
'69 Mercury
|
1971-37
|
8/22/1971
|
50
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
'69 Mercury
|
1972-11
|
5/7/1972
|
50
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'71 Mercury
|
1972-21
|
8/6/1972
|
50
|
James Hylton
|
22
|
'71 Mercury
|
1973-10
|
5/6/1973
|
60
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'71 Mercury
|
1973-20
|
8/12/1973
|
50
|
Dick Brooks
|
24
|
'72 Plymouth
|
1974-10
|
5/5/1974
|
50
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'73 Mercury
|
1974-21
|
8/11/1974
|
48
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-10
|
5/4/1975
|
50
|
Buddy Baker
|
1
|
'75 Ford
|
1975-19
|
8/17/1975
|
50
|
Buddy Baker
|
2
|
'73 Ford
|
1976-10
|
5/2/1976
|
40
|
Buddy Baker
|
12
|
Ford
|
1976-19
|
8/8/1976
|
40
|
Dave Marcis
|
1
|
Dodge
|
1977-10
|
5/1/1977
|
41
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-19
|
8/7/1977
|
40
|
Donnie Allison
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-10
|
5/14/1978
|
41
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Oldsmobile
|
1978-19
|
8/6/1978
|
41
|
Lennie Pond
|
5
|
Oldsmobile
|
1979-10
|
5/6/1979
|
39
|
Bobby Allison
|
12
|
Ford
|
1979-20
|
8/5/1979
|
41
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
8
|
Oldsmobile
|
1980-10
|
5/4/1980
|
42
|
Buddy Baker
|
2
|
Oldsmobile
|
1980-20
|
8/3/1980
|
41
|
Neil Bonnett
|
2
|
Mercury
|
1981-10
|
5/3/1981
|
40
|
Bobby Allison
|
1
|
Buick
|
1981-20
|
8/2/1981
|
42
|
Ron Bouchard
|
10
|
Buick
|
1982-09
|
5/2/1982
|
40
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
Buick
|
1982-19
|
8/1/1982
|
40
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
Buick
|
1983-08
|
5/1/1983
|
42
|
Richard Petty
|
15
|
Pontiac
|
1983-19
|
7/31/1983
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Ford
|
1984-09
|
5/6/1984
|
40
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-19
|
7/29/1984
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-09
|
5/5/1985
|
39
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1985-17
|
7/28/1985
|
42
|
Cale Yarborough
|
2
|
Ford
|
1986-09
|
5/4/1986
|
42
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
Buick
|
1986-17
|
7/27/1986
|
40
|
Bobby Hillin, Jr.
|
13
|
Buick
|
1987-09
|
5/3/1987
|
41
|
Davey Allison
|
3
|
Ford
|
1987-17
|
7/26/1987
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1988-09
|
5/1/1988
|
41
|
Phil Parsons
|
3
|
Oldsmobile
|
1988-17
|
7/31/1988
|
42
|
Ken Schrader
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1989-09
|
5/7/1989
|
41
|
Davey Allison
|
2
|
Ford
|
1989-17
|
7/30/1989
|
41
|
Terry Labonte
|
5
|
Ford
|
1990-09
|
5/6/1990
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1990-17
|
7/29/1990
|
42
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-09
|
5/6/1991
|
41
|
Harry Gant
|
2
|
Oldsmobile
|
1991-17
|
7/28/1991
|
41
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1992-09
|
5/3/1992
|
40
|
Davey Allison
|
2
|
Ford
|
1992-17
|
7/26/1992
|
40
|
Ernie Irvan
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-09
|
5/2/1993
|
41
|
Ernie Irvan
|
16
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-18
|
7/25/1993
|
42
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
1994-09
|
5/1/1994
|
42
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1994-18
|
7/24/1994
|
42
|
Jimmy Spencer
|
2
|
Ford
|
1995-09
|
4/30/1995
|
42
|
Mark Martin
|
3
|
Ford
|
1995-18
|
7/23/1995
|
43
|
Sterling Marlin
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-09
|
4/28/1996
|
43
|
Sterling Marlin
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-18
|
7/28/1996
|
42
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-10
|
5/10/1997
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
18
|
Ford
|
1997-29
|
10/12/1997
|
42
|
Terry Labonte
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1998-09
|
4/26/1998
|
43
|
Bobby Labonte
|
1
|
Pontiac
|
1998-29
|
10/11/1998
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
3
|
Ford
|
1999-09
|
4/25/1999
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
17
|
Chevrolet
|
1999-30
|
10/17/1999
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
27
|
Chevrolet
|
2000-09
|
4/16/2000
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
36
|
Chevrolet
|
2000-30
|
10/15/2000
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
20
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-09
|
4/22/2001
|
43
|
Bobby Hamilton
|
14
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-31
|
10/21/2001
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
2002-09
|
4/21/2002
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2002-30
|
10/6/2002
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-08
|
4/6/2003
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-29
|
9/28/2003
|
43
|
Michael Waltrip
|
18
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-09
|
4/25/2004
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-29
|
10/3/2004
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-09
|
5/1/2005
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-29
|
10/2/2005
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
2
|
Ford
|
2006-09
|
5/1/2006
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
16
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-30
|
10/8/2006
|
43
|
Brian Vickers
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-09
|
4/29/2007
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-30
|
10/7/2007
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
34
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-09
|
4/27/2008
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
5
|
Toyota
|
2008-30
|
10/5/2008
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
34
|
Toyota
|
2009-09
|
4/26/2009
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2009-33
|
11/1/2009
|
43
|
Jamie McMurray
|
22
|
Ford
|
2010-09
|
4/25/2010
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-33
|
10/31/2010
|
43
|
Clint Bowyer
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-08
|
4/17/2011
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-32
|
10/23/2011
|
43
|
Clint Bowyer
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-10
|
5/6/2012
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
13
|
Dodge
|
2012-30
|
10/7/2012
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
15
|
Ford
|
2013-10
|
5/5/2013
|
43
|
David Ragan
|
19
|
Ford
|
2013-32
|
10/20/2013
|
43
|
Jamie McMurray
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-10
|
5/4/2014
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
34
|
Toyota
|
2014-32
|
10/19/2014
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
5
|
Ford
|
2015-10
|
5/3/2015
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
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