Geico 500
Talladega Superspeedway
By Richard Tix
It's wild card weekend in NASCAR. Yes, NASCAR leaves the short track behind in Richmond and heads to the superspeedway of Talladega where anything can happen. In 2014 (the first year of the new Chase) Aric Almirola used a superspeedway and a rain out (Daytona) to get a trip to victory lane and a spot in the Chase. The same can happen at Talladega where NASCAR still has two stops at.
This weekend will be the first Dega trip and everyone in the field gets a little extra ramped up. That's because they all know that they have a shot at pulling off an upset and locking themselves into the Chase (assuming they finish in the top 30).
It could be a huge first step in Tony Stewart if he could win. He would then just be in the hunt to get to the top 30 (similar to Ky. Busch last year). It would be a huge moment for guys like David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, or Kyle Larson. The list goes on and on with who it could effect in a positive way.
The storylines are sure to be endless after the race and could be a season changer, so this one is one you don't want to miss!
This weekend will be the first Dega trip and everyone in the field gets a little extra ramped up. That's because they all know that they have a shot at pulling off an upset and locking themselves into the Chase (assuming they finish in the top 30).
It could be a huge first step in Tony Stewart if he could win. He would then just be in the hunt to get to the top 30 (similar to Ky. Busch last year). It would be a huge moment for guys like David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, or Kyle Larson. The list goes on and on with who it could effect in a positive way.
The storylines are sure to be endless after the race and could be a season changer, so this one is one you don't want to miss!
**This section is just a quick look at some of Cup drivers latest finishes. This is not a tool for fantasy purposes and NBTW only is looking at end results. No deep statistic's are involved, but rather it is just a quick way to get ready for the race and get caught up on who has finished well at each track**
The Good
- Dale Earnhardt Jr- Most of Junior career work at Dega come from his earlier days when he four straight and five of seven (including two runner up's). That was back in the early 2000's and time shave changed, however last year he seemed to regain his touch with a win and second place finish.
- Martin Truex Jr- Unlike Dale, Truex Jr's early career at Dega isn't pretty. But, like Dale Jr he has been much more consistent lately with four top 10's in the last six races.
- Brad Keselowski- BK has the second most career Dega win's of active drivers behind Junior but he has done it in only 14 career starts (3 total wins including his fist career Cup win).
The Middle
- Jimmie Johnson- JJ only has two top 10's in his last nine Talladega starts. Only two of those finishes were outside the top 25, though.
The Bad
- Danica Patrick- Six career starts at Talladega for Danica and only one top 20 (2014). More concerning is only half the time she has finished in the top 25 (3 top 25's).
- Kyle Busch- Kyle only has five top 10's in 21 career Dega starts. He does have a win here (2008). He has 11 finishes of 25th or worse which is not a stat he wants to his name.
- Carl Edwards- Two JGR drivers on one list and it isn't the list they want to be on. Carl has only six top 10's in 23 career Dega starts. His 11 finishes of 20th or worse also show his inconsistency here.
Talladega
Superspeedway
|
|||||
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
|
2015-32
|
10/25/2015
|
43
|
Joey Logano
|
10
|
Ford
|
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