Talladega Cup Race Thread

[Jonesi]

First time the CoT has run at a plate race. 51 cars entered!
Top 35 - Aric Almirola in #01, Ken Schrader in #21, and Mike Wallace (yes Mike) in #88.
Need for speed - No changes for full time teams. Blaney cut his gap to 35th in owner points in half at KC now 49 points back.
Part time or first time - Sterling Marlin in #09, Boris Said in #60, Kevin Lepage in #37, Sam HornishJr in #06, and Jack Newtown in #27 Bill Davis Toyota.

[Alexamateo]

.....Mike Wallace (yes Mike) in #88....

Mike seems to run the plate tracks real well. He finished 4th in the Daytona 500, and has also won at Daytona in the Busch. Maybe that's why he's in.

[RaceFanStan]

Well, they are on the track for 1st practice ...
3 & 4 wide in a pack of 51 cars ! :eek:

[RaceFanStan]

There are ONLY 2 sessions of Nextel Cup Practice today (Friday) ...
Nextel Cup Qualifying is 12:15 tomorrow (Saturday) ...
then the Nextel Cup COT cars will be impounded until the race on Sunday ...

Here are the drivers that have to make it on speed or they go home ...
these 16 drivers will be going for the 8 remaining starting spots : :eek:
Dave Blaney
Scott Riggs
Brian Vickers
David Reutimann
Dale Jarrett
Joe Nemechek
Michael Waltrip
Jeremy Mayfield
John Andretti
A.J. Allmendinger
Ward Burton
Kevin Lepage
Boris Said
Sterling Marlin
Sam Hornish Jr
Jacques Villeneuve

[RaikkonenRules]

Won't make the field, I think it will be:
4 Ward Burton
09 Sterling Marlin
27 Jacques Villenueve
36 Jeremy Mayfield
37 Kevin Lepage
44 Dale Jarrett
49 John Andretti
84 AJ Allmendinger

[RaceFanStan]

Nextel Cup 1st Practice Speeds
October 05, 2007 ~ 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (ET)
01 Tony Stewart #20 Chevrolet 194.959 mph
02 Jeff Gordon #24 Chevrolet 194.737 mph
03 Ken Schrader #21 Ford 194.508 mph
04 Robby Gordon #7 Ford 194.184 mph
05 Kyle Petty #45 Dodge 193.984 mph
06 Kasey Kahne #9 Dodge 193.932 mph
07 David Stremme #40 Dodge 193.882 mph
08 Martin Truex Jr #1 Chevrolet 193.760 mph
09 Greg Biffle #16 Ford 193.697 mph
10 Jeff Burton #31 Chevrolet 193.670 mph
11 Paul Menard #15 Chevrolet 193.666 mph
12 Tony Raines #96 Chevrolet 193.595 mph
13 Carl Edwards #99 Ford 193.552 mph
14 J.J. Yeley #18 Chevrolet 193.513 mph
15 Dale Earnhardt Jr #8 Chevrolet 193.400 mph
16 Mike Wallace #88 Ford 193.310 mph
17 Elliott Sadler #19 Dodge 193.209 mph
18 Johnny Sauter #70 Chevrolet 193.209 mph
19 Denny Hamlin #11 Chevrolet 193.189 mph
20 Reed Sorenson #41 Dodge 193.162 mph
21 Jeff Green #66 Chevrolet 193.154 mph
22 David Ragan #6 Ford 192.979 mph
23 Clint Bowyer #07 Chevrolet 192.963 mph
24 Juan Montoya #42 Dodge 192.917 mph
25 Kurt Busch #2 Dodge 192.893 mph
26 Ryan Newman #12 Dodge 192.855 mph
27 Kyle Busch #5 Chevrolet 192.765 mph
28 Jimmie Johnson #48 Chevrolet 192.754 mph
29 Bobby Labonte #43 Dodge 192.738 mph
30 Matt Kenseth #17 Ford 192.734 mph
31 Aric Almirola #01 Chevrolet 192.734 mph
32 Kevin Harvick #29 Chevrolet 192.711 mph
33 Jamie McMurray #26 Ford 192.571 mph
34 Casey Mears #25 Chevrolet 192.378 mph
35 Scott Riggs #10 Dodge 188.749 mph
36 Michael Waltrip #55 Toyota 188.270 mph
37 Dave Blaney #22 Toyota 188.256 mph
38 David Reutimann #00 Toyota 188.148 mph
39 John Andretti #49 Dodge 188.052 mph
40 Brian Vickers #83 Toyota 187.544 mph
41 Joe Nemechek #78 Chevrolet 187.419 mph
42 Jacques Villeneuve #27 Toyota 187.353 mph
43 Dale Jarrett #44 Toyota 187.313 mph
44 Jeremy Mayfield #36 Toyota 186.558 mph
45 David Gilliland #38 Ford 186.322 mph
46 A.J. Allmendinger #84 Toyota 186.180 mph
47 Boris Said #60 Ford 186.014 mph
48 Sam Hornish Jr #06 Dodge 185.949 mph
49 Sterling Marlin #09 Chevrolet 185.873 mph
50 Ward Burton #4 Chevrolet 184.922 mph
51 Kevin Lepage #37 Dodge 184.534 mph

8 drivers will be going home .....
the slow cars in the back that are out of the top 35 in Owner's Points need to pick it up or else ! :eek:

[RaceFanStan]

Jeff Gordon is SKIPPING 2nd Practice !!! :eek:

[Jonesi]

Jeff Gordon is SKIPPING 2nd Practice !!! :eek:

Could be the smartest thing he'll do all month ;-)

Some interesting patterns in the speeds right now. Chevy has 8 of the fastest 10 cars, no surprise. 4 of the 5 Roush cars are together in speed and 7 of 8 Toyotas are clustered together in speed too. Seems like some very consistant motors. Jimmy Johnson has been slow in this session too, while Kyle is 3rd fastest.

[RaceFanStan]

Don't be fooled by the practice speeds as they can't tell a true qualifying speed ...
the practice speeds were taken with several cars on the track ...
any amount of draft from another car(s) will raise the speed of a car ...
we won't know who makes the race until the cars qualify individually tomorrow. :s

[harvick#1]

if anyone takes Practice speeds at Talladega seriously, something is completey wrong.

someone can post a very quick lap with a group just bumpdrafting to get a good time.

[Erki]

30 cars into the qualifying, and it's Toyota 1-2-3-4 with JV being 4th.

I think he won't make the race. :)

[dont_be_jack]

WALTRIP ON THE POLE?! Someone better check for some illegal substances...

[Jonesi]

Cup Grid
55 MICHAEL WALTRIP
22 DAVE BLANEY
83 BRIAN VICKERS
78 JOE NEMECHEK
00 DAVID REUTIMANN
27 JACQUES VILLENEUVE
49 JOHN ANDRETTI
43 BOBBY LABONTE
9 KASEY KAHNE
19 ELLIOTT SADLER
--
20 TONY STEWART
45 KYLE PETTY
1 MARTIN TRUEX JR
96 TONY RAINES
88 MIKE WALLACE
12 RYAN NEWMAN
18 J.J. YELEY
2 KURT BUSCH
11 DENNY HAMLIN
48 JIMMY JOHNSON
--
16 GREG BIFFLE
31 JEFF BURTON
42 JUAN MONTOYA
07 CLINT BOWYER
7 ROBBY GORDON
17 MATT KENSETH
8 DALE EARNHARDT JR
38 DAVID GILLILAND
41 REED SORENSON
25 CASEY MEARS
--
15 PAUL MENARD
99 CARL EDWARDS
6 DAVID RAGAN
66 JEFF GREEN
40 DAVID STREMME
24 JEFF GORDON
26 JAMIE McMURRAY
5 KYLE BUSCH
29 KEVIN HARVICK
01 ARIC ALMIROLA
--
70 JOHNNY SAUTER
21 KEN SCHRADER
44 DALE JARRETT

DNQ
84 AJ ALLMENDINGER (9th fastest overall!)
60 BORIS SAID
4 WARD BURTON
37 KEVIN LEPAGE
10 SCOTT RIGGS
06 SAM HORNISH JR
36 JEREMY MAYFIELD
09 STERLING MARLIN

[harvick#1]

tough break for AJ and Boris, but I guess this is what happens for an impound race, all the guys in the top 35 were one race trim, while the others were all in Quali mode

[RaikkonenRules]

mega tough break for AJ failing to qualify despite being 9th quickest. Plus Dale Jarrett having to start last despite being 8th quickest.

The 11 quickest were all non Top 35 cars. :eek: Talk about topsy turvey grid. :D

Another fact all of the non Top 35 cars would have made the race if it wern't for the qualifying rule.

[RaceFanStan]

The "Make it on Speed or Go Home" Group probably won't race good ... :s
all of them are on qualifying set-ups & are also "taped-up" ... :eek:
the best they can hope for is an early caution ...
to make some adjustments & take some tape OFF the grilles ! :eek:

The "Make it on Speed or Go Home" Group :
01. Michael Waltrip
02. Dave Blaney
03. Brian Vickers
04. Joe Nemechek
05. David Reutimann
06. Jacques Villeneuve
07. John Andretti
43. Dale Jarrett

The 7 front runners will probably drop fast ... :eek:

[dwboogityfan]

While qualifying was a shambles due to the top 35 rule - which IMO NASCAR seriously needs to change - congratulations to Michael Waltrip on his pole position.
Mikey has had so much negative publicity this year that this is a great reward for NAPA and Toyota for standing by MWR. I've been really impressed by the improvements the MWR organisation has made recently and wouldn't count Mikey out tomorrow as he understands the draft as well as anybody.

[Vez]

#2-Busch and #6-Ragan failed postrace inspection for being too low in the front. Their times will be disallowed, forcing them to start at the rear Sunday.

Chase Drivers:
11. Tony Stewart
13. Martin Truex Jr
18. Denny Hamlin
19. Jimmie Johnson
21. Jeff Burton
23. Clint Bowyer
25. Matt Kenseth
31. Carl Edwards
34. Jeff Gordon (Set by Owner Points)
36. Kyle Busch (Set by Owner Points)
37. Kevin Harvick (Set by Owner Points)
41. Kurt Busch (did qualify 25th, but after all the bumping out of half the non 35 in points guys, ended up 18th) (Set by Owner Points)

Congrats to Mikey for getting the pole :up: especially after the rough season he has had.

Though great qualifying run by all non 35 in points guys, but shame that half of them were made to go home because of the top 35 in points rule.

But as always it's where you finish in the race that counts.

[RaceFanStan]

Michael Waltrip managed to make the race lineup on speed for the 3rd consecutive week ...
it is only for the 11th time this season Waltrip has made the race on speed ...
Michael Waltrip earned his 4th career pole & 1st since June 2005 @ Pocono.
Waltrip turned a pole-winning lap of 189.070 mph @ Talladega. :eek:

"I felt confident yesterday we would make the race," Waltrip said. "I wasn't thinking about the pole ...
Honestly, it's more important to me that we have all 3 Michael Waltrip Racing cars as the top 8 qualifiers."

"I told my guys last night, "If we get in, we'll have a chance to win," :eek:
the two-time Daytona 500 winner said. "I think we'll definitely be ready to go."

[Jonesi]

The "Make it on Speed or Go Home" Group probably won't race good ... :s
all of them are on qualifying set-ups & are also "taped-up" ... :eek:
the best they can hope for is an early caution ...
to make some adjustments & take some tape OFF the grilles ! :eek:

The "Make it on Speed or Go Home" Group :
01. Michael Waltrip
02. Dave Blaney
03. Brian Vickers
04. Joe Nemechek
05. David Reutimann
06. Jacques Villeneuve
07. John Andretti
43. Dale Jarrett

The 7 front runners will probably drop fast ... :eek:

Tape on grill & tire pressures are a couple of the things they can adjust before the race.

[Vez]

To The Back [1]: #26-McMurray [engine change]

Qualified 46th, moved up to 35th after all the bumping out of half the non 35 in points guys, now at the back of the grid.

[BenRoethig]

mega tough break for AJ failing to qualify despite being 9th quickest. Plus Dale Jarrett having to start last despite being 8th quickest.

The 11 quickest were all non Top 35 cars. :eek: Talk about topsy turvey grid. :D

Another fact all of the non Top 35 cars would have made the race if it wern't for the qualifying rule.

It should be only the top 20 that get an automatic provisional. Besides Kahne, who is having a bad year, I don't see anyone outside the top 20 who i would really care if they missed the occasional race.

[RaceFanStan]

I will be on the edge of my chair throughout the whole race @ Talladega ... http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/erm/bn.gif

the only rest I will get will be during the caution flags ...
(as long as one of my faves isn't in it) ... http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/erm/13.gif

restrictor plate racing makes me too tense ! http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/erm/ra.gif

a slip or an error in judgement could ruin several driver's race ... http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/erm/7.gif

the Chase contenders are also running a race of their own ...
I hope I am glad when the Talladega race is over & my faves did well. http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/erm/6b.gif

[RaceFanStan]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/flag/g.gif

[dont_be_jack]

JV to the back...ABC said that he moved back to avoid trouble and see how it went.

[RaceFanStan]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/flag/y.gifJohn Andretti in trouble, flat right front ... :eek:
Matt Kenseth had pitted for a flat right front tire & was able to stay on the lead lap :D

[Jonesi]

That's two bad right front tires in a short period of time. Is this the begining of a problem all day?

[RaikkonenRules]

Dale Jr. (the enemy :p :) is leading a long single file line of cars accoding to nascar.com's brand new leaderboard.

[RaikkonenRules]

:eek: OMG a passing move Blaney moved up to 13th :p :

[RaceFanStan]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/flag/y.gif
contact between Biffle & Gilliland :eek:

[Jonesi]

Fortunately the caution didn't happen a minute or two earlier, a bunch of cars would have been caught a lap down. Glad Johnson was able to check up to avoid the spinning Biffle.

[RaceFanStan]

Joe Nemechek smoking ... :eek:

[RaikkonenRules]

Nemechek black flagged for having smoke coming from his car. Shame :(

[RaceFanStan]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/flag/y.gif
Jeff Burton blew-up !!!!!!!!!!!!! :s
BIG FIRE & lots of SMOKE !
Jeff Burton might as well wave good-bye to the Chase :s

[RaikkonenRules]

Jr. back in the lead.

[e2mtt]

Good to see Junior running up front, in his normal restricter plate position. :-D

[RaikkonenRules]

Odd everyones being shown as a lap down on leaderboard. :s :

[RaikkonenRules]

Waltrip takes the field to the green. :D

[RaikkonenRules]

Single file behind Stewart.

[RaceFanStan]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/flag/y.gif
Truex blew-up !!!!!!!!!! :s

[RaikkonenRules]

Sadler leads

[RaikkonenRules]

Leaderboard has Truex a lap ahead of everyone having just run a 500mph lap. :s :laugh:

[RaikkonenRules]

Hendrick making their charge to the front.

[Jonesi]

#8 Blew Up!

[RaceFanStan]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/flag/y.gif
Dale Jr BLEW-UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:
Dale Jarrett ran over some debri from the 8 car & blew a right front tire :s

[e2mtt]

wow them DEI/RCR engines are junk!

[RaikkonenRules]

Yes bye bye Jr. :p :

[RaceFanStan]

Jeff Gordon got a pass-thru penalty :eek:

[RaikkonenRules]

What for?

[RaikkonenRules]

Stewart leads again

[RaceFanStan]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/flag/y.gif
BIG ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:
Bobby Labonte lost it & collected :
Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray,
David Reutimann, Paul Menard, David Ragan & Robby Gordon

[RaikkonenRules]

Kyle Busch, McMurray, Menard and Reutimann involved.

[Alexamateo]

my pick em's are blowing up and wrecking :s :eek: :(

[Jonesi]

Harvick's done, another RCR/DEI motor!

Still out there but motor off a cylinder.

[RaceFanStan]

Kevin Harvick in the pits ... hood up, has lost a cylinder ... :s

[RaikkonenRules]

Tony Raines in the lead. Another random leader :D

[RaikkonenRules]

Only 2 RCR/DEI cars left, Bowyer and Almirola still going.

[RaikkonenRules]

Vickers, Ragan, Kenseth and Labonte also involved.

[RaikkonenRules]

JV blackflagged for having no radio. :(

[Jonesi]

Ken Schrader out, Blaney's got his best/last chance to get in the Top 35 now.

[RaikkonenRules]

Schrader into wall after blowing a tyre. This could drop the #21 from the top 35. Kyle Petty will like this too he's also fighting the 21 and 22.

[Jonesi]

Car's damaged or out from last crash:
43, 5, 26, 17, 15, 6, & 83.

[RaikkonenRules]

Real shame about Vickers he was running so well. :(

[RaikkonenRules]

Almirola says he has engine troubles.

[RaikkonenRules]

Kyle Petty into the wall in a similar crash Schrader had.

Almirola's pulled in.

[Jonesi]

Memo to Hendrick drivers: 20 laps to go. NOW!

[Jonesi]

Biffle loses a tire collects Mikey, Sadler & Reutimann.
Looks like about a 5 lap shoot out for the finish.

[RaikkonenRules]

JV still in the race :up:

Look who's in 6th :D

[RaikkonenRules]

Newman leads off to take the green for hopefully the last time.

[RaikkonenRules]

Blaney 4th come on Blaney he could not only get into the top 35 but pass Petty too. :D

[RaikkonenRules]

JJ now leads. Blaney still 4th.

[Jonesi]

YEH! That's the way to win smart!

[RaikkonenRules]

Checkered flag Jeff Gordon wins from Jimmie Johnson. Blaney gets 3rd. :D

[e2mtt]

Jeff has the moves. Solid. Tony overdrove himself...

[harvick#1]

man if this is what the COT is gonna do, might as well make this race a 30 lap event.

This had to be the most boring Dega race ever, but wait all the CoT races have been horrible.

[Jonesi]

man if this is what the COT is gonna do, might as well make this race a 30 lap event.

This had to be the most boring Dega race ever, but wait all the CoT races have been horrible.

It's the drivers fear of the CoT here that caused them to hold back which made it a safe (& boring) race. Once they get comfortable with the car, they will be back to their usual insane selfs giving you the exciting race you want. ;-)

[Vez]

I just been looking at the results and I've noticed that every single driver at some point led a lap because they all have an extra 5 bonus points next to them.
Has that ever happened before, that every driver in a race has led a lap?

There seemed to be a lot a engines and tires blowing up. 3 engines and a couple of reported possible engine blow outs, and 4 tires blowing up.

Well done to Blaney for getting a 3rd place finish WTG :up:
Well done to Reed for his 10th and Mears for his 6th :up:

Bad luck for Vickers and Dragon :(

[Jonesi]

Nascar.com's scoring is messed up giving all drivers 5 points for leading a lap when only 23 cars did, and haven't given Tony an extra 5 for most laps.

It looks like Blaney's 3rd has not only moved his Toyota into the 'Top 35', but also moved Kyle Petty to the bubble in 35th.
The Chase is probably down to just Gordon, Johnson & Bowyer, with Stewart, Edwards Harvick & Kurt Busch long shots to catch up.

[Jonesi]

I just been looking at the results and I've noticed that every single driver at some point led a lap because they all have an extra 5 bonus points next to them.
Has that ever happened before, that every driver in a race has led a lap?

Computer/T&S error only.

[muggle not]

There were some boring spots, which is expected for plate races, but overall it was a darn good race. Great driving by Jeff Gordon.again. Much as I hate to say it, JPM anf JV drove ok...JPM actually pretty good and much better than that guy in the #29 car. :D

[harvick#1]

Harv still pushed his car hard even with the engine trouble, seems it expired in the final lap though.

[DavePI2]

Just a question for the race fans. Why is it whenever Jr. is out of the race so many of the so-called nascar faithfull leave? I guess they all didn't leave though, I saw enough bright people giving Gordon the finger and a couple cans of beer being thrown also. Real class.

David

[muggle not]

Just a question for the race fans. Why is it whenever Jr. is out of the race so many of the so-called nascar faithfull leave? I guess they all didn't leave though, I saw enough bright people giving Gordon the finger and a couple cans of beer being thrown also. Real class.

David
Stick around. A few lessons and you will be a dedicated nascar fan. :D

[e2mtt]

Just a question for the race fans. Why is it whenever Jr. is out of the race so many of the so-called nascar faithfull leave? I guess they all didn't leave though, I saw enough bright people giving Gordon the finger and a couple cans of beer being thrown also. Real class.

David

For the same reason football stadiums often empty out early when the home team is getting blown out.

[BobbyC]

The drivers did indeed play rope-a-dope until it mattered. We had some Old School Racing with the wings. Indeed, Jeff Gordon turned into David Pearson in a winged car and drove like the Silver Fox, hiding until the money lap.

[muggle not]

Very few members post when their favorite driver does not win the races. What happened at Dega was that everyone watched some brilliant driving by Jeff Gordon. He was in 11th place with onlyt 7 laps to go. His move in front of Tony gave Tony only 3 choices......either hit the wall, hit the driver next to him, or push Jeff forward to the win. He pushed Jeff.

[SOD]

I didn't see the end of the race, but it was the same ole Talladega.

The US TV missed the run to front by Waltrip and a few other, they overtook Hamlin & Stewart with ease. Gte a good draft partner and go to the front.

I miss the superspeedway look of the old cars.

[MD24]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/62/fullj.getty-77165069rr088_uaw_ford_500.jpg

[Vez]

Nascar.com's scoring is messed up giving all drivers 5 points for leading a lap when only 23 cars did, and haven't given Tony an extra 5 for most laps.


Computer/T&S error only.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I thought it little strange that all drivers had 5 bonus points, which is why I asked. (maybe I should of also put a confused smilie in my post too). :up:



The picture of the Gordons in Victory Lane looks cute - though Ella doesn't look too happy she's got quite a stern little stare going on there :p or is just boredom ;)

[Mark in Oshawa]

Vez...she looks pretty fine to me...that Jeff always had an eye for the women.....