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Mash The Gas – Talladega Preview

It’s back to restrictor plates, high speeds, and multi-car draft racing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as the Talladega Speedway hosts the Aaron’s 499 Sunday afternoon. For the first time since the season-opening Daytona 500, the Sprint Cup drivers will have to dust off their “plate racing” mindset and skills as being in the right place at the right time could make all the difference between winning the race or finishing 20th.

The green flag is scheduled to fly at 1:19pm Eastern and from there on until the checkered flag, everyone will be watching for and talking about “the big one” – the multicar crash that takes out all your favorite drivers or the all the drivers on your fantasy team.
As far as who to watch, we need to look back at Daytona to see who could have the car to beat at Talladega.

Matt Kenseth
Dan Margetta: Matt Kenseth dominated the Daytona 500, leading the pack with ease until the engine expired in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Kenseth and the #20 team should pick right up where they left off this weekend and he should have no problem finding drafting partners on Sunday as everyone will look to hitch a ride to the front of the field. The burning question that remains is can the Toyota powerplant last all 500 miles.

Denny Hamlin
John Wiedemann: Denny Hamlin has been cleared by doctors to “start” the race and then “getting out when it’s a safe time to get out”. Well, the safest time to get out of the car is after the race – unless you are Joey Logano. I wouldn’t pick Hamlin for my fantasy team just yet, but it will be interesting to watch how he progresses during the weekend from practice to the race. Hamlin has fallen to 71 points out of the top 20 in the standings and he will need to be in the top 20 with a couple wins in order to make the Chase. It all starts this weekend for Hamlin.

Kyle Busch
DM: Like Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch also spent a lot of time in the lead pack at Daytona. However, unlike Kenseth, Busch’s engine problem was due to driver error as Busch spent too much time in the draft, pushing cars, and not enough time in the clean air to allow the engine to cool. Busch won’t make the same mistake this weekend at Talladega and he’ll look to keep his #18 Toyota out front all day. It takes spectacular moves to stay out front and win at Talladega and some of the most spectacular moves seen on the racetrack have occurred with Kyle Busch behind the wheel.

Dale Earnhardt Jr
JW: It’s a restrictor plate track, so you have to include Dale Earnhardt Jr., right? After four straight wins at Talladega starting the fall race of 2001, Junior’s results have been mixed. With Hendrick motorsports Junior has averaged a 16th place finish at Talladega and a 14th place finish at Daytona. He did finish 2nd at this year’s Daytona 500 although he didn’t lead any laps. He has led laps in all but two of his races at Talladega – his first race in 2000 and in 2005 when he was knocked out early by accident. No matter what stats you look at, it’s Junior at Talladega.

Tony Stewart
DM: Many people tend to forget that Tony Stewart had a very fast car during SpeedWeeks at Daytona until he got caught up in an early crash in the Daytona 500. While they have struggled elsewhere, the Stewart-Haas cars were very good on the plate track and Tony Stewart should be a factor on Sunday. It’s hard to call this a “must win” weekend, but it’s pretty close as the wildcard route may be the only way the #14 team can make the Chase this year. This weekend presents Stewart’s best shot in a long time to return to victory lane.

Greg Biffle
JW: Five out of the last eight Talladega races have resulted in top ten finishes for Greg Biffle. Still looking for his first win this season, it could come at Talladega. Biffle has always been good at the restrictor plate tracks, especially Daytona, and he needs a win at Talladega. Why not get it this weekend?

Kurt Busch
DM: Talladega is all about upsets and the #78 team with Kurt Busch is knocking at the door to pull off a surprise victory. They have run very well over the past several weeks, racing in the top five until developing issues late in races. Kurt Busch is a very good plate racer and Talladega is a great equalizer in terms of equipment, meaning this little team that could out of Colorado just might find victory lane this weekend.

Jimmie Johnson
JW: Jimmie Johnson has two wins at Talladega, both coming in the spring races (2006 & 2011). Johnson also won the Daytona 500 for the first win in the Gen6 car. Currently the point leader by 43 points over Carl Edwards, Johnson has scored six top tens in the nine races so far this season, including two wins. He continues to be a threat every weekend and is always one to watch.

Danica Patrick
DM: Talladega is all about mashing the gas and turning left which means Danica Patrick becomes relevant again this weekend instead of just a side note. Her eighth place finish at Daytona proved she can plate race with the best of them and her Stewart-Haas car should be plenty fast on Sunday. If she really can win one of these big time stock car races, Talladega is where it’s going to happen and the whirlwind of publicity that is sure to follow would be welcomed by everyone involved in the sport.

Jeff Burton
JW: Jeff Burton has a streak of three top ten finishes in a row going at Talladeaga and is a driver that always seems to find his way to the front at the big track. Burton has been running better this year and is coming off a fifth place finish at Richmond, his second top ten of the year. This is a track and the type of race that a cagey and patient driver like Burton can sneak up and be in contention at the end of the race.

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