The NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup heads to an elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway where being in the “Big One” can end The Chase dream for several drivers.
This week the Hellmann’s 500 (also known as the Alabama 500) will determine which four NASCAR drivers in the Round of 12 will be eliminated from championship contention. The worry for the championship contending drivers is that even if they have a great car, being caught up in the “Big One” could not only take them out of the race, it can end their chance of winning the championship.
Sprint Cup racing at the track simply called “Dega” by drivers, teams and fans consists of “pack racing.” The cars will get in packs that are three rows wide and several cars long. This allows the pack of cars to draft with each other and run at speeds well over 200 mph.
The danger with pack racing is that if a car has an issue in the middle or near the front of the pack, it can start a chain reaction crash that can collect other cars into the double digits in total. It was during the May race earlier this year that Dale Earnhardt Jr. had one of his accidents that have led to the medical condition that has sidelined him for the rest of this season.
Mistakes cannot be made on the track or in the pits by the drivers or teams if there is any chance to be a part of the lead pack and have a chance to win the race. As long as a car is part of the lead pack at the end of the race, there is a chance the driver can use the draft to go from the back of the pack to the front and win the race.
Which drivers have done the best at using the pack and performing at Dega?
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Talladega
*Chase Elliot – 101.3
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 92.0
*Matt Kenseth – 89.2
*Jimmie Johnson – 88.6
*Kurt Busch – 88.3
*Brad Keselowski – 87.1
*Denny Hamlin – 82.9
*Joey Logano – 81.9
*Kevin Harvick – 80.9
Jamie McMurray – 80.7
* denotes current Chase contender
(NOTE: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races {23 total} among active drivers at Talladega Superspeedway)
When it comes to winning at Talladega, it is an Earnhardt family tradition it would seem. Dale Sr. is the all-time leading winner at the track with 10 Sprint Cup victories while Dale Jr. is on top of the active driver’s list with six wins at Dega. However, for obvious reason those totals will not change this weekend.
Brad Keselowski won the spring race this season at the track back in May to bring his career NASCAR Sprint Cup wins to four. Brad is one of the Chase contenders that might need to win the race to ensure his advance to the Round of Eight as he will start the race this weekend below the cutoff line.
Jimmie Johnson has two Dega wins on his resume and already has a win in this round of The Chase and the automatic advance that comes with that win.
Jamie McMurray and Clint Bowyer and non-contenders for the championship, but they both have two wins at Dega and could contend for the win in the Hellmann’s 500.
Five of the eight drivers who have a single Talladega Sprint Cup win at Talladega are also contending for the NASCAR Championship. Kevin Harvick won last week to advance in The Chase and has no pressure as he goes for his second Dega win. Chase drivers Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth have the largest buffer above the cutoff line, but remember the “Big One” could erase that buffer quickly.
The winner of this race last year was Joey Logano, who is right on the cutoff line for advancement to the Round of Eight. He will need to perform well and avoid any calamities to remain above that line.
Denny Hamlin is another Chase driver that will start the race below the cutoff line and has a single victory in the Sprint Cup series at Talladega. He will need an extraordinary performance and possibly a win to advance.
Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and David Ragan are non-contending Chase drivers that have all won at Dega once before.
NASCAR Sprint Cup racing at Talladega Superspeedway requires focus from the drivers and teams to avoid having a devastating day. For those drivers and teams still on the Chase Grid the pressure of racing at Dega is even greater. Which drivers and teams will deliver, which will falter and which will simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time?
We will all find out when they drop the green flag for the Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday, October 23rd starting at 1 PM central time (2 PM eastern time) for 188 laps (500.08 miles) of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.
By: Buck Stevens
