This is Talladega

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: October 20, 2016

Eliminator races in the Sprint Cup and Truck Series chases bring even more drama to the already intense races at Talladega Superspeedway

By East Alabama Sports Today

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase field will be reduced to eight drivers after Sunday’s Hellmann’s 500 – and the Camping World Truck Series to six after Saturday’s Fred’s 250 — so the racing at Talladega Superspeedway is expected to be as intense as ever.

Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick already are locked into the next round with victories, so 10 drivers are vying for six spots. Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliot do not control their own destiny without a win.

How quickly can fortunes change here? Keselowski has won the last two restrictor-plate races, including the spring race here, and in 2014 won a must-win at Talladega to advance. Kyle Busch was third going into that 2014 race, 25 points above the cutline, but went home on the outside of the chase after a wreck left him in 40th place.

Here are the clinch scenarios for the other 10 in the Sprint Cup chase:

Matt Kenseth: Would clinch on points with 13 Points (28th and no laps led, 29th and led at least one lap, 30th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 11 Points (30th and no laps led, 31st and led at least one lap, 32nd and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Kyle Busch: Would clinch on points with 15 Points (26th and no laps led, 27th and led at least one lap, 28th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 14 Points (27th and no laps led, 28th and led at least one lap, 29th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Carl Edwards: Would clinch on points with 18 Points (23rd and no laps led, 24th and led at least one lap, 25th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 16 Points (25th and no laps led, 26th and led at least one lap, 27th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Kurt Busch: Would clinch on points with 25 Points (16th and no laps led, 17th and led at least one lap, 18th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 24 Points (17th and no laps led, 18th and led at least one lap, 19th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Martin Truex Jr.: Would clinch on points with 29 Points (12th and no laps led, 13th and led at least one lap, 14th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 28 Points (13th and no laps led, 14th and led at least one lap, 15th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Joey Logano: If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 41 Points (2nd and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a new winner and help.

Austin Dillon: If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 41 Points (2nd and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a new winner and help.

Denny Hamlin: With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with help.

Brad Keselowski: With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with help.

Chase Elliott: With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with help.

SPRINT CUP SERIES POINTS
(Chasers)
Jimmy Johnson 3082 (Leader)
Matt Kenseth 3074 (-8)
Kyle Busch 3072 (-10)
Carl Edwards 3069 (-13)
Kurt Busch 3062 (-20)
Martin Truex Jr. (-24)
Kevin Harvick 3048 (-34)
Joey Logano 3045 (-37)
Austin Dillon 3045 (-37)
Denny Hamlin 3039 (-43)
Brad Keselowski 3038 (-44)
Chase Elliott 3020 (-62)

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES POINTS
(Chasers)
William Byron 2080 (Leader)
Christopher Bell 2062 (-18)
Matt Crafton 2061 (-19)
Ben Kennedy 2055 (-25)
Timothy Peters 2053 (-27)
Johnny Sauter 2052 (-28)
Daniel Hemric 2037 (-43)
John Hunter Nemechek 2037 (-43)

Current points leader William Byron is the only Truck Series driver who has clinched a spot in the next round of its chase. Here’s a little something on the contenders,

William Byron: Has never made a start at Talladega. “I’m just going to try to go as hard as I can. I want to learn more restrictor-plate racing styles and techniques that I wasn’t really able to learn in the beginning of the year since it was my first race. I think we’ll just go with that mindset and hopefully try and get a win and do a good job.”

Christopher Bell: Finished 13th in his lone start at Talladega last season. “I’m glad I’m not in (crew chief) Jerry (Baxter’s) position because once the green flag drops on Saturday he’s going to have a stressful job. We’ve sat down and talked about it … and the best plan that we’ve figured out is to just go out there and race our race. If we end up getting caught up in a crash while running near the front, more than likely there are going to be other Chase drivers involved. So I don’t think we are going to deviate any from if this was any other race, we are just going to go out and do our job and however it plays out, it plays out.”

Matt Crafton: In 10 starts at Talladega, Crafton claims one top five, three top 10s, and led 50 laps. His best finish was a fourth-place showing in 2010. “The mental aspect (of restrictor-plate racing) is just unbelievable. You try to play out every scenario – trying to put yourself in the right position, which we do every week, but Talladega, and Daytona are just so much worse.”

Ben Kennedy: Has made two starts at Talladega, finishing 28th (2014) and 25th (2015). “Talladega has not been my friend the last two years. I was doing well last year but got caught in The Big One toward the end. I’m pretty confident this team will run well though. I saw what GMS was able to do at Daytona, winning the pole and the race, and how they ran at Talladega last year so I know their superspeedway trucks can compete.”

Timothy Peters: Has won the last two races at Talladega. In seven starts there, he has two wins, three top fives and four top 10s. “I’m ready to get back to a place where the last two years have been really successful for us and with this being the elimination race, we’re looking forward to carrying the momentum from previous years. I think we can get our first win of the season and move on to the Round of 6.”

Johnny Sauter: In seven starts at Talladega, Sauter owns one win (2013), three top fives and four top 10s. “I want to win more, whether it’s the Chase or not. A lot of things are out of your control at Talladega so you have to be smart. Despite being in the last transfer spot going in, I feel really good about this. Really comfortable.”

Daniel Hemric: Finished 28th at Talladega in his lone start there last year, and was second in his last start (Las Vegas). “I’m looking forward to going to Talladega Superspeedway, and I know there’s a lot on the line for this No. 19 team. I think we learned a lot for our superspeedway package from the third truck we ran in Daytona with Austin Theriault, and hopefully that transfers over to myself, Tyler Reddick and Austin Cindric. … We’ve got to utilize each other to maximize our day and show what we can do together.”

John Hunter Nemechek: Finished 11th at Talladega in his lone start there last year. It will be his third superspeedway race. “In the current position we’re in for points, I’m actually glad we’re going to a superspeedway. Anything can happen.”

TALLADEGA RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday’s events
Noon-12:55 p.m. – Camping World Truck Series practice
1-1:55 p.m. – Sprint Cup Series practice
2-2:55 p.m. – Camping World Truck Series final practice
3:30-4:25 p.m. – Sprint Cup Series final practice

Saturday’s events
9:30 a.m. – Camping World Truck Series qualifying
11:30 a.m. – Camping World Truck Series driver introductions
Noon – Fred’s 250 race
3 p.m. – Sprint Cup qualifying

Sunday’s events
12:25 p.m. – Sprint Cup Series driver introductions
1 p.m. – Hellmann’s 500 race

Driver Appearances in the Fan Zone

Friday
(Ford Display)
Tyler Reddick, Daniel Hemric, 3:30 p.m.
(General Motors Display)
John Hunter Nemechek, 3:30 p.m.
(Honda Generators Display)
Timothy Peters, 11 a.m.

Saturday
(General Motors Display)
Austin Dillon, 2 p.m.

Sunday
(Advocare Display)
Trevor Bayne, 9:35 a.m.
(American Ethanol Display)
Austin Dillon, 9:20 a.m.
(AXE Display)
Kyle Larson, 9:25 a.m.
(Ford Display)
Chris Bueschner, 9:10 a.m.
Joey Logano, 9:25 a.m.
Brian Scott, 9:35 a.m.
Trevor Bayne, 10 a.m.
Ryan Blaney, 10:15 a.m.
(GEICO Display)
Casey Mears, 9:30 a.m.
(General Motors Display)
Michael McDowell, 9:30 a.m.
Kyle Larson, 9:45 a.m.
Clint Bowyer, 10 a.m.
Kasey Kahne, 10:30 a.m.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 10:50 a.m.
(Smithfield Display)
Aric Almirola, 10:15 a.m.