Cup Chase features Talladega heavyweights

By Staff
From staff reports
TALLADEGA – The 10 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup contenders locked in Saturday night at Richmond includes the most Talladega heavyweights since the inception of the new championship format, promising an added level of intensity to the competition to come in the October 8 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (fourth in the final 10 races of the season).
Three of the drivers already have two or more wins to their credit here at NASAR'S Most Competitive Track, including five-time winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (sixth in standings), four-time winner Jeff Gordon (ninth), and two-time winner Mark Martin (seventh).
Second in the standings is Jimmie Johnson, the winner of the 2006 Aaron's 499. And while Kevin Harvick (third) and Jeff Burton (eighth) have yet to claim victory at the 2.66-mile tri-oval, their strong records here combined with the fact they drive for the track's most successful team owner, Richard Childress, can not be dismissed.
While current points leader Matt Kenseth hasn't traditionally been among the strongest drivers at Talladega, his last two finishes here-sixth in the spring and third last fall-make him also a force to consider.
Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch and rookie Denny Hamlin are still searching for a top-10 here in NASCAR's top series. However, Hamlin and Busch have both posted top-5s here in other series.
Yet another factor to consider will be whether a driver from outside the top-10 will end up in Gatorade Victory Lane at Talladega next month, as was the case last year when Dale Jarrett took the checkered flag in the 2005 UAW-Ford 500. Perhaps the strongest threat from outside the top-10 all season long will be 2005 champion Tony Stewart, but especially at Talladega. Stewart has posted six second-place finishes here in the last 11 races, knocking loudly on the door of an elusive win here since that first runner-up finish in spring of 2001.
The excitement is sure to grow as the series makes its way to what nearly all drivers refer to as the 'Wild Card' in the final 10 races–the Sunday, October 8 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, and tickets are still available to see it first-hand.
Sunday's race will consist of the final 188 laps in a weekend packed with 1,000 miles of racing. Call 1-877-Go2-DEGA to order tickets.